Most of you know my inclination to comment, from time to time, on the hymns that we sing. Sometimes there is a bit of criticism; sometimes I simple raise a question; sometimes it is to highlight something that I think is good. I rarely interrupt our singing to make those comments, but I do sometimes. Usually, if I say anything it is at the conclusion. Not only is that more convenient, but I don’t want to disturb the flow of the poetry and our worship.
In a similar way, I hesitate to preach or teach from the Psalms, because in our dissection we can easily miss the beauty of the Spirit’s overall intent. On the other hand, I firmly believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Word of God, with “plenary” meaning “full,” or “complete.” I believe that every word of every Psalm and every other scripture was intentionally given to us by the Spirit. In other words, not only does each chapter have meaning and purpose, but so do the individual words. Often we can only grasp the Spirit’s purpose by drawing out what specific words mean. But in doing this we must strive for balance between the individual parts and the entire thought.
C.H. Spurgeon wrote and published a set of three volumes on his study of the Psalms. Those 1200+ pages are called “The Treasury of David.” In his introductory words on Psalm 84 Spurgeon said, “If the 23rd be the most popular (Psalm), the 123rd the most joyful, the 119th the most deeply experimental, the 51st the most plaintive, this is one of the most sweet of the Psalms of Peace.” I jotted down and chewed over a few his other comments, but I assure you this is not Spurgeon’s Bible study. However, he did say, Psalm 84 breaks into three parts, each separated by the word “selah.” That is true, and I would like to take three evenings to look at this delightful and uplifting psalm.
Note the introduction.
“To the chief Musician upon Gittith. A Psalm for the sons of Korah.” There are be several lessons in these words. I’m not going to concern myself with “Gittith,” because there is much difference of opinion about the word. Some say it refers to some sort of musical instrument, but it makes more sense that is was a specific tune. It use to be in some Christian hymnals that there were only words, but under the title there was a name or number which referred to the music to which the words were to be sung or chanted. That seems to be the case here.
Whoever wrote these words made a double dedication: to the chief musician for the sons of Korah. I Chronicles 6:31 says, “And these are they whom David set over the service of SONG in the house of the Lord, after that the ark had rested. And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with SINGING…” Then the chronicler mentions several names and their lineage, going back to “Korah, the son of Izhar, the Son of Kothah, the son of Levi, the son Israel.” These sons of Korah were descendants of Levi; they were of the Kothah family of priests. You might be thinking, “Well, good for them, but what has that got to do with me?” I will simply reply with I Peter 2:9 – “But YE are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood… that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God…” Without taking away the original intent of the writer or of the Holy Spirit, I believe that you and I, as priests under Christ Jesus, our Melchizedek, have a right to rejoice with this Psalm. It has been dedicated to our use for the glory of the Saviour.
But there is something else. Who is the chief Musician? I can’t see your Bible from where I stand, but my Bible has the word “Musician” capitalized, but not the word “chief.” In my mind that means that those who gave me my Bible considered this Psalm dedicated to the Lord – who is the King of kings, Lord of lords, and chief among all the Musicians. It reminds us that whenever we read the Word of God, we are reading the Lord’s book. Every chapter, every verse, every line belongs to Him, and the whole Bible should be held with reverence.
Verse 1 – “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of Hosts.”
In modern usage, the word “amiable” means – “having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.” But most commentators, including Spurgeon, declare it to mean “lovely” – “how lovely are thy tabernacles.” However, based on how this Hebrew word is used elsewhere in the Bible, I believe it means “beloved.” Almost always this word is used to describe either the Lord or some person, as in Isaiah 5:1 – “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.” Here the Psalmist was saying, “Oh, Lord, how thy tabernacles are loved,” or perhaps “Oh, how I love your tabernacles, Lord.”
As you know, the Psalmist was addressing Yahweh or Jehovah. But why in this context is He called “the LORD of hosts?” with “hosts” usually referring to “armies.” I wish that I had a definitive Hebrew explanation, but I’ve been unable to find one. This title “Lord of hosts?” is used 235 times in the Bible, but in only four Psalms, and yet, but we have it here three times. It usually points to the Lord’s strength, and perhaps here it does as well, with the lesson being the comfort we should have in worshiping the God who is this powerful.
But then we come to the word “tabernacles.” “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of Hosts.” With this word we open the door to several interpretations. Most of the commentators tell us that the Psalmist was referring the tabernacle which was put together in the days of Moses. But if that is the case, why is it plural – “tabernacles?” My thought as I first read this verse yesterday was that it referred to the dwellings of God’s people. Then after reading it several times my eye caught the possessive pronoun – “thy tabernacles.” One explanation for the plurality is that, the original tabernacle was at that point set up in the town of Gibeon, but David built a temporary shelter for the Ark of the Covenant in Zion. Another less likely explanation was to the disassembly and reassembly of the tabernacle as it was moved from place to place. And some commentators even speak of its various sections, including the courtyards.
