Bible Study - Psalm 84

Psalm 84 was written by someone from the Levite group known as the Sons of Korah. You can read about them in 1 Chronicles 6:31-38 and their descendants, as famous temple singers, in 1 Chronicles 15:17 and 16:41-42. Psalms attributed to them are Psalms 42,44-49,85, and 87-88, along with this psalm. The term “Gittith” in the introduction is likely a musical note, maybe encouraging the use of stringed instruments for this psalm, some think.

The psalmist longs for “the courts of the Lord” in the temple in Jerusalem (Psalm 84:1-2). The temple is called the Lord’s “dwelling place” because this is where God would sometimes show His glory and communicate with His people through His Word, as we have heard in previous studies. People knew that God was not limited only to being in the temple. Isaiah had written, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me?’” (Isaiah 66:1-2). The temple was also the place for God’s people to “sing for joy to the living God” in worship and to bring their gifts and sacrifices to the Lord (Psalm 84:2,4).

Though they were scattered in many places, every Jewish male was expected to come to the temple in Jerusalem three times a year, for the three major festivals: Passover, Weeks (Pentecost), and Booths.(See Exodus 34:23-24.) For some reason, though, the psalmist has not been able to get to Jerusalem as he should. He is envious of even the birds that are able to build nests for themselves near the altars or in the walls of the temple, close to the Lord of hosts, King and God (Psalm 84:3). He dreams of making the pilgrimage to Zion, (Jerusalem and the Temple), traveling the highways to Zion in his heart, as if he were with other pilgrims (Psalm 84:5). They would go through the Valley of Baca (which some translate as “the valley of tears”). The journey is long and hard, but the Lord provides springs and rain and continuing strength so that eventually they can appear before God in Zion, in His temple (Psalm 84:6-7).

The psalmist wishes he could be with those in Jerusalem. “One day in the Lord’s courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere," he says (Psalm 84:10). In fact, he would rather be a doorkeeper, just at the threshold of “the house of the Lord,” than to “dwell (maybe in a self-centered, lavish way) in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10).
The psalmist knows that being in the presence of the Lord is such a great blessing. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, bestowing favor and honor, and withholding no good thing from His faithful people” (Psalm 84:11). We have heard very similar words in many places about the “goodness and mercy” of our God, provided so generously to us (Psalm 23:6, Matthew 7:11, James 1:17, and Titus 3:4, etc.).

In fact, some think that portions of this psalm are prophetic of our Lord Jesus. The psalmist prays, in Psalm 84:7-8, that the Lord God would “give ear” to him and “hear his prayer.” He asks God to “behold our shield; look on the face of Your anointed!” Kings and prophets were anointed; but there does not seem to be reference to them in this psalm. More likely, this is a reference to the Anointed One, the Messiah whom God promised one day to send - Jesus our Savior.

Jesus was so eager to be in His Father’s House, in the temple, when he was 12 years old. He knew He belonged there and did not want to leave. He knew He needed to be there, talking and learning, especially at Passover, though His family did not understand (Luke 2:41-52). He also spent much time teaching in the temple in the days just before His last Passover meal and the giving of the good gift of Holy Communion. He went through many a “valley of tears” in His life and ministry and ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Sparrows had places to nest in the temple, but Jesus had to say, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20).

Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi 4:2 of “the Sun of righteousness rising with healing in His wings” and of Luke 1:78: “the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high.” Jesus is our “Sun and our Shield,” providing us “the shield of faith” in Him, through the Holy Spirit (Psalm 84:11 and Ephesians 6:16). Jesus is the only one who “walked uprightly” all the time, “fulfilling all righteousness” for us, in our place (Psalm 84:11 and Matthew 3:15). Finally, we get the benefit of His perfect trust in His heavenly Father, so that we are saved by His grace through faith in Him that He provides for us (Ephesians 2:8-9). (Yes, “blessed is the one who trusts in Jesus above all - the Anointed One of God and our Savior” (Psalm 84:8-9, 12).

Much more could be said related to this psalm , but let me add just a few things. The New Testament, of course, takes the emphasis away from the temple in Jerusalem and puts the focus on Christ Jesus. Jesus, talking about Himself, said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up… He was speaking about the temple of His body” (John 2:18-22). Talking with a Samaritan woman, Jesus said, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain (in Samaria) nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:19-26). Jesus clearly identified Himself in this passage as the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One.

Jesus also predicted the destruction of the temple, which happened in 70 AD, never to be rebuilt to this day. (See Matthew 24:1-2.) However, as Psalm 84 describes, believers still longed for and needed opportunities to worship their Lord and receive His blessings. The early Christian church was no different. Right after Pentecost, we hear that the baptized believers in Christ “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (God’s Word, the Scriptures) and the fellowship (gathering together to encourage one another) and the breaking of bread (fellowship meals and the Lord’s Supper - and more baptisms) and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). They met in the temple and in homes and later on in what we now call churches (places of assembly).

The importance of gathering together around God’s Word and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) is still just as great today. The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day (the return of Christ) drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25). Especially in these post-Covid days, these words are very important. Many people got out of the habit of regular worship and still have not come back, even though they could. May we all be led to “long for the courts of the Lord,” as Psalm 84:1-2ff. says.

One last reminder. Our Lutheran Study Bible (ESV) notes say (p.929), “The unknown reason for the separation (of the psalmist from worship in the temple) makes the psalm more universal, aptly prayed by shut-ins, prisoners, travelers, Sunday workers, and all who have been temporarily separated from congregational worship.” There are other reasons, too. People are ill or disabled or don’t have transportation or they are in a place where there are few or no Christian churches or faithful Biblical churches, etc. That is why podcasts and streaming worship services and services on alternate days, etc., are being provided in many places these days. May we keep praying for people who can’t get to worship and think about how we can be of help to them, as we are able, and not neglect them. Everyone needs encouragement and the Word of God, centered in Christ our Savior.