Psalms 84

The Prophet poureth out the grief of his heart, that he could not enjoy the assemblies of the faithfull, declaring the happy condition of such as did and could; wishing and praying that he might again appear among them.

1. For the chief song-master upon the Gittith; A Psalm for the children of Korah. [See Psa.42. the annot.on v.1. for the chief song-master and Psa.8.v.1. for the Gittith; and Psalms 47:1. for the children of Korah.

2. How pleasant (Or amiable) are thy dwellings O LORD of hosts [Or thy Tabernacles, wherein thou art served and worshipped, which the Psalmist calleth dwellings in the plural, because the Tabernacle was divided into sundry partitions or quarters, see Psal.43.on v.3.]

3. My soul is desirous, and fainteth likewise for longing [i.e. I am even ready to faint and vanish away with great and continual longing, to repair once again to the house of the Lord or his Tabernacle. See the annot. Job 19.on v.27.] after the courts of the LORD: [understand the out-courts about the Tabernacle] my heart and my flesh cry unto the living God. [i.e. my body and soul is full of longing, when I call to mind, that God may shew me the favour yet, as to bring me again to appear among his people in the Tabernacle for to celebrate his solemn worship with people of God]

4. The very sparrow finds a house, and the Swallow a nest for her (self) where she layeth her young, by thy altars, LORD of hosts my King and my God. [As if he said, thy altar are the house and nest I long after, them I have such a great mind unto, and it is a most unworthy thing, that I am thus banished and removed from them all this while, through the power and violence of mine Enemies, when as the swallows are suffered to have their nests about them: oth. After thine altars, viz.cryeth my heart and my flesh.]

5. Right happy are they that dwell in thy house [Daily conversing there, viz. The Priests and Levites, and other godly people frequently there] they are praising thee continually. [or successively, onward, forward] Sela! [see Psalm 3.on v.3.]

6. Right happy is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart the beaten paths are. [i.e. whose hearts desire is to go upon the ways, which lead unto the Tabernacle, and are much beaten or frequented by the godly: or which delight and take pleasure to have the way of Gods Commandments before their eyes.]

7. When they pass through the valley of the mulberry-trees [Divers Expositors write, that this was a very dry valley, through which some of the Israelites, repairing to the Tabernacle, were to pass; and understand hereby, all manner of dry places, which have no water. Of this place where there was store of mulberry-trees, see 2 Sam.5.23. Some Interpreters retain here the Hebrew word Bacha, and render it the vale of tears, as the Greek (or Septuagint) do, or the vale of misery] they put him for a fountain (or make him a fountain) i.e. they hold and repute the LORD for their well-spring, whereby they are abundantly revived and comforted, and hereby they overcome the toilsomeness of this troublesome passage. Oth. They put it, to wit, that valley for a fountain, as if the Psalmist should say, they care not for the draught and toilsomeness of this valley, but pass it as cheerfully and contentedly, as if it were full of pleasant fountains] also the rain shall cover them very richly. [Heb. In or with blessing, that is, richly, plentifully, or abundantly, Ezek.34.26. are likewise the plentiful rainings called rainings of blessing: and 2 Cor.9.6. you read he that soweth in blessing, i.e. liberally.]

8. They go from vigour [Or from strength to strength, i.e. so lively and vigorously, that the further they go, the more cheerful they grow, till at length they arrive to the house of God in Zion. Oth. From company to company, i.e. they go in several companies, one party before, the Other after. See Psalms 42:5. Luke 2:44.] everyone (of them) shall appear before God in Zion. [viz. In the Tabernacle which was upon the hill of Zion, and where the Ark of the covenant was which God sate upon. Hence we may gather, that David was the Author or Penman of this Psalm, when he was driven away by Absalom; for then was the Ark of the Covenant upon Zion-hill, 2 Sam.6. and 1 Chron.16. but when David fled before Saul, then the Ark was at Kiriath-Jearim, 1 Sam.7.1.]

9. LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: take it to ears, (or listen to it) O God of Jacob. Sela!

10. O God our shield [That protectest and defendest us] behold [look graciously upon us] and regard the face [i.e. the Person, or sad condition] of thine anointed [Heb. Of thy Messiah, viz. Of King David, the type and father of Christ, after the flesh, who is likewise called the Messiah, or anointed of the Lord, 2 Sam.23.1. And so these words may be understood of King David, when he was driven away by Absalom, though others conceive them otherwise, and that David desireth to have his prayer heard for Christ the Messias sake.]

11. For one day in thy Courts [See above v.3.] is better then a thousand (elsewhere) [viz. Forth, or without thy Courts wheresoever] I chose rather to be at the threshold in the house of my God, [i.e. to live a low and mean condition, as if I might serve but in the office of a porter of the temple] then long to dwell in the tents of wickedness. [i.e. in such houses or places (let them seem never so great and pleasant) wherein there is practised wickedness or villainy.]

12. For God the LORD is a sun and shield [He enlighteneth and cherisheth his faithful servants, even as splendour, after a great deal of sad and dark weather endured. See Isa.60.19. Revel.21.23.] the LORD shall give grace and strength, he shall not withhold the good from them that walk in uprightness. [he turneth away all evil and mischief from his. See Gen.15.1.]

13. LORD of hosts, right happy is the man, that trusteth in thee.