Text: Psalm 84:1-12
Theme: “Walk uprightly”
Introduction: Charles Spurgeon called this Psalm the Pearl of Psalms. Psalm 23 is most popular, 51 is most plaintive, 103 is most joyful, 119 is most deeply experimental. It is one of the sweetest of the Psalms of peace. Pilgrimage to the tabernacle was a glorious feature of Jewish life, and staying in the temple for a day is a glorious experience. (ref:christianity.com).
The word “Blessed” has been used three times in this Psalm 84 (Psalm 84: 4, 5, 12). It describes the happiness of those who are lodged like the sons of Korah round about the house of God. (1 Chronicle 9:27) (ref:bible-studys.org).
Today, I would like to meditate with you on this wonderful Psalm from the Perspective of Stay True in Christ. We are going to see that under the theme ‘Walk Uprightly.’ How long is the question by many, till death is the answer of the followers of Christ.
Let us see the three blessedness:
Longing for the Temple
Lodging in the Temple
Leaning on the God of the Temple
God never holds the blessings from those who walk uprightly. We long to go to the temple, we love to dwell at the temple of God and lean on God of the Temple, God of the blessings.
1. Longing for the Temple (Vv. 1-4)
The Psalmist describes the beauty of the house of the Lord. He ascribes the beauty of holiness after describing the glorious look of the Temple (Psalm 84:1), he expresses that his soul yarns for the house of the Lord, and it faints or longs for the Temple courts of the Lord. He cried out for the living God from the bottom of the heart and the flesh, and he longed for it (Psalm 84:2).
The word ‘lovely’ refers to the loveliness of Solomon. The Hebrew word is “Yedidot” derives from ‘Yedidah or Jedidiah’ the name given for Solomon at his birth (2 kings 12:25). This temple is lovely because it was built by Solomon (Jerome Commentary).
The house or the dwelling plays a vital role in our lives as an instrument in making ourselves, creating and formation of our life courses. After all our daily tours, work, and business, we return to our own house, and it gives us immense joy while we enter into our home. The reception of the beloved spouse, the smile of the children and the joyful jump of the Kids comforts us and reenergizes our body, soul and mind.
Any house is identified, according to dwellers, the name of the house has been established accordingly, in the street and locality. The joint family or the nuclear family reflects certain characters in the upbringings of their children and the adjustment of the household. The personality and spiritual characters are the outcomes of household activities. The characters of patience, compassion, passion and anger management, desires, and desire management have been designed by the makeup of the family size and feel.
The Sparrow and swallow found a place in the altar to dwell and enjoy their lives. A sparrow is an example of a bird of insignificance, and the swallow is a picture of restlessness. Likewise, the insignificant person can find his place in the house of God, and the restless man can find his rest near God’s altar, like a nest (Psalm 84:3).
Any building and its designs reflect the status of a family. The sound and silent atmosphere of a house during the dawn and dusk reflect their spirituality and divinity. How do they relate with one another and their neighbours? Those who trusted on their horses had been defeated and Fallen in the Exodus history (Exodus 14:4,7,9,18,28).
2. Lodging in the Temple (Vv. 5-9)
The second part of the Psalm commences with the second blessedness. Dwelling refers to a shelter or a house. Dwelling in Jerusalem means dwelling in Temple which was constructed in Jerusalem. Dwell in the Lord refers to dwell in the promised land Canaan. Our stay in the Church, our stay with the Lord is important. The congregation helps one another to have a warm experience in Christ.
They never give up their journey. Their final destination is Zion. Their goal is to appear before the Lord victorious (Psalm 84:5). They follow in the footsteps of Christ. The sufferings, the tears and the crucifixion can’t stop their spiritual journey, and they will reach the end with the Banner of Christ. In all these things, we are more than the conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37-39). The strengthening of the Lord becomes very important for our faith journey. (1 Samuel 30:17-20).
He says those who have strength in the Lord are blessed. Their strength is in the Lord, and they love to grow in the Lord, they overcome their defeats, they turn their tears into joy. The pool of tears had turned into a pond of joy and celebration (Psalm 84:5-6). They go from strength to strength till they appear in Zion (Psalm 84:7).
The people who dwell in the House of the Lord PRAISE HIM always. Better is one day in your court than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:10). The house of wicked has no rejoicing.
