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Psalm Eighty-four
New King James Version (NKJV)
YLT
To
the Overseer. -- `On the Gittith By sons of Korah.' –
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 84
To the chief Musician upon Gittith
A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Of
"gittith"
See Gill on Psalm 8:1. The Targum renders it here
as
there
"to
praise upon the harp that was brought from Gath;'
and
of the sons of Korah
See Gill on Psalm 42:1 and the argument of this psalm
is thought to be much the same with that and Psalm 43:1. It was
very probably
written
by David; to whom the Targum
on Psalm 84:8
ascribes it; though it does not
bear his name
the spirit it breathes
and the language in which it is written
show it to be his; though not when he was an exile among the Philistines
in
the times of Saul
as some in Kimchi think; for then the ark was not in Zion
as is suggested Psalm 84:7
but elsewhere; for it was
brought thither by David
after he was king of Israel
2 Samuel 7:2
but rather when he fled from
his son Absalom; though there is nothing in it that necessarily supposes him to
be banished
or at a distance from the house of God; only he expresses his
great affection for it
and his earnest desires for returning seasons and
opportunities of worshipping God in it; and the general view of it is to set
forth the blessedness of such who frequently attend divine service: the
inscription of it
in the Syriac version
is
"for
the sons of Korah
when David meditated to go out of Zion
to worship in the
house of God: and it is called a prophecy concerning Christ
and concerning his
church
'
as
it undoubtedly is. Bishop Patrick thinks it was composed by some pious Levite
in the country
when Sennacherib's army had blocked up the way to Jerusalem
and hindered them from waiting upon the service of God at the temple; and
others refer it to the times of the Babylonish captivity; and both Jarchi and
Kimchi interpret it of the captivity
when the temple and altars of God were in
ruins; but this does not agree with the loveliness of them
in which they were
at the time of writing this psalm.
Psalm 84:1 How
lovely is Your tabernacle
O Lord of hosts!
YLT
1 A Psalm. How beloved Thy
tabernacles
Jehovah of Hosts!
How amiable are thy tabernacles
O Lord of hosts! Which were
erected in the wilderness by Moses at the command of God
and brought into the
land of Canaan
where the Lord took up his dwelling: here he was worshipped
and sacrifices offered to him; here he granted his presence
and commanded his
blessing; here it was in David's time; for as yet the temple was not built: it
is called "tabernacles"
in the plural number
because of its several
parts: hence we read of a first and second tabernacle
Hebrews
9:2
there was the holy place
and the holy of holies
besides the court of the people; unless it can be thought to refer to the
tabernacle David had built for the ark in Zion
and to the old tabernacle which
was at Gibeon
2
Samuel 6:17 the whole was a representation of the church of
God
and the ordinances of it; which is the dwelling place of God
Father
Son
and Spirit
where he is worshipped
his presence enjoyed
his word is preached
ordinances administered
and the sacrifices of prayer and praise offered up; on
account of all which it is very "amiable": what made the tabernacle
of Moses lovely was not the outside
which was very mean
as the church of God
outwardly is
through persecution
affliction
and poverty; but what was
within
having many golden vessels in it
and those typical of things much more
precious: moreover
here the priests were to be seen in their robes
doing
their duty and service
and
at certain times
the high priest in his rich
apparel; here were seen the sacrifices slain and offered
by which the people
were taught the nature of sin
the strictness of justice
and the necessity and
efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ; here the Levites were heard singing their
songs
and blowing their trumpets: but much more amiable are the church of God
and its ordinances in Gospel times
where Christ
the great High Priest
is
seen in the glories of his person
and the fulness of his grace; where Zion's
priests
or the ministers of the Gospel
stand clothed
being full fraught with
salvation
and the tidings of it; where Christ is openly set forth
as
crucified and slain
in the ministry of the word
and the administration of
ordinances; here the Gospel trumpet is blown
and its joyful sound echoed
forth
and songs of love and grace are sung by all believers: besides
what
makes these tabernacles still more lovely are
the presence of God here
so
that they are no other than the house of God
and gate of heaven; the
provisions that are here made
and the company that are here enjoyed; to which
may be added
the properties of those dwellings; they are lightsome
like the
habitations of Israel in Goshen; they are healthful
no plague comes nigh them;
the inhabitants of them are not sick; their sins are forgiven them; they are
safe
sure
and quiet dwelling places; see Isaiah
32:18 and they are lovely to such
and to such only
who have
seen the unamiableness of sin
and are sick of its tents
and of enjoying its
fading pleasures
and to whom Christ is precious
and altogether lovely: these
have an intense affection for him
and for his house
word
worship
and
ordinances
and with admiration say
"how amiable"
&c.
