Text: Psalm 84
Theme: House of Blessings
Introduction: Charles Spurgeon called this Psalm the Pearl of Psalms. Psalm 23 is most popular, 51 is most plaintive, 103 is most joyful, 119 is most deeply experimental, this is one of the sweetest of the Psalms of peace. Pilgrimage to the tabernacle was a glorious feature of Jewish life, and staying in the church for a day is a glorious experience (ref:christianity.com). The word, “Blessed” has used 3 times in Psalm 84 (4, 5, 12). It describes the happiness of those who are lodged like the sons of Korah round about the house of God (1 Chronicle 9:27) (ref:bible-studys.org).
Let us see the three blessedness:
Dwelling in the house of the Lord
Strengthened in the Lord, and
Trusting in the Lord
Blessed are those who dwell in thy house (Vv. 1-4)
Dwelling refers to a shelter or a house. The house or the dwelling plays a vital role in our lives as an instrument in making ourselves, creating and formation of our life courses. After all our daily tours, work, and business, we return to our own house, and it gives us immense joy while we enter our home. The reception of the beloved spouse, the smile of the children, and the joyful jump of the pets comforts us and reenergizes our body, soul, and mind.
Any house is identified, according to the indwellers, the name of the house has been established accordingly, in the street and locality. The joint family or the nuclear family reflects certain characters in the upbringings of their children and the adjustment of the household.
The personality and spiritual characters are the outcomes of household activities. The characters of patience, compassion, passion, and anger management, desires, and desire management have designed by the makeup of the family size and feel.
The building and its designs reflect the status of the family. The sound and silent atmosphere of a house during the dawn and dusk reflect their spirituality and divinity. How do they relate with one another and their neighbors?
The Psalmist describes the beauty of the house of the Lord, and the importance of dwelling in the house of the Lord. He ascribes the beauty of holiness after describing the glorious look of the Temple (Psalm 84:1), he expresses that his soul yarns for the house of the Lord, and it faints or longs for the Temple courts of the Lord. He cried out for the living God from the bottom of the heart and the flesh, and he longed for it (Psalm 84:2).
The Sparrow and swallow found a place in the altar to dwell and enjoy their lives. A sparrow is an example of a bird of insignificance, and the swallow is a picture of restlessness. Likewise, the insignificant person can find his place in the house of God, and the restless man can find his rest (nest) near God’s altar. The Lord one who was angry on the man Uzzah, who touched the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:6-7), but now, HE allowed the birds to fly over, and enjoy their lives on the altar with the nest (Psalm 84:3).
The Lord is now so merciful to all (Psalm 65:4). The people who dwell in the House of the Lord PRAISE HIM always. Better is one day in your court than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:10). The house of wicked has no rejoicing. Augustine of Hippo wrote a detailed commentary explaining, "For one day in Your courts is better than a thousand", meant one peaceful everlasting day near God is preferable to many days in the world. A doorkeeper is first in, last out. He calls people to stay with him.
Matthew 11:28-30 come and rest with me, come and see where I lodged (John 1:37-39). A day with Christ has changed the lives of Andrew and Simon Peter, they became disciples, evangelists, and alter martyrs. Few hours with Jesus had changed the life course of the Samaritan Woman, Legion, and so on. Staying with Christ molds our character, our plans, and our aims in life. Staying with Christ changes our Priorities and purposes.
The Pharisees loved synagogues provided they might have the uppermost seats there, that they might make a figure (Mt. 23:6). Tax collectors loved the temple for confession and cleansing. Whereas, the Pharisee loved the temple to accuse and self-justification(Luke 18:9-14), attitude matters.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you (Vv. 5-9)
The second part of the Psalm commences with the second blessedness. He says those who have strength in the Lord are blessed. Their strength is in the Lord, and they love to grow in the Lord, they overcome their defeats, they turn their tears into joy. The pool of tears had turned into a pond of joy and celebration (Psalm 84:5-6). They go from strength to strength till they appear in Zion (Psalm 84:7).
They never give up their journey. Their final destination is Zion. Their goal is to appear before the Lord as victorious. They follow the footsteps of Christ. The sufferings, the tears, and the crucifixion can’t stop their spiritual journey, and they will reach the end with the Banner of Christ. In all these things, we are more than the conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37-39).
