Psalms 84

Psalms 84THEME: A deep desire for God’s houseThis is a psalm in which the Levitical emphasis is prominent. It is a psalm for the sons of Korah. The sons of Korah served in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Let’s go back to 1 Chronicles 26 to see the background of this family. “Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph” (1Ch_26:1). Then it gives a long list of that family of the Korhites. Now Korah, you may recall, led the rebellion against Moses, and he was judged for it.

But now, by the grace of God, these descendants of his are serving in the tabernacle and in the temple of God. Then 1Ch_26:12-13 says, “Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD. And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.” A man was assigned to every gate. Lots were cast for the jobs. Strong, robust Levites guarded the tabernacle, and later they watched over every entrance to the temple. So the tabernacle and the temple are prominent in this psalm.

Psalms 84:1

Is this your heart cry today? Do you love to meet with God’s people? I recognize that you don’t get much fellowship in some churches today. In fact, you get more gossip and criticism than you get anything else. However, the place for fellowship is a church, and there are some wonderful churches throughout our land. I hope there is one in your neighborhood where the Word of God is preached and Christ is exalted. If there is, that is where you should seek the fellowship of believers. That is where you will grow and be blessed. Now this is lovely. These sons of Korah serving in the tabernacle and later in the temple saw this:

Psalms 84:3

I think the sparrows built nests around the temple. The man who wrote this psalm, as he looked up and saw them, said, “I want to dwell like that. I want to live that close to God.” The Lord Jesus said to consider the little sparrows. They are not worth anything. In fact, you would like to get rid of them the way they chatter around and mess up everything. They are dirty little birds. The Lord Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (Mat_10:29). Not one sparrow falls but what the Father sees it. Actually, the language is stronger than that. He says that the sparrow falls into the lap of your Father. He knows all about it.

Psalms 84:9

The psalmist can say, “Behold, O God our shield.” God is our shield. “And look upon the face of thine anointed.” This is a reference to the Messiah. Christ, the Messiah, revealed the face of God on earth. The sanctuary, as we saw in the Book of Leviticus, was the very center of the life of Israel. There was a day when the church was the center of the social life in this country. It is not even the center of religious life today, but it should be.

Psalms 84:10

He says, “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness,” and that’s what the sons of Korah weredoorkeepers. He says, “I would rather have my job than to be a rich man living far from God.” There are some folk who look at their watches on Sunday morning to see if the preacher is going overtime. The psalmist says, “I’d rather spend one day in God’s house than a thousand anywhere else.” What a glorious psalm this is, and what a rebuke it is to many of us.