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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 84:8-12

Here, I. The psalmist prays for audience and acceptance with God, not mentioning particularly what he desired God would do for him. He needed to say no more when he had professed such an affectionate esteem for the ordinances of God, which now he was restrained and banished from. All his desire was, in that profession, plainly before God, and his longing, his groaning, was not hidden from him; therefore he prays (Ps. 84:8, 9) only that God would hear his prayer and give ear, that he would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand ,.... "One day"; so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; and so the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it; one day in the house of God, in the world to come, so Arama: though rather reference is had to the seventh day sabbath, then in being; and which with the psalmist was a delight, holy and honourable; and though now abolished, as to the time of it, with the rest of the ceremonial law, there is yet a day of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:10

A day in thy courts is better than a thousand - Not only better than one thousand in captivity, as the Chaldee states, but any where else. For in God's courts we meet with God the King, and are sure to have what petitions we offer unto him through his Christ. I had rather be a doorkeeper - O what a strong desire does this express for the ordinances of God! Who now prefers the worship of God to genteel, gay, honorable, and noble company, to mirthful feasts, public entertainments, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:10

Verse 10 10.For better is one day in thy courts than a thousand elsewhere. Unlike the greater part of mankind, who desire to live without knowing why, wishing simply that their life may be prolonged, David here testifies, not only that the end which he proposed to himself in living was to serve God, but that in addition to this, he set a higher value on one day which he could spend in the divine service, than upon a long time passed among the men of the world, from whose society true religion... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:1-12

The psalm falls into three equal stanzas or strophes, each of four verses, the ends of the first and second stanzas being shown by the pause mark, "selah." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:1-12

The soul's sweet home. This is one of the Korahite psalms, like Psalms 42:1-11 ; Psalms 43:1-5 ; and some eight others. The late Dean Plumptre, in his 'Biblical Studies,' pp. 163-166, gives reasons for concluding that they all belong to the reign of Hezekiah, and were written by members of the Levitical family of Korah. One or more of them, it may be, hindered by the presence of the army of Sennacherib from going up to the temple, as they had been wont to do, pours out his grief in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand; i.e. than any number of days elsewhere. It is difficult to trace any connection between these concluding verses. They appear to consist of distinct thoughts, which arise in the writer's mind, and are jotted down as they occur to him. One is a thought of loyalty, which finds vent in a prayer for the king ( Psalms 84:9 ). Another is a reflection of the main thought of the psalm, the incomparable blessedness of dwelling in God's house. A... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:10

Delight in God's worship and service. "A day in thy courts," etc. Of all the hundred and fifty holy songs composing the Psalter, none breathes a more intense spirit of exalted devotion than this, or in language and imagery more poetical and musical. It shares this character with other psalms ascribed to "the sons of Korah." Their ancestor Korah perished miserably in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron, at the very door of the tabernacle ( Numbers 16:1-50 .). Yet his descendants had the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:10

Strange preferences. I. THOSE HERE NAMED . 1 . That a day spent in God ' s courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. But such preference makes it certain that not any day in God's courts can be meant; for too many days are spent there which might just as well be spent elsewhere. They bring no good to any one, but rather harm. For the worship on such days is but formal, hypocritical, has no heart in it. But the day the psalm tells of must be one in which the soul... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 84:10

The joy of doing little things for God. "I had rather be a doorkeeper;" literally, "stand or lie on the threshold." A missionary tells us that in India the office of doorkeeper is truly respectable and confidential. Doorkeepers of temples are men of the greatest dignity and power; whereas the psalmist was thinking of the lowliest and most humble situation. "I would rather choose to sit at the threshold." This is the situation of the devotee and the beggar. "Excuse me, sir, I pray you; I... read more

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