Psalm 84:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 84:1-7

The psalmist here, being by force restrained from waiting upon God in public ordinances, by the want of them is brought under a more sensible conviction than ever of the worth of them. Observe, I. The wonderful beauty he saw in holy institutions (Ps. 84:1): How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! Some think that he here calls God the Lord of hosts (that is, in a special manner of the angels, the heavenly hosts) because of the presence of the angels in God's sanctuary; they attended... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:1

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! Which were erected in the wilderness by Moses at the command of God, and brought into the land of Canaan, where the Lord took up his dwelling: here he was worshipped, and sacrifices offered to him; here he granted his presence, and commanded his blessing; here it was in David's time; for as yet the temple was not built: it is called "tabernacles", in the plural number, because of its several parts: hence we read of a first and second... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:2

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord ,.... The courts of the tabernacle now at Gibeon, though the ark was in Zion, 2 Chronicles 1:3 as the court of the priests, and the court of the Israelites, in which latter the people in common stood: after these David longed; he longed to enter into them, and stand in them, and worship God there; which soul longings and hearty desires were the fruits and evidences of true grace, of being born again; so newly born souls desire... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:3

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house ,.... One or other of the houses of men, where to build its nest; or its nest itself is called an house, as it seems to be explained in the next clause: the word here used signifies any bird; we translate it a "sparrow", and so Kimchi; the Targum renders it the "dove"; but the Midrash is, "it is not said as a dove, but as a sparrow: the dove takes its young, and returns to its place; not so the sparrow:' and the swallow a nest for herself, where she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:4

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house ,.... The house of God, in his tabernacles and courts; referring to the priests and Levites, who were frequently officiating there, in their turns, night and day; and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Gibeon, where the ark and tabernacle were, who had frequent opportunities of attendance on divine worship: and happy are those who have a name and place in the church of God, who abide there, and never go out; see Psalm 65:4 , the Targum is, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:5

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee , Or, "for thee", as some choose to render the words; who have bodily strength from the Lord, for his worship and service, to go up to his house, and serve him: this, with what follows in the two next verses, seem to refer to the males in Israel going up from different parts of the land to Jerusalem to worship, who had strength so to do; when the women and children, for want thereof, stayed at home, which was their infelicity, as it was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:6

Who passing through the valley of Baca ,.... Kimchi interprets it a valley of springs, or fountains, taking the word to be of the same signification as in Job 38:16 , and mention being made of a well and pools in it, or of mulberry trees, which grow, as he says, in a place where there is no water, and such a place was this; and therefore pools or ditches were dug in it, and built of stone, to catch rain water for the supply of travellers; and so Aben Ezra says, it is the name of a place or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:7

They go from strength to strength ,.... Whose strength is in the Lord, and in whose heart are his ways, and who pass through the valley of Baca, and find a well of supply, and pools of blessings there; they renew their spiritual strength; they grow stronger and stronger every step they take; the way of the Lord is strength unto them: or "from army to army", or "from company to company" F4 מחיל אל חיל "de exercitu in exercitum", Pagninus; so Piscator, Junius & Tremellius; "de... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:1

How amiable are thy tabernacles - In this plural noun he appears to include all the places in or near the temple where acts of Divine worship were performed. The holy of holies, the holy place, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt-offering, etc., etc.; all called here God's tabernacles or dwelling-places; for wherever God was worshipped, there he was supposed to dwell. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:2

My soul longeth - It is a Levite that speaks, who ardently longs to regain his place in the temple, and his part in the sacred services. My heart and my flesh - All the desires of my soul and body; every appetite and wish, both animal and spiritual, long for thy service. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 84:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 84:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 84:2

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