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There are amazing Psalms and then there is Psalm 84. There are Psalms that bring comfort and then there is Psalm 84. There are Psalms of prosperity, power, and peace – but Psalm 84 does it all.
Like no other Psalm.
I love verse 11:
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (ESV).
The context for the most superlative Psalm in the Bible is…
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God (vv. 1-2).
Psalm 84 describes worship and a longing to be in the dwelling place (presence) of the Lord. The source of all blessing comes from the joy of the Lord. No Psalm gives a better glimpse of great worship and the results of praising God.
O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! (vv. 3-4).
“Lord of hosts” is translated “God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!” in The Message translation. Our ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.
In ancient times, if you could enter the throne room of an earthly king with a request, the decision made by the King was absolute. If you could enter!!! If you tried and he didn’t extend his scepter of welcome, you were put to death.
Psalm 84 gives an open invitation to enter God’s courts to receive His help. No matter your battle or difficulty, anytime a decision is made by God in His court, it is absolute. God will extend His scepter and you can expect…
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, [God-of-the-Angel-Armies!] blessed is the one who trusts in you! (vv. 11-12).
Winning battles, joy, help, and overcoming difficulties – Psalm 84 teaches that your solution is found in the house (presence) of God. And the door of the house is opened by praise.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (v. 10).
The Psalm lists blessings for those dwelling in the courts of the Lord.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion (v. 5).
They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion (v. 7).
Are you caught in a cycle of discouragement as every day seems worse? Remember, there is strength to strength for those who regularly appear before God.
I’m not a Psalmist, I hesitate to write this, but as I read Psalm 84, I believe it should have ended with verse 8. I mean, verse 12 about trusting God is fine – but verse 8 – it’s hard to find a better verse in the entirety of the other 149 Psalms.
I think you should read the entire Psalm 84 and then go back and read verse 8 a couple of times to finish it off.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
One more time…
O, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Have confidence; the Lord will extend His scepter!