Psalm 20:7 says, “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God”. So, “the King rejoices in your strength, O Lord” (Psalm 21:1). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. The house of the Lord renews our strength.
Baca signifies to ‘weep’. This present world is to us like this valley of weeping; in our passage through it, we are refreshed by the streams of divine grace, flowing down from the great fountain of consolation. The rich relationship with God is a never-ending supply of strength for the journey, even in difficult seasons (ref: enduringword.com).
Those who trusted on their horses had defeated and Fallen in the Exodus history (Exodus 14:4,7,9,18,28). Judges 6:28-31 expresses the weak strength of the horses against those who gained strength in the Lord.
2 Kings 7:6 describes ‘the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army’, the Assyrians ran away and the Lord had given victory to Israelites overnight. We have to remember the assurance of God that my grace is sufficient for thee.
David gained new strength in the Lord at Ziklag and pursued the enemies, and got victory over enemies. His tears lead to the throne (1 Samuel 30:6-8). He fought with Amalekites and recovered everything he lost to them (1 Samuel 30:17-20). The strengthening of the Lord becomes very important for our faith journey.
Blessed is the man who trusts in you (Vv. 10-12)
The Lord is a Sun and Shield (Psalm 84:11). He never withholds any good thing from those who trust in Him and walk blameless (Psalm 84:11). Therefore, trust in the Almighty God. The promise of God’s not withholding any good thing is for those who walk uprightly (84:11).
ACCORDING TO CALVIN: Jehovah God is our sun and shield. The idea conveyed by the comparison derived from the sun is, that as the sun by his light vivifies, nourishes, and rejoices the world, so the benign countenance of God fills with joy the hearts of his people, or rather, that they neither live nor breathe except in so far as he shines upon them. The term, shield is meant, that our salvation, which would otherwise be periled by countless dangers, is in perfect safety under his protection. The favor of God in communicating life to us would be far from adequate to the exigencies of our condition, unless at the same time, amid so many dangers, he interposed his power as a buckler to defend us.
His blessing is on those who trust in Him (84:12). To walk uprightly means to live before God with integrity. It does not imply perfection, but it does mean that you walk openly before God, confessing your sin. Your trust in His grace and strength helps to overcome Sin. You seek to please God by obeying His commandments. Trust in the Lord and do good (Psalm 37:3), never give place for doubt and a wavering mind. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and mind, and soul. Lean not in your understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Jeremiah 17:5-8 describes two characters and their end. Here a comparison of men who put their trust in a man and in the Lord and result. Trusting in man ends in curses and defeats and failures, whereas putting trust in God ends in blessedness, greenery filed, and joyful celebration.
Many are the woes of the wicked but God’s unfailing hand is with the one who trusts in Him (Psalm 32:10). They are like mount ZION without shake (Psalm 125:1). The perfect peace is the result of trusting in the Lord, who is the eternal rock (Isaiah 26:3-4).
John Gill refers to the references in the Targum and says that happiness is such that trust in him, whether they have the ability or opportunity of going up to the house of the Lord, or not. The Targum interprets that "blessed is the man that trusted in thy Word” for Jeremiah 17:5. So trusting in the Lord means trusting in His word, more than making trips to the Holy land and Jerusalem. So, they shall enjoy perfect peace and solid comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter.
BARNES NOTES: Blessed in every respect. Happy in God’s friendship, in worshipping him, in his sustaining grace in times of trial. True blessedness - the real, genuine, deep, permanent joy comes out of trusting in God, of believing in God, of confiding in his character, and of leaning on him in every situation in life, of relying on his mercy, on his grace, and his faithfulness, in the hour of death (ref:studylight.org).
In 1714, MATTHEW HENRY, the well-known pastor and Bible commentator, was on his deathbed at age 52. He was relatively young and had not finished his commentary (others finished it from his notes). He had endured the loss of his first wife and three of his nine children. He could have complained about his hard life. But he said to a friend, “You have been used to take notice of the sayings of dying men. This is mine—that a life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable and pleasant life that one can live in the present world” (ref: bible.org).
