RRB notes on Psalm 84
Psalms 84 KJV
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1. How amiable are thy tabernacles, [1] O LORD of hosts!
[1] The word “tabernacles” is used because God’s dwelling place had been one Tabernacle in the wilderness, then one sanctuary under Solomon, another Temple under Herod, and then in the Millennium, it will be a rebuilt Temple (Ezek. 40-46) containing “courts” (plural; vs. 10 cf. Ezek. 40:19-20) and “altars” (plural; vs. 3 cf. Ezek. 40:39-42, 41:22, 43:19-27).
2. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. [a]
[a] The psalm is mainly devotional, without much doctrine or prophecy.
3. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, [b] O LORD of hosts, my King, [c] and my God.
[b] Figurative speech (see note on Psa. 6:6; App. 104).
[c] “King,” the Jewish designation; “head” (Eph. 5:23) and “Lord,” the Christian designation.
4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. [2]
[2] Here’s a place where the apostates try to make a passage literal (a journey or pilgrimage to the Temple) because they do not understand the spiritual dealings of the heart. “The man” of this verse is “blessed” because in his “heart” are “the ways” of the people who served the Lord in the Temple (vs. 4). Those kind of people were characterized by continual praise (vs. 4) and reliance on God for strength (vs. 7), despite their circumstances. In the New Testament, the Christian who can believe and claim Romans 8:28, can turn his tears into refreshing water (vs. 6).
6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7. They [d] go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
[d] “The man” of vss. 5-6.
8. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9. Behold, O God our shield, [e] and look upon the face of thine anointed.
[e] 2 Sam. 1:21; 1 Sam. 17:7; Eph. 6:16; 1 Chron. 12:24.
10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. [3] I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
[3] The prophetic application is to the Millennial “day” (2 Pet. 3:8) when Jesus Christ is reigning as King in the Temple (Ezek. 43:1-7). The devotional application is that it is better to meet with God’s people and hear the word of God preached and taught than it is to be anywhere else. Sunday with Lester Roloff is better than 25 Super Bowls. A service with Maze Jackson or Billy Kelly is better than thirty nights with Madonna, Presley, Crosby, or Sinatra.
11. For the LORD God is a sun [f] and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. [g]
[f] Mal. 4:2; Psa. 19:4-5.
[g] The New Testament equivalent of this promise is 2 Cor. 9:8, but that promise is conditioned on not being stingy in your giving (2 Cor. 9:7).
12. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
>>>>>>>Additional Notes<<<<<<<
Note on Psa. 6:6 KJV
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; [1] I water my couch with my tears. [a]
[1] Notice the figurative language (see note on Job 21:24). Figurative speech is very common in the Bible, and our language is rich with it (see App. 104). The hermeneutical rule is solid: always take the Bible absolutely literally if it’s possible to take it literally; if a passage is absolutely impossible to take literally, then and only then can you take it figuratively (Matt. 26:27-28).
[a] Like Job (Job 7:3-4, 13-15, 16:16, 20, 23:2).
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Appendix 104 – Figurative Expressions
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