84 1 David driven forth of his country, 2 Desireth most ardently to come again to the tabernacle of the Lord and the assembly of the Saints to praise God, 4 pronouncing them blessed that may so do. 6 Then he praiseth the courage of the people, that pass through the wilderness to assemble themselves in Zion. 10 Finally, with praise of this matter and confidence of God’s goodness, he endeth the Psalm.
To him that excelleth upon Gittith. A Psalm committed to the sons of Korah.
1 O [a]Lord of hosts, how amiable are thy Tabernacles?
2 My soul longeth, yea, and fainted for the [b]courts of the Lord: for my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest for her, where she may lay her young: even by thine [c]altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house, they will ever praise thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose [d]strength is in thee, and in whose heart are thy ways.
6 They going through the valley of [e]Baca, make wells therein: the rain also covereth the pools.
7 They go from [f]strength to strength, till every one appear before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer, hearken, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine [g]Anointed.
10 For [h]a day in thy courts is better than a thousand other where: I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tabernacles of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is the sun and shield unto us: the Lord will give grace and glory, and no [i]good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Footnotes
- Psalm 84:1 David complaineth that he cannot have access to the Church of God to make profession of his faith, and to profit in religion.
- Psalm 84:2 For none but the Priests could enter into the Sanctuary, and the rest of the people into the courts.
- Psalm 84:3 So that the poor birds have more liberty than I.
- Psalm 84:5 Who trusteth nothing in himself, but in thee only, and learneth of thee to rule his life.
- Psalm 84:6 That is of mulberry trees, which was a barren place: so that they which passed through, must dig pits for water: signifying, that no lets can hinder them that are fully bent to come to Christ’s Church, neither yet that God will ever fail them.
- Psalm 84:7 They are never weary but increase in strength and courage till they come to God’s house.
- Psalm 84:9 That is, for Christ’s sake, whose figure I represent.
- Psalm 84:10 He would wish to live but one day rather in God’s Church, than a thousand among the worldlings.
- Psalm 84:11 But will from time to time increase his blessings toward his more and more.