Psalm 84

A Psalm of The Sons of Korah for Pilgrimage to The Temple in Jerusalem

The Sons of Korah, also sometimes called the Korahites, are credited with writing 11 Psalms for the Psalter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They were a group of Levites assigned by God to be gatekeepers in His Tabernacle, and to lead the chorus in worshiping God through song.

Korah himself is first made mention of in Numbers 16, where he leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron's authority in the wilderness. By challenging Moses and Aaron's authority, he was ultimately challenging God's authority, so God put the rebellion to a violent end, causing the earth to open and swallow Korah and the rebels up. Yet as we learn in Numbers 26:11, Korah's sons did not join their father in his rebellion, and so were spared by God. Despite their father's rebellion, God still had a plan for Korah's sons to serve Him in great ways.                   - Psalms.org 

This psalm, like Psalms 42, 43, expresses the writer’s desire for the Lord’s sanctuary. It is one of the pilgrim or ascent psalms that the Israelites sang as they traveled to the sanctuary to worship God (cf. Psalms 120-134). In it, the unknown writer declared the blessed condition of those who go to the temple to pray to Yahweh. The sons of Korah were those who arranged and or sang this psalm in Israel’s public worship.       - Thomas Constable

The psalmist recollected or depicted the deep longings of a devout worshipper of God on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  The worshipper felt most blessed when in the courts of the temple, the dwelling place of God among men. 

Lord of Armies

Vs. 1, 3, 8, 12 - Lord of Armies

The psalmist used this title four times in this short song.  It is rendered as “Lord of Hosts” in other translations, a name that depicts the supreme power and authority of Israel’s God. 

The essential idea is that God rules over the universe of worlds, considered as marshalled in order or arrayed as hosts or armies are for battle. All are under His command.            - Albert Barnes

I Long for The Courts of The Lord

House of God

Vs. 1 - How lovely is your dwelling place

Vs. 4 - How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually.

Vs. 10 - Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.

It is not possible, however, to ascertain the exact time, or the particular occasion, when the psalm was written. The language is such as might have been used when the public worship was conducted either in the tabernacle, or in the temple - for the words employed are such as were adapted to either.            - Albert Barnes

The dwelling places of the Lord of armies were His temple and its courtyards. This is where God abode in a localized sense during this period of Israel’s history. He promised to meet with His people in a special way there, mainly through the mediation of the Levitical priests. The ordinary Israelite could not enter the temple building proper but could worship God in its courtyards.             - Thomas Constable

Pilgrimage

Vs. 5 - Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

Devout Jews who did not live in Jerusalem were instructed to visit the holy city three times per year to participate in commemorative festivals.  As they approached Jerusalem and the temple, the men were moving physically closer to the dwelling place of their God. 

A major category of Jewish holidays is the pilgrimage festival. Described in the Hebrew Bible as celebrating both agricultural festivals and historical events in the history of the Jewish people, these three holidays were set aside in biblical times for people to travel to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

According to the Torah (Deuteronomy 16:16), God commanded the Israelites: “Three times a year shall all your men appear before the Lord your God in the place that God will choose [referring presumably to the Temple in Jerusalem], on the festivals of Pesah (Passover), Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks), and Sukkot (the Festival of Booths).”                 - Rabbi Daniel Khon

Valley of Baca

Vs. 6 - As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water

This is one of the most difficult verses in the Book of Psalms, and has been, of course, very variously interpreted.  The passage may be employed as an illustration of the effect of religion in diffusing happiness and comfort where there was trouble and sorrow.               - Albert Barnes

Happy And Blessed

Vs. 4 - How happy are those…

Vs. 5 - Vs. 5 - Happy are the people

Vs. 12 - Happy is the person who trusts in you

The Hebrew word the psalmist used to describe those who trusted in God (12) and resided in His presence (5) has been translated as “happy” or “blessed” or “joyful.  It was chosen to convey the emotional experience of the temple worshipper. 

Show Favor to The King

Vs. 9 (NLT) - O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield! Show favor to the one you have anointed.

The pilgrim addressed God in prayer as he traveled. He interceded for the king, who was as a shield for the people, as well as the Lord’s anointed vice regent.               - Thomas Constable

The Lord Grants Favor

Vs. 11 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.

God’s beneficent influence is sun-like, providing light and warmth on those below. He also protects those close to Him. He gives unmerited favor and divine enablement (grace) as well as honor (glory). He sends only good things to the lives of those who walk harmoniously with His will. Therefore the person who trusts Him experiences His blessing.                  - Thomas Constable