Psalm 84 How Lovely is Your Tabernacle Psalm

Psalm 84 How Lovely is Your Tabernacle

Psalm 84 Background • To the chief musician upon Gittith (instrument of Gath) • The sons of Korah – temple singers, doorkeepers of the temple (1 Chron. 6: 31 -32, 9: 19, 31)

Psalm 84 Background • 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

Longing for the tabernacle (1 -4) • (1) “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts” • The place where God met with Israel (Ex. 25: 22, 29: 42 -43) • A place holy and cherished by the righteous Psalm 84

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

Psalm 84 Longing for the tabernacle (1 -4) • (2) “My soul longs…for the courts of the Lord. ” • An intense longing to be where God is. • (3) “Even sparrows and swallows nest there”

Psalm 84 Longing for the tabernacle (1 -4) • (4) “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house” • How blessed are those privileged to be there all the time (to work there)

Application (1 -4) • The importance of assembly – Heb. 10: 24 -25 • How many of us see the opportunity to worship as a blessing rather than a duty? Cf. Malachi 1: 12 -13

Psalm 84 A heart for assembling in His presence (5 -7) • (5) “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You” • The character of the psalmist. God is his guide, i. e. the remnant.

Psalm 84 A heart for assembling in His presence (5 -7) • (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. ”

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

Psalm 84 A heart for assembling in His presence (5 -7) • (5) “Whose heart is set on pilgrimage” • Figuratively: A heart set in the DIRECTION of God. Prov. 16: 17, Isa. 40: 2, (cf. Matt. 3: 3, Jn. 1: 23)

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

A heart for assembling in His presence (5 -7) • (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 God’s presence. Psalm 84

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

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!

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. 14: 15 -23) • Do we have the attitude of this psalmist? Psalm 122: 1, 84: 4, Matt. 6: 21

Psalm 84 The value of assembly (8 -12) • (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!

Psalm 84 The value of assembly (8 -12) • (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”

Psalm 84 The value of assembly (8 -12) • (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 God’s presence, than wealthy out of His presence!

The value of assembly (8 -12) • (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. 8: 31 NO wonder he desires to be in God’s presence! Psalm 84

Psalm 84 The value of assembly (8 -12) • (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 55: 6 -7

Psalm 84 The value of assembly (8 -12) • (12) Blessed is the man who trusts in You • Trust demonstrated by serving Him and assembling when He commands!

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?

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?

Psalm 84 Final application! • There is an even greater “assembly” we ought to anticipate • Heaven! How much do we look forward to spending eternity with Him?

Psalm 84 Do we long for the court of the Lord?