Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

After Psalm 83 had been prayed in the temple in Jerusalem and the battle had been won by the singers and the army of King Jehoshaphat, these words literally came to pass: “When the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.” (2 Chron. 20:29)

1 Spurgeon

PSALM 84: HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE True Spiritual Happiness

The descendants of Korah, who were musicians and gatekeepers in house of the Lord, composed this beautiful psalm celebrating their closeness to God. It is written from the perspective of those who were constantly at his house, his gates, his courts and his altars. The Korahites lived on the east side of the Jordan River and had to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when it was their turn to minister in the tem- ple; their journey is described here. Jesus is seen as the ‘Living God’ , the ‘King/Protector’ , the ‘anointed one’ and the ‘sun’ whose light gives us grace and glory. Spurgeon says of this gem: ‘this is one of the most sweet of the Psalms of Peace 1 .’ It reveals keys to true spiritual happiness in the outline:

I HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO CAN LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE - 1-4 II HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE STRONG IN THE LORD - 5-7 III HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN YOU - 8-12

INTRODUCTION:

“For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a string in- strument (gittith).”

This is the beginning of the last four psalms of the descendants of Korah; 84, 85, 87, 88. There are 7 previous psalms; 42, 44-49 making a total of 11. Perhaps Heman, (being a descendant of Korah and director of the horn section) gave this to Jeduthan to play, (the director of the strings or ‘gittith’) be- cause of the sweetness of its content.

I HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO CAN LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE - 1-4

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.” (1, 2)

There are two perspectives concerning the ‘dwelling place’ mentioned here. The first is that the dwelling place is the tent of David on Mount Zion and this writer is in exile with his king during the re- bellion of Absalom. The second is that it is the Temple of Solomon with all its courts, gates and the al- tars of sacrifice and incense. Wherever God dwells is lovely and a place we are to desire intensely to enter and rejoice before him. Yesterday, it was in temples made with hands; today he lives in the peo- ple that have received his new life and express their faith with joyful worship. “And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:5) The title ‘living God’ is used only here and in Psalm 42:2 in the Psalms. It is pointing to Jesus who is ‘the Author of life’ (Acts 3:15) who alone gives us created life and resurrected, eternal life. We are liv- ing stones because he is a ‘living God’ . Wherever there is joyful worship there is life and those who par- ticipate are joining in the ministry of the descendants of Korah. “Even the sparrow finds a home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God! How happy are those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude” (3, 4)

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