Psalm 84:2 2 My soul longs
yes
even
faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
YLT
2My soul desired
yea
it
hath also been consumed
For the courts of Jehovah
My heart and my flesh cry
aloud unto the living God
My soul longeth
yea
even fainteth for the courts of the Lord
.... The
courts of the tabernacle now at Gibeon
though the ark was in Zion
2 Chronicles 1:3 as the court of the
priests
and the court of the Israelites
in which latter the people in common
stood: after these David longed; he longed to enter into them
and stand in
them
and worship God there; which soul longings and hearty desires were the
fruits and evidences of true grace
of being born again; so newly born souls
desire the sincere milk of the word
and the breasts of Gospel ordinances
as a
newly born babe desires its mother's milk and breast; and he even
"fainted"
through disappointment
or length of time
being impatient
of the returning season and opportunity of treading in them; see Psalm 42:1
my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God; he only
inwardly desired
and secretly fainted
but audibly cried out in his distress
and verbally expressed
great vehemence
his desire to enjoy the living God: it
was not merely the courts
but God in them
that he wanted; even that God which
has life in himself
with whom is the fountain of life; who gives life to
others
natural
spiritual
and eternal
and in whose favour is life; yea
whose lovingkindness is better than life
and which was the thing longed and
thirsted after: and these desires were the desires of the whole man
soul and
body; not only he cried with his mouth and lips
signified by his flesh
but
with his heart also
sincerely and heartily; his heart went along with his
mouth.
Psalm 84:3 3 Even the sparrow has found
a home
And the swallow a nest for herself
Where she may lay her young—Even
Your altars
O Lord
of hosts
My King and my God.
YLT
3(Even a sparrow hath found
a house
And a swallow a nest for herself
Where she hath placed her brood
)
Thine altars
O Jehovah of Hosts
My king and my God.
Yea
the sparrow hath found an house
.... One or
other of the houses of men
where to build its nest; or its nest itself is
called an house
as it seems to be explained in the next clause: the word here
used signifies any bird; we translate it a "sparrow"
and so Kimchi;
the Targum renders it the "dove"; but the Midrash is
"it
is not said as a dove
but as a sparrow: the dove takes its young
and returns
to its place; not so the sparrow:'
and the swallow a nest for herself
where she may lay her young; the
Septuagint
Vulgate Latin
Syriac
and Arabic versions
have it the
"turtle"
the stock
or ring dove: and so the Targum
which
paraphrases this clause
in connection with the following
thus:
"and
the turtle a nest for herself
whose young are fit to be offered up upon thine
altars:'
it
is translated a swallow in Proverbs 26:2 and has its name in Hebrew
from liberty
it not loving confinement
or because it freely visits the houses
of men without fear:
even thine altars
O Lord of hosts; that is
as some
understand it
there the swallow builds a nest
and lays her young; but it can
hardly be thought that this could be done in them
since the priests were so
often officiating at them
and there were so much noise
fire
and smoke there;
it must be "at the sides of them"
as the Syriac and Arabic versions
render it
or near unto them; or rather in the rafters of the house where they
were; and the rafters and beams of the temple were of cedar
and in such
turtles have their nestsF19Vide Theocrit. Idyl. 5. ; or in the
houses adjoining to the tabernacle; or in the trees that might be near it; see Joshua 24:26
and so the psalmist seems to
envy and begrudge the place these birds had
and wishes he had the same
nearness as they. Kimchi observes
that if this is to be understood of David
when in the land of the Philistines
at that time high places and altars were
lawful everywhere
and there birds might build their nests; but if of the
captivity
the birds found a place and built their nests in the ruins of the
temple and altars; and so Jarchi; for as for the temple
it was not built in
the times of David; besides
when built
had a scarecrow on itF20"To
drive away birds"
or "to destroy them"
Misn. Middot
c. 4. s.