It seems to me, looking at all the Psalmist says, that he was thinking simply of the place where God is. “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,” than to be anywhere else. “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house,” but no one actually lived in the Tabernacle of God. There were no literal doorkeepers opening and closing cloth flaps into the courtyard or holy of Holies.
I know that this is not a proper interpretation of the verse, but I would like to make a New Testament application. What if we applied this statement to the Lord’s churches scattered across the world? Are they not amiable – beautiful and also beloved? They are God’s tabernacles – not ours. And what does He think about those churches? I believe that the Lord looks at each of His ecclesias with love. Isn’t it possible to make sense of this Psalm as speaking of the church into which the Lord has placed you? “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house.”
Verse 2.
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” The word “longeth” is a particularly strong word. The Psalmist says that his soul so yearned for the courts of the Lord that it bordered on greed or even lust. He so yearned for the tabernacles of God that it was on his mind when he first awoke in the morning. He couldn’t wait for another opportunity to attend or to minister in the house of God. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to fly an F-16 or to unlock the vaults at Fort Knox
He said, “my soul longeth, yea, EVEN fainteth.” Poetically, in any language, fainting is a mini death. This is how much he loved the things of God, the worship of God, the service of God. Oh, how I wish that we all had that much love for the house of the Lord. It was on a higher level than the young person who has fallen deeply in love with someone. All he/she can do is think about that person. But this man thinks about the Lord’s house that way.
But it wasn’t the physical building, the tent or the tabernacle, it was all about the living God who called that place His home. My soul, my heart and “my flesh cry out for the living God.” We might make a mistake reading the words “cry out,” as if they were the pleading of someone in exile. But they are more like Paul and Silas when they were prisoners in Philippi. What were they doing? Acts 16:25 – “At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” The word “cry” which the Psalmist uses here is most often translated “sing,” “sing aloud,” and “sing for joy.” Remember this Psalm was given to the singers of Israel to use in their worship services. Their cries – their pleas – were often in the form of loud and boisterous singing.
Verse 3.
“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.” I don’t go into Lowes or Home Depot very often. Nevertheless, several times I have seen mice running around between the aisles and under boxes. Once there was a chipmunk. And countless times there have been sparrows fluttering over my head.
This verse doesn’t actually say that there were sparrows in the Tabernacle, but seems to be implied. It could be interpreted in the way the Lord Jesus said that His Heavenly Father takes care of the sparrow. Nevertheless I wonder what the attitude of the Levites was if a sparrow did take shelter in the Tabernacle? I would not have been surprised, if they said, “Oh, the Lord has permitted this creature to come in. I must leave it to the Lord to send her home? Let’s let her stay, roost and build her nest.” I picture them more like the employee at Lowes than the housewife when a sparrow comes into her house.
But was the Psalmist including himself in the picture of the sparrow? Who are we in comparison to the Lord? “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” This sparrow has found a home in God’s house – the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Even between thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my king, and my God.” The plurality of altars may refer to the golden altar of incense inside the Holy place, and the brazen altar of sacrifice outside in the Tabernacle’s courtyard. There were certainly birds of all sorts out there next to the brazen laver and altar.
Notice the Psalmist’s reference to God: “O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” Jehovah is not just the sovereign God. He’s not just the boss. He is my King, and in addition to my reverence of Him, I love Him.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe it is at the rest stop on I-90 next to Sheridan, Wyoming, that over the door to the visitor’s center and the restrooms, swallows make their nests every year. On more than one occasion I have seen or heard the young they had in those mud-dabbed nests. The parents threatened to dive down on the visitors who walked under them into the visitor center. But the people working there did nothing to drive them away. They lived in that rest area tabernacle. That is the way that I picture my Lord. He loves to have us build our nests in His tabernacles.
Verse 4.
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” The word “blessed” here has the same meaning as it has in the New Testament – “Oh, how happy are they who dwell in God’s house.” Personally, I cannot think of anywhere I would rather be on a Wednesday evening than right here in the house of God. And Sunday morning? There have been occasions when circumstances forced me to be out of church, but I was not happy about it. Why are those tabernacle dwellers blessed or happy? Because they enjoy the aroma of the sacrifice; they rejoice in the ministry; they enjoy the fellowship. They are in the house of God, whereas they used to be in the tavern, and the honky-tonk dance hall – the jail and the hospital. Whether they are serving or witnessing the service they are happy. There is no better place to be than in the house of the Lord.
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be STILL praising thee. Selah.” They will “still” be praising thee: what does that mean? It means that their joy will lead them into praise for ever and ever. After whatever the world and the devil throw at them, they will be still praising the Lord of Hosts. They will be singing God’s praise today and tomorrow, and they will be singing an even more holy version of those hymns when they are invited into His presence. Psalm 145 – “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”
I will close with the last verse of Psalm 23 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”