One of the best-loved, and most widely read books in English literature is The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. It’s a classic: the story of Christian, who encounters many enemies, and goes through countless dangerous places, in his pilgrimage from the city of destruction to the heavenly city. It’s a story of longing and endurance. Christian endures the pain and suffering of the journey, because he knows it does not compare with the Joy and Peace that await him in the Celestial City.
Psalm 84 is also about longing: a strong desire or yearning. The Psalmist, the writer of this Psalm, is on pilgrimage towards Jerusalem, perhaps on his way to a Jewish festival. He’s on his way to the Temple, where God lives. And as he journeys towards the Temple, he ponders with great anticipation his arrival. Once there, once at the Temple, he will be able to worship God in his own home, he will be able to worship in the very place where God lives.1
As we take a closer look at this Psalm, we will notice that this holy longing by the pilgrim revolves around three beatitudes, three states of happiness, we might say: 1- Blessed is the one who loves the house God (84:1-4); 2- Blessed is the one who journeys to the house of God (84:5-8); and 3- Blessed is the one who lives in the house of God (84:9-13).2
We begin with the first theme: Happy is the one who loves the house of God (84:1-4). Notice the language of love used here: “O how lovely are thy dwellings” (84:1); “lovely” here does not mean that the temple is beautiful, but that it is beloved: it is dearly loved by the pilgrim. In verse 2 we read, “My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD”: the Psalmist is completely taken up with the house of God.
But - and this is central - the pilgrim loves the house, because of who owns the house: he yearns for the temple, because of the Lord who owns it and lives in it. In the 12 verses of Psalm 84, the Psalmist cries out to God 18 times: 12 verses, 18 times! The second part of verse 2 says it all: “...my heart and my flesh rejoice in [or cry out to] the living God”. Blessed is the one who loves the house of God...
The next beatitude is a summary of verses 5-8: Fortunate is the one who journeys to the house of God. The journey is not an easy one, it goes through what the Book of Common Prayer calls the “Vale of Misery” (84:6). The New English Bible calls it “the thirsty valley”, and most other versions call it the “Valley of Baca” (RSV, ESV). But whatever the differences, all versions point to the same thing: dry, hostile, deserted lands. The journey is difficult.
But it’s in these moments of uncertainty and deep soul-thirst, that God meets the pilgrim. He gives “strength to the feeble, refreshment to the thirsty, blessings on the way, and the promise of meeting him at the end.” (84:6-7).3 Blessed is the one who journeys to the house of God...
Our final beatitude is found in verses 9-12: Blessed is the one who lives in the house of the Lord. In these verses we get a vision of who God is, and what he does for those who trust him (84:13). The Lord God is all that is “positive and outgoing”: He is a light - joy, warmth, and energy. He’s a shield - he protects from fear of defeat (84:12a).4
God is also the great giver of gifts: he showers those with an undivided heart for him with favour and honour (84:12b). We as Christians, living in the light of the resurrection of Jesus, are witnesses of this grace and glory. Our access to God’s presence is guaranteed - we benefit from the passion of Jesus - that’s grace. And as for glory, as we behold the glory of our Lord, as we look into the face of Jesus - we “are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another...” (II Corinthians 3:18). True to his character, God gifts his people with all those things that are good for them (84:12c).
It’s for this reason - because of who God is and what he does for his people - that we can make the following extravagant statement, along with the pilgrim Psalmist: “For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness” (84:10-11).
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen ✠
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1- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 47.
2- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 48.
3- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 49.
4- Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150: An Introduction & Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. D. J. Wiseman, ed., (Leicester, England: IVP, 1973), 307.
Psalm 84 is also about longing: a strong desire or yearning. The Psalmist, the writer of this Psalm, is on pilgrimage towards Jerusalem, perhaps on his way to a Jewish festival. He’s on his way to the Temple, where God lives. And as he journeys towards the Temple, he ponders with great anticipation his arrival. Once there, once at the Temple, he will be able to worship God in his own home, he will be able to worship in the very place where God lives.1
As we take a closer look at this Psalm, we will notice that this holy longing by the pilgrim revolves around three beatitudes, three states of happiness, we might say: 1- Blessed is the one who loves the house God (84:1-4); 2- Blessed is the one who journeys to the house of God (84:5-8); and 3- Blessed is the one who lives in the house of God (84:9-13).2
We begin with the first theme: Happy is the one who loves the house of God (84:1-4). Notice the language of love used here: “O how lovely are thy dwellings” (84:1); “lovely” here does not mean that the temple is beautiful, but that it is beloved: it is dearly loved by the pilgrim. In verse 2 we read, “My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD”: the Psalmist is completely taken up with the house of God.
But - and this is central - the pilgrim loves the house, because of who owns the house: he yearns for the temple, because of the Lord who owns it and lives in it. In the 12 verses of Psalm 84, the Psalmist cries out to God 18 times: 12 verses, 18 times! The second part of verse 2 says it all: “...my heart and my flesh rejoice in [or cry out to] the living God”. Blessed is the one who loves the house of God...
The next beatitude is a summary of verses 5-8: Fortunate is the one who journeys to the house of God. The journey is not an easy one, it goes through what the Book of Common Prayer calls the “Vale of Misery” (84:6). The New English Bible calls it “the thirsty valley”, and most other versions call it the “Valley of Baca” (RSV, ESV). But whatever the differences, all versions point to the same thing: dry, hostile, deserted lands. The journey is difficult.
But it’s in these moments of uncertainty and deep soul-thirst, that God meets the pilgrim. He gives “strength to the feeble, refreshment to the thirsty, blessings on the way, and the promise of meeting him at the end.” (84:6-7).3 Blessed is the one who journeys to the house of God...
Our final beatitude is found in verses 9-12: Blessed is the one who lives in the house of the Lord. In these verses we get a vision of who God is, and what he does for those who trust him (84:13). The Lord God is all that is “positive and outgoing”: He is a light - joy, warmth, and energy. He’s a shield - he protects from fear of defeat (84:12a).4
God is also the great giver of gifts: he showers those with an undivided heart for him with favour and honour (84:12b). We as Christians, living in the light of the resurrection of Jesus, are witnesses of this grace and glory. Our access to God’s presence is guaranteed - we benefit from the passion of Jesus - that’s grace. And as for glory, as we behold the glory of our Lord, as we look into the face of Jesus - we “are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another...” (II Corinthians 3:18). True to his character, God gifts his people with all those things that are good for them (84:12c).
It’s for this reason - because of who God is and what he does for his people - that we can make the following extravagant statement, along with the pilgrim Psalmist: “For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness” (84:10-11).
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen ✠
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1- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 47.
2- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 48.
3- Michael Wilcock, The Message of Psalms 73-150. The Bible Speaks Today. J. A. Motyer, ed., (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001), 49.
4- Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150: An Introduction & Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. D. J. Wiseman, ed., (Leicester, England: IVP, 1973), 307.
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