Take a minute on this passage and don't quit reading this post. It may seem a bit tedious, but in the end, there is a sweet truth that unfolded for me...
Psalm 84 is a beautiful piece made to be led by a soloist. (L'menatsa'ach: "to the choir director" may well have been an ancient reference to a solo directive voice like a cantor that led in an arrangement followed by a Levitical choir in the Temple). It may have been played on a specific type of stringed instrument (gittith), but I believe (as do many others) the reference is rather to the "time of the stomping of the grapes (from the word "gath" or "to press" as found in Gethsemane). This may be one of the songs sung at the stomping of the grapes to a rhythm that kept the flow while the people celebrated a miracle harvest after a long dry season. God provided Judah with more than seven inches of rainfall equivalent in dew-fall (the amount required to produce fruit). The grape harvest gave rise to several songs (Psalm 8, 81).
This song was about the blessing of real worship and what it produced in the lives of the people of God that trusted Him. It was structured with two sets of six lines in Hebrew (84:1-4) and (84:8-11) that sandwiched in a small three line (in Hebrew) segment (84:5-7). Like a jelly sandwich, it is the center that offers the real sweetness, but I digress. In this song, the Hebrew is more clear and beautiful than the English, which seems cryptic and disjointed.
Overall there are six benefits of worship (in this case in the Temple) that the Psalmist records. First (84:1), he claims to find a place of LOVE or fondness there (dowd: lovely is a word that comes from a form of special relationship, like "my beloved" in Song of Solomon). "When I come to worship" he says, "I find a place of special love and relationship."
Next, he claims that worship in the Temple "fills a hunger in him." (84:2-4). What is he hungry for? He longs to sing out (v.2), he desires to feel securely at home (v.3) and he desires to be with his family praising together. In short, he hungers to BELONG, and in the midst of his singing companions surrounding the sacrificial tables north of the altar - he can join the song!
A third beautiful benefit of worship is found in the secret sweetness of the center three Hebrew lines (84:5-7). The Psalmist uses a literal image to form a figurative idea. Hang on, it is worth it! He reminds the pilgrim that getting to Jerusalem requires a walk of hardened reserve (84:5) on a very arduous highway that passes through the wilderness east of Jerusalem. That highway was referred to by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan as a dangerous place (cp. Luke 10). The dusty and dry wilderness highway is barren for seven months of dry, and then erupts with a few sprinkles of rain (84:6) into a flowered and somewhat green pathway. The end of the tough walk is the Mountain of the Temple, where it all becomes worth the journey (84:7).
That's the physical image, but that's not the whole story! The valley mentioned in the heart of the text is Baca, the place of weeping. This gives away the figure of the image. The image is a journey of difficulty through a valley of tears. The fourth blessing of worship was the surprise to me in the text: worship reminds and teaches me to persevere in the valley to arrive at the place of freedom! (84:5-7).
There are three more, and I should not neglect them! The fourth is that I have a place to publicly proclaim (84:8) that I need a spiritual covering over me! (the word "shield" is a word for covering, while the word for anointed is a reference to a pouring or covering by God!). In my worship, I pull the covers of the Lord back over my life!
Fifth, the psalmist reflects on his choice to stand in the courts of Levitical song and praise rather than in the tents of wickedness. What a graphic contrast - a vast stone built courtyard versus a flimsy and temporary tent leaning against the outer city wall. The singer wanted a clean and permanent place, not a lean-to of temporary pleasure (84:10).
Finally, the psalmist offers a final blessing of worship (84:11) before he closes with the chorus (84:12). The last blessing he offers us a reminder of is that standing before God in worship, I receive new blessing, grace and every good thing is poured out that I need for my continued walk in Him!
In the end, the lesson is this: I love to worship God because He wraps me in His LOVE when I do. He fills me up with a sense of belonging when I do what I was created for - praising my God! He offers me hope and reminds me of the importance of resolve when praise comes through tear-filled eyes because my song pours from a broken heart. He pulls a spiritual cover over me when I praise Him. He brings me to a secure, permanent and wholesome place where He can pour on me everything I need to keep going. That's why I love to praise, the psalmist says! It is no wonder. The benefits are abundant! RS
Thank you for your post. I was reflecting on the fervant delight the psalmist expresses as he contemplates spending time in the presence of the living God. I agree, as we worship God, he doos wrap us in his love and fill us with a sense of belonging. Thank you for expressing it so well.
Posted by: Lois Hammond | 30 October 2009 at 10:13 PM
Thanks for sharing this. Studying Psalm 84 this Sunday morning before church and this made it so much more comprehensible, rich, and worshipful.
Posted by: zapata | 02 August 2009 at 11:01 AM