Augustine of Hippo wrote a detailed commentary explaining, "For one day in Your courts is better than a thousand", meant one peaceful everlasting day near God is preferable to many days in the world. A doorkeeper is first in, last out. He calls people to stay with him.
Baca signifies to ‘weep’. This present world is to us like this valley of weeping; in our passage through it, we are refreshed by the streams of divine grace, flowing down from the great fountain of consolation. The rich relationship with God is a never-ending supply of strength for the journey, even in difficult seasons (ref: enduringword.com). Judges 6:28-31 expresses the weak strength of the horses against those who gained strength in the Lord. Worship never be done mechanically.
Matthew 11:28-30 come and rest with me, come and see where I lodged (John 1:37-39). A day with Christ has changed the lives of Andrew and Simon Peter, they became disciples, evangelists and alter martyrs. Few hours with Jesus had changed the life course of the Samaritan Woman, Legion and so on.
Staying with Christ moulds our character, our plans and our aims in life. Staying with Christ changes our Priorities and purposes. The Pharisees loved synagogues provided they might have the uppermost seats there, that they might make a figure (Matthew 23:6). Tax collectors loved the temple for confession and cleansing. Whereas, the Pharisee loved the temple to accuse and self-justification (Luke 18:9-14), attitude matters.
3. Leaning on Temple and God (Vv. 10-12)
The Lord is a Sun and Shield. He never withholds any good thing from those who trust in Him and walk blamelessly. Therefore, trust in the Almighty God. The promise of God’s not withholding any good thing is for those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).
Psalm 20:7 says, “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God”. So, “the King rejoices in your strength, O Lord” (Psalm 21:1). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. The house of the Lord renews our strength.
ACCORDING TO CALVIN: Jehovah God is our sun and shield. The idea conveyed by the comparison derived from the sun is, that as the sun by his light vivifies, nourishes, and rejoices the world, so the benign countenance of God fills with joy the hearts of his people, or rather, that they neither live nor breathe except in so far as he shines upon them. The term, the shield is meant, that our salvation, which would otherwise be periled by countless dangers, is in perfect safety under his protection. The favour of God in communicating life to us would be far from adequate to the exigencies of our condition, unless at the same time, amid so many dangers, he interposed his power as a buckler to defend us.
His blessing is on those who trust in Him (Psalm 84:12). To walk uprightly means to live before God with integrity. It does not imply perfection, but it does mean that you walk openly before God, confessing your sin. Your trust in His grace and strength helps to overcome Sin. You seek to please God by obeying His commandments. Trust in the Lord and do good (Psalm 37:3), never give place for doubt and wavering mind. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and mind, and soul. Lean not in your understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Jeremiah 17:5-8 describes two characters and their end. Here is a comparison of men who put their trust in a man and the Lord and result. Trusting in man ends in curses and defeats and failures whereas trusting in God ends in blessedness, greenery filed and joyful celebration.
Many are the woes of the wicked, but God’s unfailing hand is with the one who trusts in Him (Psalm 32:10). They are like mount ZION without shake (Psalm 125:1). The perfect peace result from trusting in the Lord, who is the eternal rock (Isaiah 26:3-4).
John Gill refers to the references in the Targum and says that happiness is such that trust in him, whether they have the ability or opportunity of going up to the house of the Lord, or not. The Targum interprets that "blessed is the man that trusted in thy Word” for Jeremiah 17:5. So trusting in the Lord means trusting in His word, more than making trips to the Holy land and Jerusalem. So, they shall enjoy perfect peace and solid comfort here and eternal happiness hereafter.
BARNES NOTES: Blessed in every respect. Happy in God’s friendship, in worshipping him, in his sustaining grace in times of trial. True blessedness - the real, genuine, deep, permanent joy comes out of trusting in God, of believing in God, of confiding in his character, and of leaning on him in every situation in life, of relying on his mercy, on his grace, and his faithfulness, in the hour of death (ref:studylight.org).
In 1714, MATTHEW HENRY, the well-known pastor and Bible commentator, was on his deathbed at age 52. He was relatively young and had not finished his commentary (others finished it from his notes). He had endured the loss of his first wife and three of his nine children. He could have complained about his hard life. But he said to a friend, “You have been used to take notice of the sayings of dying men. It is mine—that a life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable and pleasant life that one can live in the present world.” (ref: bible.org).
Conclusion: Long for the Temple, Lodge in the Temple, and Lean on the God of the Temple.
