PSALM 84

 

The background for this psalm is probably the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles celebrated in Jerusalem for one week in the Fall. At that festival, the lordship of Yahweh was celebrated and prayers for the king were offered. People would come from many miles to celebrate. Somewhat of a companion piece is Psalms 42-43, also ascribed to the Sons of Korah. Those psalms are laments by the poet upon being exiled away from the Temple. Psalm 84 is more joyful in what the Psalmist looks forward to coming into the presence of the temple.

This Psalm begins and ends in praise and can be divided into four sections: words of praise (1-4, 10-12), pilgrim's travel (5-7) and prayer for king (8-9)

Warning: There are many translation problems so your versions may differ from the composite translation that I put up here.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD of hosts. 2 My soul longs and yearns for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

He is talking about Solomon's Temple here, but it reminds me of the comment by the apostles who looked back at Herod's Temple and remarked, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” No doubt both temples were magnificent to look at, but the end of v. 2 reveals what the Psalmist is really longing for: God's presence. The word translated “dwelling place” is actually in the plural in the Hebrew – a so-called plural of greatness or majesty, just as the word for God, Elohim, is plural (which may actually hint at the Trinity).

verse 2 Speaking of the Trinity – soul, heart and flesh = totality of a being both inward and outward.

 This is not three separate parts of a person, as if they could be divided up, but three different ways of 

looking at him. Some translations for v. 2 say “sing for joy,” which is inappropriate here; it should 

indicate a loud cry of yearning.

There are a couple of designations for God in these verses so let's look at all of them in this psalm,

ignoring some that are combinations.

LORD of hosts (1,3,12), Living God (2), King (3), My God (3), God of gods (7), God of Jacob (8), Shield (11), Sun (11)

God is called the sun only here in the OT. It may be translated differently since it appears to border on pagan sun worship. The Living Bible waters it down a bit by calling God our light. Other translations like NEB and Jerusalem Bible use battlement or fortification. TEV says God is our protector.

Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may 

have her young—a place near your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.

I can relate to this verse. When we lived at a previous house, swallows would nest high in the rock 

entryway wherever there was even the smallest ledge. Even tiny birds make themselves at home in the 

nooks and crannies of the temple and receive protection. He envies them because they have free access 

to the temple and its altars where he can become reconciled with God. By the way, v. 3 uses the plural 

of altar. There was a large altar in front of the temple for burnt offerings and small one before the Holy 

of Holies for incense.

Psalm 84:4 Blessed (or happy) are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

If this were in the Gospels, what would we call it? A Beatitude.

This is the first of three beatitudes in the psalm. The author is first wistful (4), then resolute that with 

God's strength he will complete the pilgrimage (5) and finally in v. 12 deeply contented in God's 

presence.

Some feel this refers to the priests who serve in the temple. Keep in mind that this was written by a 

priest who did get to dwell in the Temple for extended time periods, but he is imagining himself in the 

place of a pilgrim who does not get that privilege. However, it is doubtful that he would write a psalm 

rubbing in the fact that he is much better off than outsiders. Therefore, it may alternatively refer to those 

in Jerusalem who can constantly worship there.

The obscure word selah is at the end of this verse, perhaps indicating a time for a hymn of praise to be 

sung by the temple singers.

Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

Rabbis actually used this verse as one of many as evidence of the resurrection of the dead. Those who 

must make a journey to God are blessed also. Kidner notes, “Often it is the exile who appreciates 

home, while the stay-at-home find fault with it.” Note the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Psalm 84:6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains 

also cover it with pools.

Bekah = weeping

Baka = balsam tree

Josephus mentions a small village in Galilee with this name, but it is doubtful that what was in mind here. It probably refers to balsam or aspen tree – in any case, a tree growing in arid places. NEB = “thirsty valley.”

There is a pun in the Hebrew: Berekat = pools Berakot = blessings

Looking back on the pilgrimage, even the desolate places are treated in retrospect as springs of water. 

And while the pilgrims are on their way, the autumn rains are turning the parched land into pools of 

water. God provides for us on our lifelong pilgrimage toward Him.

Psalm 84:7 They go from strength to strength til each appears before God.

There are several possible meanings and applications here:

(a) with renewed strength. RSV and NIV translate “become stronger” since Hebrew has no comparative form of adjectives. This is probably an infusion of divine strength resulting from faith, not a reference to one's own physical strength. Instead of becoming more weary the closer they come to the temple, they get their second wind. (perhaps a reference to coming old age?) This is like II Corinthians 3:18, where Paul says we are being transformed into the image of the Lord “from glory to glory.”

(b) from rampart to rampart or city to city. Pilgrims proceed through life in stages and need to get periodically rested and revived before continuing their journey.

(c) Their ranks are swelled with new pilgrims. We gain strength when we meet with others who have the same beliefs and goal in life.

Psalm 84:8-9 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.

Selah

Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.

Selah in between these two verses may this time indicate a change in singer from one pilgrim (v. 8) to a 

group (our shield in v. 9).  Anointed one” in v. 9 refers to the king, not the high priest. This is felt to 

have originally been a prayer for the king and national stability. The king is a shield to his people as 

long as the LORD favors him. By the time the psalms were collected, the references to a reigning king 

were understood as applying to the Messiah.

Psalm 84:10a Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

Figurative for a long time period, like all other uses of 1,000 in the Bible referring to time. Keep this in 

mind when talking about the Millennium.

“You show steadfast love to a thousand generations.” (Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9; Jeremiah 32:18)

“For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past.” (Psalm 90:4)

“Even if he should live a thousand years...” (Ecclesiastes 6:6)

“With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

“a thousand years” (6x in Revelation 20:2-7)

Psalm 84:10b I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the 

wicked.

A supplicant standing at the gates (TEV), standing on the steps (Jerusalem) or lingering at the 

threshold (NEB). In any case, it does not refer to the important position of doorkeeper, which was only 

filled by Levites. I think of the contrast between Abraham (who lived as a nomad following God 

wherever He led him) and Lot who chose to live right in the middle of Sin City.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD bestows favor and honor; no good 

thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

“Favor and honor” is better translated as “grace and glory.” “God will withhold no good thing” is the 

opposite side of the coin from Jeremiah 5:25: “Your sins have withheld good things from you.”

This verse could easily be misconstrued as the Prosperity Gospel teachers do, but keep in mind that (1) 

this is like a wisdom proverb in that it expresses a general truth that can't be applied to all specific 

situations, (2) we often define “good” as the material things we want rather than the ultimate spiritual 

gifts that God gives, and (3) the “good” is actually defined in the first half of the poem as favor and 

honor (also translated as grace and glory).

Psalm 84:12 LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

This is the last beatitude. It is like John 20:29, a blessing on those who have not seen and yet still trust 

and believe.

Conclusion

“Psalm 84 is about movement: from outside to inside; from the countryside to Jerusalem and to the 

temple; from ordinary to extraordinary; from daily concerns to sacred space. In years past, there was a 

process of preparation for Sunday service. It was a special set-apart time that required a Saturday bath 

and Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Like these pilgrims, this process set Sunday apart from all of the 

other days around it. In our on-the-go world, our trips to meet God have lost some of that specialness. 

This psalm reminds us that we should make the effort to celebrate the time we are able to spend in 

worship and praise.” (Beth Tanner, The Book of Psalms, p. 653)