6. Maimon. & Bartenora
in ib. : though the words may be considered as in
connection with Psalm 84:3 and what goes before be read in
a parenthesis
as they are by R. Judah Ben Balsam
cited by R. Aben Ezra;
"my
soul longeth for the courts of the Lord
crieth out for the living God: even
thine altars
O Lord of hosts';
that
is
for them; or may be supplied thus
"I
desire thine altars
O Lord of hosts'F21So Noldius
p. 23. :
as
the birds above mentioned seek for a nest
and desire to find one
and have
what they want
and nature prompts them to; so I desire a place in thine house
and courts
and near thine altars; see Matthew 8:20
or thus; as these birds
rejoice
when they have found an house or nest for themselves and young; so
should I rejoice
might I be favoured once more with attendance on thine
altars
O Lord of hosts: mention is made of "altars"
referring both
to the altar of burnt sacrifice
and the altar of incense
both typical of
Christ
Hebrews 13:10 and of his sacrifice and
intercession; both which believers have to do with: it is added
my King
and my God; when
by attending at
his tabernacle
courts
and altars
he would testify his subjection to him as
his King
and his faith in him
and thankfulness to him
as his God; see John 20:28.
Psalm 84:4 4 Blessed are those
who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
YLT
4O the happiness of those
inhabiting Thy house
Yet do they praise Thee. Selah.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house
.... The house
of God
in his tabernacles and courts; referring to the priests and Levites
who were frequently officiating there
in their turns
night and day; and to
the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Gibeon
where the ark and tabernacle were
who
had frequent opportunities of attendance on divine worship: and happy are those
who have a name and place in the church of God
who abide there
and never go
out; see Psalm 65:4
the Targum is
"blessed
are the righteous
&c.'
and
the Arabic version
"blessed are all they that dwell
&c"
they
are happy on account of their settlement
and also on account of their work
as
follows:
they will be still praising thee; which is delightful
employment; for praise is pleasant and comely; and in which they are
continually and constantly engaged
as their mercies return upon them
as they
do every day; and especially on Lord's days
or at the stated times of public
worship; such will bless and praise the Lord
both for temporal and spiritual
blessings
as long as they live; see Hebrews 13:15.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 84:5 5 Blessed is the man
whose strength is in You
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
YLT
5O the happiness of a man
whose strength is in Thee
Highways [are] in their heart.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee
Or
"for
thee"
as some choose to render the words; who have bodily strength from
the Lord
for his worship and service
to go up to his house
and serve him:
this
with what follows in the two next verses
seem to refer to the males in
Israel going up from different parts of the land to Jerusalem to worship
who
had strength so to do; when the women and children
for want thereof
stayed at
home
which was their infelicity
as it was the happiness of the males that they
had ability for such a journey and service: the Targum is
"whose
strength is in thy Word;'
the
essential Word
the Messiah
who have spiritual strength in and from him; see Isaiah 45:24
without this there is no
heart to go up to the house of God; and this will carry through a great deal of
bodily weakness; and by it saints overcome the temptations of Satan to the
contrary
and perform the several duties of religion:
in whose heart are the ways of them; or "thy ways"F24"Semitae
tuae"
Tigurine version; so Kimchi. ; the ways of God
the ways of Zion
the ways to the house of God; who have these ways at heart
who ask the way to
Zion with their faces thitherwards; who have not only ability
but inclination
and readiness of mind
to walk in them; whose hearts are bent upon them
regarding no objection
difficulty
and discouragement; who stir up themselves
and others to go up to the house of God
and are heartily desirous of being
taught his ways
and walking in them
and take great pleasure and delight
therein; they are ways of pleasantness and paths of peace to them; the word
properly signifies "highways"F25מסלות
"viae stratae"
Montanus
Cocceius.
ways cast up. Some render it
"ascensions in his heart"F26"Ascensiones in corde
suo"
V. L. so Sept. ; the affections of whose heart go up to God
like
pillars of smoke perfumed with frankincense
are after God
his ways and
worship
and are set on things above.
