Psalm 84, a Psalm of the sons of Korah to the chief musician. These sons of Korah were Levites. They came from the family of Kohath. And by David's time, they served in the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). They are actually the lineage of Korah, who led a rebellion of 250 men against Moses in the wilderness. (Numbers 16). Korah’s rebellion led to his death, but the Sons of Korah survived. Legacy can be redeemed and restored!
53 of the 150 Psalms are addressed to the chief musician. This was likely a music director or choir leader in the days of David and Solomon. We have to also acknowledge that God is the most chief of all musicians so it is possible this could also be a reference to God. He is the Creator of music. It is a wonderful thought that one day we will hear God sing in heaven.
Charles Spurgeon said that Psalm 84 should be called the Pearl of the psalms. If the 23rd be the most popular, the 103 the most joyful, the 119, the most deeply experiential, the 51st, the more most plaintive (sorrowful). Psalms 84 is one of the sweetest songs of peace.
Psalm 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! ESV
The courts of the Lord references the place of God’s presence! The Tabernacle was the house of God for over 400 years before they ever built The Temple in the days of Solomon. Clearly this voices a deep affection for the house of God and the gathering together in God’s presence.
Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. ESV
This appreciation for God's house wasn't simply because it was beautiful, though it must have been stunning. 183,000 workers gave themselves to this project for seven years. Solomon’s father David began the process, collecting materials from around the world for the construction. Besides stone, precious gems, copper, and bronze, the Bible says that 108,000 talents of gold and 1,017,000 talents of silver were used. One talent equals 75 pounds. As of February 2021, the value of the gold and silver alone exceeded $300 billion dollars.
There are some beautiful buildings in this world but the Temple is in the running to be the most breath-taking structure ever built.
As stunning as it may have been it wasn’t what is being referenced with longing and even fainting for the courts of the Lord. The structure was secondary. This was about the outrageous privilege of meeting with God among his people. We can love a lot of things but most things we love we never truly long for. This describes a longing that is aligning to the deepest sense of purpose known to mankind! A longing that is so great within us that we faint if we don’t experience it. Life without God’s presence is an empty shell of a faint existence.
My heart and my flesh cry out singing for joy to the living God. This is where this Psalmist met with God. We are the fulfillment of the Temple. Church must be more than a place offering programs, social connections or self-helps sermons. You can’t go to church because you are the church. We gather as the church to become more aware of who God’s called us to be as the church! This is where we come together to meet with God in a remarkable way. May we never lose our wonder!
Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
We turn from the beauty of God’s presence to this reference to birds. I wonder if the thought of birds flying over the open top of the Tabernacle is involved in this reference. Imagine birds nesting above freely looking in at all of the tabernacle activities. What a wonderful thing it would be just to make God's house my home.
The sparrow is an example of a bird of seemingly little significance. The swallow is known as a restless bird. No matter how insignificant or restless we may feel God has his eye on us just as He does the sparrow.
Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah ESV
We see the psalmist moving into a recognition of what a blessing it must be for the priests, who had rooms at the house of God, to live a life of constant praise.
Next he turns his attention to his own journey and the journey of others who walk with God.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. ESV
Highways to Zion exist within our heart. When we pray God’s Kingdom come, we must realize we are the key that unlocks this reality in the world around us.
Jacob’s Ladder (Gen 28) he says the house of God is the gate of heaven.
Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! (NAS)
You were born to be a gateway for the King! And when this King shows up things begin to change! This Valley of Baca speaks of tears, weeping and hardship. God awakens the blessing of his ancient streams within us in such a way that he reverses the curse into a blessing. The valley of weeping is converted into a place of springs, or a place of refreshing.
On a normal journey, especially when it is difficult, the natural progression is to go from strength to weakness or fatigue. We start strong but after a long hike we’ve grown fatigued or even exhausted. In this text we see a supernatural strengthening from God himself as we go from strength to strength until we reach our destination.
Psalm 84:8-9 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! ESV
This is not only a declaration of praise. It is also a prayer. It was a prayer for provision in times of difficulty and a prayer for protection in times of challenge. This expression of praise that involves an attitude of prayer remains in touch with what matters more than anything else and that is God’s presence!
Psalm 84:10-12 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! ESV
GP2RL: Explore new ways to experience God’s presence more deeply this week as you read Psalms chapters 91-105.
PSALMS: Supernatural Strength and Eternal Perspective
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Psalms unveils the authenticity of humanity in the, sometimes painful, but always beautiful pursuit of God. The beauty is that God never wastes a single hurt if we are willing to give it to Him.
We can judge God according to our circumstances or we can judge our circumstances according to our God. God is good even in our times of pain and desperation. We live in a fallen world, but we look to a Risen King.
Two thirds of the Psalms are what scholars call lament. So often, our greatest purpose is born from our deepest pain. May we press in and go deeper in our authentic pursuit of the heart of God as we explore the treasures of Psalms.
It is a good thing to hear what God is revealing in the hearts of those around us. Feel free to use this question however you feel it fits in your time together as a group.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Psalm 84:1-12 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! ESV
2. Psalms 84 expresses a deep longing to be in the presence of God. How do you relate to this longing in your own life? What are some ways you purpose to experience God’s presence?
3. This Psalm specifically speaks of the joy of worshiping God in community. How does worshiping together with others enhance your own spiritual experience? Share a time when you felt particularly connected to God in a group setting.
4. What practical steps would you suggest if someone came to you asking how they could cultivate a deeper relationship with God?
5. Read Psalms 84 again asking each person to share one thing that stands out to them from the reading.
6. Share any thoughts you have about how you plan to implement our action point this week.
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Reflect on seeking refuge and trusting God in His presence this week as you read Psalms chapters 76-90.