HOW AMIABLE ARE THY TABERNACLES

PSALM 84

FOR SCRIPTURE READING IN CHINESE Please click PSALM 84

SCRIPTURE READING IN ENGLISH

1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

INTRODUCTION

The psalmist speaks of the blessedness of the man (v 4 ,5 ,12 ) who dwells with God in His house. He gives to us the characteristics of God's house, the dwellers of God's House, and the God of the House. It is a description of great joy and peace.

1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

The beautiful language that the psalmist describe of God's House is the result of his experience. He wrote with such intensity and affinity for God's house. It is altogether lovely. Therefore it is his desire never to be away from His house.

3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

The sparrow is a common bird of little value. It finds special place of rest. The swallow is a bird that is most restless yet when it needs to abode and rest in times of mating and rearing of its young. This is a restful picture of shelter and security. This is the blessing of dwellers in God's house, there is indeed cause for much thanksgiving.

We thank the Lord for sustaining this bible study for the past 4 years as we study the psalms together. Indeed a haven of rest for every weary soul as we dwell in His comforting and precious words of encouragement.

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

The word man is the "adam", the man made from the dust of the ground, feeble and sinful. Unless he is endued with God's strength, he is wandering and lost.

But for the man who has a personal relationship with this living God, he will experience His nourishment even in times of great affliction. The word "Baca" means "weeping".

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

God cares for him to ensure that he grows in spiritual strength. He is characterized as one fails not to appear before God to receive His blessings each time. Every problem that he has is taken care of because he can pour out all his sorrows to Him who does not fail to help.

9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

He is jealous for His own to take care of their interest for they belong to Him. He may be a humble person in this His house but God takes special care of him. Hence, he chose to continue to dwell. He is not despised.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

God is a sun because he gives the glory of His brightness to His children. And He supplies all he needs. As Paul said in Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

He is ever ready to bless all who trust in Him and seek Him.