Longing to be in the Lord's house as the sparrow and swallow have nests
.
|
|
|
This
beautiful psalm represents the time David was in exile away from the temple.
It reveals:
 Happiness
of those who can be in the temple (verses 1-4; 9-11)
Happiness
of those who travel to the sanctuary (5-8)
Happiness
of those who can't go but trust God (1, 12) |
|
| 1 ¶ <<To the chief
Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> How amiable are
thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
.2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. |
Tabernacles
Or "dwelling places.
Soul ... heart ... flesh The type of desire we may pray for and that will give us a hatred for sin. Living God He is real and He cares. How much greater than materialism or idols ps04202. Compare re0702, he0312, jn0669. |
| 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found
an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. |
Swallow a nest Following the thought of v2, we see that even the little birds can fly into and around the temple (no glass or screens then). What a blessing! And are we reluctant to go to the house of the Lord? |
| 5 Blessed is the man whose
strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. "How happy are those who find their source of strength in you and who travel the road to Zion! When they pass through the Valley of Weeping, they will find a spring of comfort. Blessings will fall on them like a gentle rain. They will go on from strength to strength until they see you face to face" (Clear Word paraphrase.) |
6 -
Baca
The meaning of this Hebrew word is unknown. It is usually translated "mulberry
trees" in the KJV. Early Latin and Greek translations have "tears." The
NASB margin says "Probably 'weeping' or 'balsam trees.'" Compare 2sa0523.
7 - Strength to strength As we overcome sin in one area, we are stronger to resist others. Compare 2pe0318. |
| 8 ¶ O LORD God of hosts,
hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. |
9 -
Shield
From magen which may be a verb meaning "to implore." Thus we may
translate, "We implore, look, O God."
10 - Day in thy courts The "courts" and the "house" are in connection with the temple. We may enter the heavenly sanctuary by faith he0416. In fact our salvation depends on that prayer connection with heaven ps03418. Would you be willing to open and close doors for people in heaven? We don't have to worry because we trust that the heavenly Father who gave all of heaven in His son, will also, in him, freely give us all things ro0832. Consider mt2016. Did you notice the contrasts? One was house vs. tents. See he1110. |
| 11 For the LORD God is a sun
and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. |
11
- Sun God is the source of light. People have tried to leave
out the Creator God worshipping the sun He created! Consider ps02701,
is6019,20,
mala0402,
re2123,
re2205.
11 - No good thing I'm glad He withholds the bad things. We just need to let Him. ps03410, 1co0209, ep0320, ph0419. 12 - Blessed Even when separated from fellowship, we can be close to God in prayer jn0420-24, ga0220. |
|
|
|
|
|
|