Psalms 84:1

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!] Which were erected in the wilderness by Moses at the command of God, and brought into the land of Canaan, where the Lord took up his dwelling: here

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! Psalms 84:1-12.-Meditation on the blessedness of dwelling in God's house (Psalms 84:1-7); prayer on the ground that Yahweh giveth grace and glory to

Psalms 84 THE . The author of this Psalm seems to have been David, partly because it is ascribed to no other, and partly because it is most agreeable to his style and condition, and the occasion of it, his banishment or absence from the place of God’ s worship; either, 1. In Saul’ s time, which suits not with , for then the tabernacle was not in Zion. Or rather, 2. During Absalom’ s rebellion. The prophet, commending the sanctuary, , longeth for communion with it, ,3; showeth the blessed state and condition of such as dwell therein, ; prayeth to be restored unto it, ,9; preferreth one day therein before a thousand elsewhere, . What the Lord is to them that trust in him, ,12. Thy tabernacle, called tabernacles, either 1. Because it consisted of several parts; or, 2. To note its excellency; as behemoth, or beasts, is put for one eminent beast, , and wisdoms for excellent wisdom, .

Psalms 84:1 « To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. » How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!A Psalm] Or the same subject with the forty-second, and made when David was banished, either by Saul or Absalom, or else when busied abroad in his wars, 2 Samuel 8:1-14, and so debarred from the use of God’ s public ordinances. Ver. 1. How amiable are thy tabernacles] viz. For thy word’ s sake that is there preached, and thy worship there performed. The Protestants at Lyons, in France, called their place for public meeting to serve God Paradise. Chrysostom calleth it the place of angels and archangels, the kingdom of God, yea, heaven itself (Hom. 36, ad 1 Corinthians 14:1-40). Another calleth it, The heavenly exchange between God and his people; they present duty, he confers mercy. Luther saith he would not live in paradise without the ordinances; as with them he could frame to live in hell itself: and a small village with a godly pastor, and a good people in it, is an earthly paradise, saith he. If that Italian martyr could date his letter, From the delectable orchard of the Leonine prison, what may we think of the free use of the ordinances? what of heaven? nam facile litera transfertur ad Spiritum.

(1) How amiable.—Better, How loved and how lovable. The Hebrew word combines both senses. Tabernacles.—Better, perhaps, dwellings. (Comp. Psalms 43:3.) The plural is used poetically, therefore we need not think of the various courts of the Temple.

PSALM LXXXIV The psalmist longs for communion with God in the sanctuary, 1-3. The blessedness of those who enjoy God's ordinances, 4-7. With confidence in God, he prays for restoration to his house and worship, 8-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXIV The title here is the same as that of Ps 81:1, only that was for Asaph, this for the sons of Korah. This person was one of the chief rebels against Moses and Aaron; there were three, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who made an insurrection; and the earth opened, and swallowed them and their partisans up, Numbers 16:31-32. The children of Dathan and Abiram perished with their fathers; but by a particular dispensation of Providence, the children of Korah were spared. See Numbers 26:11, and the note there. The family of Korah was continued in Israel; and it appears from 1 Chronicles 26:1-19 that they were still employed about the temple, and were porters or keepers of the doors. They were also singers in the temple; see 2 Chronicles 20:19. This Psalm might have been sent to them to be sung, or one of themselves might have been its author. Verse 1. How amiable are thy tabernacles] In this plural noun he appears to include all the places in or near the temple where acts of Divine worship were performed. The holy of holies, the holy place, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt-offering, c., c. all called here God's tabernacles or dwelling-places for wherever God was worshipped, there he was supposed to dwell.

1, 2. The Psalmist’s delight in the house of God.

How amiable - How much to he loved; how lovely. The word amiable is now used to denote a quality of mind or disposition - as gentle, affectionate, kind.

1. Amiable—Lovely. Tabernacles—The plural form can mean nothing more than the apartments and cloisters of the sacred place. O Lord of hosts—Or, of armies. This has been called one of the Eloheem psalms.