Psalms 84:9

"Rejoice, O God our shield,

And look upon the face of thine anointed.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.

I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God,

Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield:

Jehovah will give grace and glory;

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O Jehovah of hosts,

Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee."

"O God our shield" (Psalms 84:9). Dummelow explained that the word `shield' in this passage could apply either to God or to the `anointed.'[6] And, of course, in that spirit which seems so generally characteristic of modern translators of the Bible, such versions as the Good News Bible and the RSV make the word apply to Israel's king, despite the fact that older versions properly refer it to God. The notion that any of that long line of David's successors were in any sense a "shield" of the people is ridiculous; and besides that, verse 11 makes it absolutely certain that "our shield" is not some wicked king of Israel but God Himself.

"And look upon the face of thine anointed" (Psalms 84:9). Many of the writers accept this as a reference to the king of Israel, more likely, of the Southern Israel.

"In the life of the true Israelite who was acquainted with the promises of God to David, prayer for the royal house would have occupied a place of unusual prominence."[7]

"One day in thy courts is better than a thousand" (Psalms 84:10). This being true, Christians should not have any trouble in seeing that one day in worship is better than a thousand on the beach!

"I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalms 84:10). "Being doorkeepers in the house of God was the special duty of the sons of Korah, who are mentioned in the title of the Psalm (1 Chronicles 9:19)."[8] This has been a memory verse for thousands of Christians.

"Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalms 84:10). In ancient times, especially among the Hebrews, the common dwelling places were indeed `tents'; and the reference here is actually to any `dwelling places' of the wicked, however magnificent.

One should not miss the implication here that non-worshippers of God are assumed to be "wicked." It is also still true that the wicked, generally speaking, are the people who don't worship God; and the righteous people are those who do. Men may cite exceptions, but the rule is still true.

"Jehovah will give grace and glory" (Psalms 84:11). J. S. Norris' famous hymn, "Where He Leads Me I will Follow" (words by E. W. Blandly) devotes almost all of verse 2 to these words.

"He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

And go with me, with me, all the way."[9]

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee" (Psalms 84:12). Indeed, indeed! Here is a beatitude fully qualified to rank among the glorious beatitude spoken by the Son of God in the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third time that a blessing is pronounced in this marvelous psalm.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house (Psalms 84:4).

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee (Psalms 84:5).

Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee (Psalms 84:12).