Psalm 84:6 6 As they
pass through the Valley of Baca
They make it a spring; The rain also covers it
with pools.
YLT
6Those passing through a
valley of weeping
A fountain do make it
Blessings also cover the director.
Who passing through the valley of Baca
.... Kimchi
interprets it a valley of springs
or fountains
taking the word to be of the
same signification as in Job
38:16
and mention being made of a well and pools in it
or
of mulberry trees
which grow
as he says
in a place where there is no water
and such a place was this; and therefore pools or ditches were dug in it
and
built of stone
to catch rain water for the supply of travellers; and so Aben Ezra
says
it is the name of a place or valley where were trees
called mulberries;
and is by some thought to be the same with the valley of Rephaim
where we read
of mulberry trees
2
Samuel 5:22
the Septuagint render it "the valley of
weeping"
and the Vulgate Latin version "the valley of tears";
which have led some interpreters to think of Bochim
a place so called from the
children of Israel weeping there
Judges
2:1
it does not seem to design any particular place
through
which all the males could not pass from the different parts of the land of
Israel
as they came to Zion at the three grand festivals; but any difficult
and troublesome place
any rough valley
or dry and thirsty land
where there
was no water: so saints are passengers
travellers
or pilgrims
in this world
and often pass through a valley; are in a low valley
through the weakness of
grace; a rough one
through affliction; and a dark one
through desertion and
temptation; and a valley of weeping and tears
on account both of outward and
inward trials. The way to Zion
or to the house and ordinances of God below
lies through the valley of weeping; none come rightly thither but who come
weeping over their sins and unworthiness; or by repentance towards God
and by
looking by faith to Christ whom they have pierced
and mourning for it; see Jeremiah
50:4 and the way to Zion above lies through a vale of tears
shed in plenty by reason of sin
a man's own
original and actual
the sins of
professors and profane
by reason of Satan's temptations
the hidings of God's
face
and the distresses
divisions
and declensions of Zion; yet relief is
afforded
help is given
refreshment is had
in this valley
for such
passengers:
they make it a well; either the valley a well
with their tears
an hyperbolical expression
like that in Lamentations 2:18 or they account it as
such
a dry valley
as if it was a well watered place; look upon all their toil
and labour in going to the house of God as a pleasure; and esteem all reproach
afflictions
and persecutions
they meet with from the world
or relations
for
the sake of religion
as riches and honours; or they find a supply
which is
kindly and graciously given
even rivers in high places
and fountains in the
midst of valleys
streams of divine love
and precious promises in a
wilderness
Isaiah 41:18 "or make him a well"F1מעין ישיתוהו "fontem
constituunt eum"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Ainsworth; "Deum
ipsum"
Piscator
Gejerus
Michaelis. : that is
God himself; they account
of him as such; they find him to be so
and make use of him as one
who is a
well of living waters; such are his love
his covenant
and his grace; such are
his Son and his fulness
his Spirit
the gifts and graces of it; all which
yield a rich supply:
the rain also filleth the pools; of the word and
ordinances: "or the rain covereth with blessings"F2ברכות יעטה מורה
"quam in benedictionibus operit pluvia"
Cocceius. ; the rain of
divine love covers the passengers with spiritual blessings
which flow from it;
Christ
whose coming is compared to the rain
brings a train of blessings with
him to his people; and the Gospel
which drops as the rain
and distils as the
dew
is full of the blessings of Christ; is a glorious revelation of them
and
is the means of conveying them to the saints; or the "teacher
covereth"
or "is covered with blessings"F3"Benedictionibus
operietur docens"
Montanus; "benedictiones induit doctor"
Gejerus
Michaelis; so Gussetius
p. 725. ; the great Teacher of all
God
Father
Son
and Spirit; the Father teaches all his children to great profit
and advantage
and covers or blesses them with all spiritual blessings; the Son
is a teacher come from God
and is covered or loaded with the blessings of
goodness
and communicates them to his disciples and followers; and the Spirit
teacheth all things
and takes of the things of Christ
the blessings of his
grace
and covers his people with them; and all under teachers
ministers of
the Gospel
are clothed with salvation
and come forth in the fulness of the
blessing of the Gospel of Christ.
