My soul longeth = I, even I myself, long. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ), for emphasis. courts. Corresponding with "altars" (Psalms 84:3 ). See the Structure. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 . read more
Psalms 84:2-3. My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow, &c.— Or, My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God: Psalms 84:3. (Yea, as a sparrow, till she finds a house, and a swallow a nest for herself, where to lay her young) for thine altars, &c. See Nold. 873. Green observes, that from the longing to approach the courts of the Lord, expressed in the second verse, it is natural to think that such a comparison was intended as that of our Lord's; The... read more
2. longeth—most intensely (Genesis 31:30; Psalms 17:12). fainteth—exhausted with desire. courts—as tabernacles (Psalms 84:1) —the whole building. crieth out—literally, "sings for joy"; but here, and Psalms 84:1- :, expresses an act of sorrow as the corresponding noun (Psalms 17:1; Psalms 61:2). heart and . . . flesh—as in Psalms 63:1. read more
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. read more
1. Longing for the Lord’s presence 84:1-4 read more
Psalms 84This 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. read more
This Ps. sets forth the attractiveness of the Temple and its worship (Psalms 84:1-4), and the happiness of the pilgrims who gather to it from different parts of the land (Psalms 84:5-7). After a prayer for God’s favour (Psalms 84:8-9), it speaks of the privilege of the humblest office in the Temple (Psalms 84:10), and closes by describing the graciousness of God (Psalms 84:11), and the blessedness of trusting Him (Psalms 84:12). The Ps. belongs to a period when the Temple was standing, and when... read more
(2) Longeth.—From root meaning to grow pale, expressing one effect of strong emotion—grows pale with longing. So the Latin poets used pallidus to express the effects of passionate love, and generally of any strong emotion:“Ambitione mala aut argenti pallet amore.”HOR., Sat. ii. 3, 78.Or we may perhaps compare Shakespeare’s“Sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought.”For a similar fervid expression of desire for communion with God, comp. Psalms 63:1.Fainteth.—Or more properly, as LXX.,... read more
Psalms 84:0 Foxe, in his Book of Martyrs, under the year 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary, gives an account of the youthful martyr. It is taken from his brother's narration. 'He suffered with great constancy, and recited the 84th Psalm as he was a-dying. Then there was a gentleman who said, "I pray God have mercy upon his soul". The people said, "Amen, Amen". Immediately fire was made. Then William cast his Psalter right into his brother's hand, who said, "William, think on the holy passion of... read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:1-12
Psalms 84:0 Joy in God’s houseOn account of the difficulties and dangers people faced in travelling from remote areas to Jerusalem, some Israelites could visit the temple only once or twice each year. The present psalm reflects the joy and satisfaction of one such traveller as he comes to the temple to worship (1-2). Even the birds who make their nests in the temple courtyard have meaning for this man. As they find rest in their nests, so he finds rest in God’s house (3-4).The traveller is so... read more