Psalms 84-86

Thoughts

Psalm 84

My Soul Longs for the Courts of the LORD

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

From Charles Spurgeon  in The Treasury of David (Vol. 2), on Psalm 84:

“It is entitled to be called The Pearl of Psalms.
If the twenty-third be the most popular,
the one-hundred-and-third the most joyful,
the one-hundred-and-nineteenth the most deeply experiential,
the fifty-first the most plaintive,
this is one of the most sweet of the Psalms of peace.”

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

• “Lovely” = יְדִידוֹת (yedidot) deeply beloved, desirable.
• Longing and fainting show intense desire for God’s presence.
• “Living God” contrasts idols

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.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!

• Even vulnerable creatures find refuge near God’s presence.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

• “Highways to Zion” = hearts oriented toward God 
• Valley of Baca may mean a dry or weeping valley

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

• “LORD of hosts,” hosts – צְבָאוֹת (tzeva’ot)
• “Your anointed” = the king. blessing Israel involves blessing her king.

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.
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.
O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

• God’s presence outweighs anything on earth
• A doorkeeper (lowest temple role) is better than comfort apart from God.
• “Sun and shield” = Psalm 84:11 is the only place in the entire Old Testament where God is directly called “a sun.”
• Trust is the path to blessing.

Psalm 85

Restore Us Again. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.
You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.

• The psalm begins by recalling God’s past restoration 
• God’s withdrawal of wrath shows His mercy

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.

• “Restore us again” acknowledges ongoing spiritual decline.

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.

• “Saints” = His faithful ones (חֲסִידָיו).
• Warning: blessing must not lead to returning to foolishness.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

• Vertical imagery: faithfulness rising, righteousness descending 
• God’s righteousness goes ahead of Him – wherever God goes, His righteousness pavers the way

Psalm 86

Teach Me Your Way, O LORD. A Prayer of David.

Charles Spurgeon: There are four other psalms each called by the name Tephillah, or ‘prayer,’ but this deserves to be distinguished from the rest and known as ‘the prayer of David,’ even as the ninetieth Psalm is known as ‘the prayer of Moses.’ It savours of David. The man of sincerity, of ardor, of trials, of faults, and of great heart, pleads, sobs, and trusts through all the verses of this psalm.” 

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

• “Poor and needy” – we need God
• David pleads for God’s grace

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

• David details God’s character: good, forgiving, steadfast in love.
• David is confidence God answers in times of trouble.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.

• Nothing and no one compares to God or His works 
• David anticipates a future where nations worship the true God.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

• David asks for guidance for obedience.
• “Unite my heart”   undivided devotion.
• Deliverance from “Sheol” = rescue from death or deep distress.

O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.

• Contrast between violent men and God’s compassionate character.
• David repeats God’s self-description from Exodus 34:6.
• “Son of your maidservant”  could be talking about mother

Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

• “Sign” visible reassurance of God’s support.

Questions

Application

Psalm 84 shows us that God is our sun (life, joy, provision) and shield (protection, safety). He is everything His people need. Psalm 85 shows us that God brings renewal. He will always restore us again, and we must work to not return to sin afterwards. Psalm 86 shows us how to pray with humility and recognizing God’s character. We must always have undivided loyalty.