Psalm 84:7 7 They go from strength to
strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.[b]
YLT
7They go from strength unto
strength
He appeareth unto God in Zion.
They go from strength to strength
.... Whose strength is in
the Lord
and in whose heart are his ways
and who pass through the valley of
Baca
and find a well of supply
and pools of blessings there; they renew their
spiritual strength; they grow stronger and stronger every step they take; the
way of the Lord is strength unto them: or "from army to army"
or
"from company to company"F4מחיל אל חיל "de exercitu in
exercitum"
Pagninus; so Piscator
Junius & Tremellius; "de turma
ad turmam": Vatablus
Cocceius.
as Kimchi
alluding to the companies in
which they went up to the feasts; see Luke 2:44 when those who were more zealous
or more able to undergo journeys
would outgo the rest
and first overtake one
company
and then another
and get to Zion first: or from victory to victory:
first overcoming one enemy
and then another
as sin
Satan
and the world
being more than conquerors through him that has loved them: or "from doctrine
to doctrine"F5"De doctrina ad doctrinam"
so some in
Vatablus. ; being led first into one truth
and then into another
as they were
able to bear them; and so following on to know the Lord
and increasing in the
knowledge of him: or "from class to class"F6"Ex
cohorte
vel classe rudiorum et infirmiorum
ad classem adultiorum"
Gussetius
p. 725. ; from the lower to an higher form in the school of Christ;
so Jarchi interprets it
from school to school; and the Targum
from the
sanctuary to the school; compare with this Romans 1:17.
everyone of them in Zion appeareth before God; three times
in the year
but not empty
Exodus 34:20 so the saints appear before
God in his church below
presenting their persons
souls and bodies
prayers
and praises
as holy and spiritual sacrifices unto him; than which nothing is
more desirable to them. This is the wished for happiness
and the issue of
their travel
toil
and labour; see Psalm 42:2
and they shall appear before
him
and in his presence
in the
church above; when Christ shall appear
they
shall appear with him in glory
and be like him
and see him as he is; even
everyone of them
not one shall be wanting; because he is great in power
not
one of them shall fail; and he will present them to his Father
saying
lo
I and the children thou hast given me: some render
the words
"the God of gods will appear"
or "be seen in
Zion"F7יראה אל
אלהים בציון "videbitur
Deus deorum in Sijon"
Pagninus Montanus; "videtur Deus deorum in
Sion"
Musculus; so Sept. and Eth. ; there Jehovah manifests himself
and
grants his gracious presence; this is the mount of the Lord
in which he is and
shall be seen
Genesis 22:14.
Psalm 84:8 8 O Lord God of hosts
hear my prayer; Give ear
O God of Jacob! Selah
YLT
8O Jehovah
God of Hosts
hear my prayer
Give ear
O God of Jacob. Selah.
O Lord God of hosts
hear my prayer
.... the redemption of
the captives
says Kimchi; for the building of the house
the temple
according
to Jarchi; but rather for the courts of God
an opportunity of attending them
and for the presence of God in them; see Psalm
84:2 in which he might hope to succeed
from the
consideration of the Lord's being the God of hosts
or armies
in heaven and in
earth; and so was able to do everything for him
and more for him than he could
ask or think; his arm was not shortened
nor his ear heavy
Isaiah
59:1
and as this character is expressive of his power
the
following is of his grace:
give ear
O God of Jacob; he being the covenant
God of the people of Israel in general
and of David in particular; from whence
he might comfortably conclude he would give ear to him
and it carries in it an
argument why he should.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 84:9 9 O God
behold our shield
And
look upon the face of Your anointed.
