Ps 84:1-12, A life with purpose and meaning awaits those who pursue a relationship with God

Praise Psalm
Small chiastic structure
1. Praise of God's House
2. Blessedness of Trusting
1. Praise of God's House


Psalm 84:1–4 (ESV) — 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah


• This Psalm is not a psalm of David (which I originally thought it was). It makes more sense in that light
• The psalmist is referring (most likely) to Solomon's temple (Solomon's Temple)
• Herod's temple returns to the design of the tabernacle in the Holy of Holies (also called the most Holy Place), and the Holy Place, although it is larger
• See Logos Bible Software Infographics
• Note that the Gentile court in Herod's palace is outside the middle structure. The area prior to the temple is the women's court
• What was the temple of God? How do you explain it to someone?
• God is not confined to specific place or location (Ps 115:3; 1 Kings 8:27))
• God is spoken of in a heavenly temple (Ps 11:4)
• The sanctuary was not considered to be even a temporary dwelling place of YHWH. It only localized His divine presence among men with the manifestation of the Shekinah. [Johnson, R. (1997). The Centrality of the Jewish Temple in the Affairs of God, Israel and the Nations Part I—Historical Temples. Conservative Theological Journal Volume 1, 1(1), 68.] (Exo 29:42; 2 Chron 7:1-3)
• The Jewish temple was unique in that it was a central sanctuary (it drew the whole nation together toward a single spot; You didn't worship in your house without your idol)
• So it the psalmist speaking literally or metaphorically?
• The "dwelling" would refer to the priests
• The birds would refer to nests built on the structure
• Implication: this is a physical presence
• So what is the Psalmist saying then in his desire?
• He wants to be near God's glory
• He wants to be near God's people (it was a central place of worship)
• This is also true of the tabernacle. It was always in the center of the camp
• He wants to be identified with God
• HE wants to hear God speak (previous Exo 29:42)
• (see Logos information, then ESL) The word for Blessed is not the common word Baruk (400+) but asher (44 uses). The root for asher is to go straight, walk, lead -- the idea is to go straight on, advance, make progress
• It is not the idea of things
• It represents progress in life, spiritual and physical, that brings happiness or joy
• APPLICATION: How central is our faith to our life? We won't make real progress spiritually until we make God's presence a priority of our life


Psalm 84:5–8 (ESV) — 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah


• These verses represent the high point of the passage. The first four and the last four focus on the house of God, the temple. They surround these four verses. What does that suggest?
• This is somehow the result of a person who is devoted to God's glory and presence
• The word blessed is the same as in verse 4
• Further reinforces the idea that our direction in life is influenced by our relationship with God
• Also, the "highways to Zion" and the "go through the Valley of Baca" also emphasize the same thought
• (Look at Strength) Strength seems to emphasize a possessive sense, that is, it is a part of the psalmist life
• (Look at heart) Heart seems to emphasize the inner person
• The valley of Baca is actually a very arid region, no nourishment
• Yet, the person whose focus is on the presence of God finds springs (fresh refreshment), and pools (continued refreshment)
• In verse 8, what is the Psalmist saying?
• This is what the Psalmist desired for his life
• This is what he desired to see as progress in his life


Psalm 84:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!


• In the chiastic formula, we go back down the tree, ending up where we started. We end up again in the temple or the house of God. Here the Psalmists adds additional thoughts
• Why is a day in the courts better than a thousand elsewhere?
• The psalmist understood that God's presence and God's glory can do more for him than anything else imaginable
• Why is doorkeeper better?
• The contrast is the tents of wicked. Sin is appealing but it doesn't satisfy
• Even the lowliest of jobs is more satisfying if it is in God's presence
• The psalmist describes multiple benefits:
• Sun and a shield
• Light shines on our path
• Shield protects from enemies
• Favor and honor (may explain the previous)
• We receive grace -- things we don't even deserve
• We are honored -- life reflects God
• No good thing withheld -- we experience good things in life
• WHY?
• Because we choose to walk uprightly
• Because we make God's presence an important aspect of our life
• Vs 12 repeats the same use of Blessed
• We need to trust
• We need to be in his presence