Psalm 84

1
Psalm 84

• How Lovely is Your Tabernacle

2
Background
Psalm 84

• To the chief musician upon Gittith (instrument of
  Gath)
• The sons of Korah temple singers, doorkeepers
  of the temple (1 Chron. 631-32, 919, 31)

3
Background
Psalm 84

• Psalm 84 is a psalm of cherished worship and
  service to God. Descriptive of one who would
  rather worship God than engage in worldly pursuits

4
Longing for the tabernacle (1-4)
Psalm 84

• (1) How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of
  hosts
• The place where God met with Israel (Ex. 2522,
  2942-43)
• A place holy and cherished by the righteous

5
Longing for the tabernacle (1-4)
Psalm 84

• (1) In our text, probably the temple of Solomon
  (cf. vs. 3)
• The psalmist was familiar with the temple, and
  was probably there frequently. As a son of
  Korah, he possibly worked there.
• To him it was not just a building, but THE HOUSE
  OF GOD!

6
Longing for the tabernacle (1-4)
Psalm 84

• (2) My soul longsfor the courts of the Lord.
• An intense longing to be where God is.
• (3) Even sparrows and swallows nest there

7
Longing for the tabernacle (1-4)
Psalm 84

• (4) Blessed are those who dwell in Your house
• How blessed are those privileged to be there all
  the time (to work there)

8
Application (1-4)

• The importance of assembly Heb. 1024-25
• How many of us see the opportunity to worship as
  a blessing rather than a duty? Cf. Malachi 112-13

9
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (5) Blessed is the man whose strength is in You
• The character of the psalmist. God is his guide,
  i.e. the remnant.

10
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (5) Whose heart is set on pilgrimage
• NASU, In whose heart are the highways to
  Zion!KJV, In whose heart are the ways of them.

11
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (5) Whose heart is set on pilgrimage
• Three times a year, Israel met at the
  tabernacle/temple
• The more devout would anticipate it with
  excitement.

12
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (5) Whose heart is set on pilgrimage
• Figuratively A heart set in the DIRECTION of
  God. Prov. 1617, Isa. 402, (cf. Matt. 33,
  Jn. 123)

13
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (6) As they pass through the Valley of Baca
  (weeping)
• Figuratively It could reference our wandering
  through life with disappointments, etc.
• Rain spring longing for the temple sustains
  them and keeps them going

14
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (7) They go from strength to strength, each one
  appears before God in Zion
• The assemblies are strength- between those
  times they are sustained by the strength gained
  while in Gods presence.

15
A heart for assembling in His presence (5-7)
Psalm 84

• (7) They go from strength to strength, each one
  appears before God in Zion
• Proper (frequent) worship keeps them from
  straying
• The downfall of Israel and Judah involved neglect
  of the feasts both in quality and quantity!

16
Application (5-7)

• Is frequency of assembly important to us?
• Do we WANT to be here?
• Consider Why do we meet Wednesdays? Gospel
  meetings? To give us strength!

17
Application (5-7)

• If important, we will make preparations to be
  here as often as possible?
• Do we make excuses for not assembling? (cf. Lk.
  1415-23)
• Do we have the attitude of this psalmist? Psalm
  1221, 844, Matt. 621

18
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (8-9) A prayer of the psalmist Behold our
  shield, look upon the face of Your anointed
• An understanding of where the psalmist stands
  before God HE protects sustains!

19
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (10) A day in Your courts is better than a
  thousand
• What an attitude! Do we cherish the assembly with
  this desire? NOTE It says, day and not hour

20
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (10) I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house
  of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
• Better to be a lowly servant in Gods presence,
  than wealthy out of His presence!

21
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (11) For the Lord is a sun and shield He gives
  grace glory
• Realization He is our source of life (and
  light) and protection! Rom. 831 NO wonder he
  desires to be in Gods presence!

22
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (11) NO good thing will He withhold from those
  who walk uprightly
• Conditional blessing Hope rests in submitting to
  His will and seeking Him. Cf. Isaiah 556-7

23
The value of assembly (8-12)
Psalm 84

• (12) Blessed is the man who trusts in You
• Trust demonstrated by serving Him and assembling
  when He commands!

24
Application (8-12)

• Do we see worship as a drudgery?
• Will we let the world keep us from assembling?
• WHY is the Lord not with me? Could it be that
  He is not a priority in our lives? We are NOT
  walking uprightly?

25
Application (Psalm 84)

• We have made application to the importance of
  assembling as often as we can!
• How we assemble to worship is a spiritual
  indicator of our faith and priorities.
• Do you look forward to assembling with the saints?

26
Final application!
Psalm 84

• There is an even greater assembly we ought to
  anticipate -
• Heaven! How much do we look forward to spending
  eternity with Him?

27
Psalm 84

• Do we long for the court of the Lord?