YLT
9Our shield
see
O God
And
behold the face of Thine anointed
Behold
O God our shield
.... Which may be
considered either as the character of God
who is addressed
who was David's
shield
and the shield of his people
to protect and defend them from their
enemies
and is the shield of all the saints; this favour encompasses them as a
shield
and his truth is their shield and buckler; his veracity and
faithfulness
in keeping covenant and promises; and so is his power
by which
they are kept unto salvation; see Psalm 3:3
or else it belongs to other
persons and things the psalmist desires God would behold
in agreement with the
following clause. Jarchi interprets it of the house of the sanctuary
as a
shield unto them; much better Aben Ezra of the king their protector; and makes
the sense of the petition to be
that God would save our king; it is best to
apply it to Christ
afterwards called a sun and shield; see on Psalm 84:11
and to whom the following
clause belongs:
and look upon the face of thine anointed; meaning
either himself
David
the anointed of the God of Jacob
who was anointed with
oil
in a literal sense
king of Israel
by the appointment and order of the
Lord himself; and his request is
that God would look upon his outward state
and condition
which was a distressed and an afflicted one
with an eye of pity
and compassion
he being deprived of sanctuary worship and service
and of the
presence of God there; see Psalm 132:1 or rather he has a view to the
Messiah
the Lord's Christ
or Anointed
the anointed Prophet
Priest
and
King
anointed with the oil of gladness
the grace of the Spirit
without
measure; and so the sense is
that though he and his petitions were unworthy of
notice
yet he entreats that God would look upon his Son the Messiah
and for
his sake hear and answer him; look upon his person
and accept him in him
the
Beloved; upon his future obedience and righteousness
and impute it to him;
upon his sufferings
and death he was to endure
to save him from his sins;
upon his blood to be shed for the remission of them
as he had looked upon the
blood of the passover
upon the doorposts of the Israelites
and saved them
when he destroyed the firstborn of Egypt; and upon his sacrifice
which is of a
sweet smelling savour; and upon his fulness
for the supply of his wants.
Kimchi takes it to be a prayer for the speedy coming of the Messiah.
Psalm 84:10 10 For a day in Your courts is
better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than
dwell in the tents of wickedness.
YLT
10For good [is] a day in Thy
courts
O Teacher! I have chosen rather to be at the threshold
In the house of
my God
Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand
.... "One
day"; so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin
and all the Oriental versions;
and so the Targum
Jarchi
and Kimchi
interpret it; one day in the house of
God
in the world to come
so Arama: though rather reference is had to the
seventh day sabbath
then in being; and which with the psalmist was a delight
holy and honourable; and though now abolished
as to the time of it
with the
rest of the ceremonial law
there is yet a day of public worship
called the
Lord's day
and the day of the Son of man; and one of these days spent in the
courts of the Lord
in an attendance on the word and ordinances
in worshipping
in the fear of God
in spirit and in truth; in divine service
assisted by the
Spirit of God
doing everything in faith
from love
and with a view to the
glory of God; a day thus spent in religious exercises "is better than a
thousand"; that is
than a thousand days; not than a thousand days spent
in like manner
but than a thousand other days
common day
of the week; or
than a thousand in other places
especially in places of sin
and in the
company of wicked men; one day in God's house employed in spiritual exercises
and enjoying communion with him
is better than a thousand days in any of the
houses of Satan
of sinful pleasure
or in the houses of sinful men; better as
to peace of mind
solid pleasure
real profit
and true honour:
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God; in the
meanest post and place there; alluding to the Levites
who were some of them
porters
and kept the doors of the Lord's house
1 Chronicles 26:1 or to the beggars that
lay at the gates of the temple for alms; see Acts 3:1 or to be fixed to the door post of
it
alluding to the servant that was desirous of continuing in his master's
house
and serving him for ever; who was brought to the door post
and had his
ears bored through with an awl
Exodus 21:5. Such a willing servant was the
psalmist; and this sense the Targum seems to incline to
which renders it
"I
have chose to cleave to the house of the sanctuary of God;'
or
to be a waiter there
to watch daily at Wisdom's gates
and to wait at the
posts of her doors; such lie in the way of conversion
and of finding Christ;
in the way of spiritual healing
as the man at the pool; and of spiritual
instruction
and of spiritual strength
and an increase of it: or to be
or sit
upon the threshold; or to be "thresholding"F9הסתופף "esse in limine"
Pagninus
Montanus;
"ad limen esse"
Musculus; "desidere ad limen"
Tigurine
version
Vatablus
so Ainsworth; "frequentare limen"
Junius &
Tremellius; "commorari limen"
Piscator; "ad limen stare"
Gejerus
Michaelis. of it; that is
to frequent the house of God
to be often
going over the threshold of it; this the psalmist took delight to do
even to
be the thresholdF11Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 565. itself
for men to
tread upon as they go into the house of God:
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness; meaning not
houses built by wicked men
or with money ill got; but where wicked men dwelt
and who were so bad as to be called wickedness itself; perhaps the psalmist
might have in his mind the tents of Kedar
where he had sometimes been; see Psalm 120:5
now to live in the meanest
place in the house of God
to wait at the door as a porter
to lie there as a
beggar
to sit upon the threshold
and much more to go often over it
or be
that itself
was abundantly preferable than to dwell "an age"F12מדור "quam aetatem agere"
Piscator; "vel
aetatem omnem agere"
Gejerus
Michaelis. in the house of princes and
great men
being wicked; than to live in the most pompous manner
at ease and
in plenty
enjoying all the good things of life that heart can wish for; one
hour's communion with God in his house is better than all this
and that for
the reason following.
Psalm 84:11 11 For the Lord God is
a sun and shield; The Lord
will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who
walk uprightly.
YLT
11For a sun and a shield [is]
Jehovah God
Grace and honour doth Jehovah give. He withholdeth not good To
those walking in uprightness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield
.... Christ is
"the sun of righteousness"
and it is in the house of God that he
arises upon his people with healing in his wings
Malachi 4:2 he is like the sun
the great
light
the fountain of light
the light of the world
that dispels darkness
makes day
and gives light to all the celestial bodies
moon and stars
church
and ministers; he is a "sun" to enlighten his people with the light
of grace
to warm them with the beams of his love
to cheer and refresh their souls
with the light of his countenance
and to make them fruitful and flourishing
and he is a "shield" to protect them from all their enemies; he is
the shield of faith
or which faith makes use of
against the temptations of
Satan; he is the shield of salvation
and his salvation is a shield which
shelters from divine justice
and secures from wrath to come:
the Lord will give grace and glory: he gives converting
grace
the first grace
and all future supplies of it; he gives sanctifying
grace
all sorts of it
faith
hope
love
and every other; he gives
justifying
pardoning
adopting
and persevering grace
and all freely; he
gives honour and glory among men
fellow creatures
and fellow Christians; and
he gives eternal glory
the glory his Father gave him
the crown of glory
life
and righteousness: this is the gift of God through Christ; Christ gives a
right unto it
meetness for it
and the thing itself; and in his house and
ordinances
as he gives more grace to the humble that wait upon him
so he
encourages and increases their hope of glory; and he that gives the one will
certainly give the other; for these two are inseparably connected together
so
that he that has the one shall enjoy the other:
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly; that walk by
faith
and on in Christ
as they have received him; who have their conversation
according to the Gospel of Christ
and walk in the uprightness and sincerity of
their hearts; from such the Lord will not withhold any good thing he has
purposed for them
promised to them
or laid up for them in covenant; no
spiritual good thing appertaining to life and godliness
and no temporal
blessing that is good for them; he will deny them no good thing they ask of
him
not anything that is good for them; and he will not draw back any good
things he has bestowed on them
his gifts are without repentance.
Psalm 84:12 12 O Lord of hosts
Blessed
is the man who trusts in You!
YLT
12Jehovah of Hosts! O the
happiness of a man trusting in Thee.
O Lord of hosts
blessed is the man that trusteth in thee
.... For grace
and glory
and every good thing; that trusts in the Lord at all times
and not
in the creature
or in an arm of flesh; but in the Lord of hosts and armies
in
whom is everlasting strength
and is the sun and shield of his people: happy
are such that trust in him
whether they have ability or opportunity of going
up to the house of the Lord
or not; they are happy that have and make use
thereof
and so are they that trust in the Lord
whether they have or not; they
are safe
being as Mount Zion
which can never be removed; and do and shall
enjoy perfect peace and solid comfort here
and eternal happiness hereafter;
see Jeremiah 17:5. The Targum is
"blessed
is the man that trusteth in thy Word;'
in
Christ
the essential Word.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)