Sunday, April 1, 2012
am
How Lovely is Your
Tabernacle
PSALM 84
The superscription of this psalm ascribes it to the Sons of Korah, thus
we do not know who the actual author of this psalm was.
The sons of Korah (also known as the Korahites) were a group of
Levites, descendants of Korah who rebelled against Moses.
They were known as temple singers.
David put them in charge of the service of song in the house of
the Lord after the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (1
Chron. 6:31-33). You also
read of some of the descendants being involved in other activities
associated with worship (i.e. bakers – 1 Chron. 9:31) and gatekeepers of
the house of God (1 Chron. 9:19).
NOTE: This designation will become important as we study our
psalm
Psalm 84 is a psalm of cherished worship and service to God.
It describes one who would rather worship God than engage in
worldly pursuits. It is so
important to him that when he is apart from God, he dwells upon the time
when he can again assemble and worship.
WHAT a psalm for us to consider as members of the Lord’s church
that assembles from time to time.
I will have more to say about this as our lesson proceeds.
a.
“How lovely is Your
tabernacle”
- The tabernacle was the place where Israel met with God (Ex. 25:22.,
29:42-43, etc.) It was
built according to His instructions and it was very important to
Israel’s relationship with Jehovah God.
It was a place that was holy and cherished by the righteous.
The actual word used here describes a dwelling place.
In particular it is “the dwelling place of the Lord of hosts.”
In our text, most likely, the psalmist had in mind the temple of
Solomon, as the psalm seems to imply an established place (cf. vs. 3 –
where birds nest).
The psalmist was obviously familiar with the temple, having been there
on many occasions. As a son
of Korah, it is possible that he actually worked at the temple – either
in worship or as a gatekeeper, and being a righteous man, he truly
appreciated what the temple/tabernacle was – not just a building for
reunion, but THE HOUSE OF GOD!
b.
MY soul longs, even
faints for the courts of the Lord
(2) – an intense longing to be where God it.
We do not know the time or the occasion, but it is obvious that
our psalmist is not at the temple and he misses it.
This place means so much to him that when he is not there, it is
continually on his mind.
c.
Even sparrows and
swallows nest there
(3) – there is a sort of jealousy for the birds that have made their
habitation in the temple complex.
The symbolic jealousy is because they get to be there all the
time.
NOTICE also at the conclusion of this verse, “Even Your altars, O LORD
of hosts, My King and My God.”
He desire to be there is for God, NOT for socialization, not out
of mere duty or ritual, but for worship and praise (as I so often say,
this is the primary reason for assembling – the edification is a “side
benefit”).
d.
“Blessed are those
who dwell in Your house” (4) – He thinks of the blessing of one who can
spend “all day, every day” in the presence of the Lord - One who can
BUILD his habitation around such a thing.
e.
Application:
There is clearly here a lesson for us in the importance of assembling
together with our saints.
i.
We constantly stress
the importance of assembling by quoting Heb. 10:24-25.
Such is proper and needed often.
There is something to be said about one who trivializes
opportunities to assemble to worship God and to build up his brethren.
This text outright condemns the one who forsakes the assembling
of the saints. How important do we see assembling with the saints?
ii.
At this point I want
us to also consider this: How many of us see the opportunity to worship
God as a blessing rather than a duty?
How many of us truly enjoy worshipping Him? It is something the
godly cherish. In Malachi
1:12-13 we see the dread of many in Israel treating the feasts as “a
weariness” and sneering at it.
How tragic! Recall
that this is penned AFTER the Babylonian captivity, return, rebuilding
of the temple and city walls.
It occurs after a time when Israel has learned its lesson about
idolatry. So now, they go
through the motions of worship – but their heart is FAR from Him.
a.
Blessed is the man
whose strength is in You
– in this section, we find the character of the psalmist.
This is not one who is going through the rituals.
He is one who truly depends upon God.
God is at the center of his life.
Continually in the prophets we read of the corruption of Israel
and Judah, but often interspersed in the condemnations so prevalent, we
read of the “remnant” who are faithful to God.
This is the one our psalmist is describing.
b.
“Whose heart is set
on pilgrimage”
(NKJV) – The NASU says, “In whose
heart are the highways to Zion!”; The KJV says, “In
whose heart are the ways of them.”
i.
The wording in these
versions is drastically different.
The words, “in Zion” in the NASU are not in the actual mss.
And the word used for “pilgrimage” or “highways” or “ways” is
almost always translated “highway” and has reference to a road.
ii.
Three times a year,
Israel was to assemble as a nation to observe feasts appointed by God.
They would often make these journeys from their homes in groups.
The more devout would make this trip with great anticipation and
excitement, knowing its purpose.
Perhaps, our psalm has reference to times such as that, BUT:
iii.
Figuratively, you
find a heart that is set in the direction of God.
In all his conduct, he seeks to
do that which is pleasing TO the Lord.
Often the word is used in this
sense. Prov. 16:17 says, “The
highway of the upright is to
depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.”
Isaiah 40:2 says, “The voice of
one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight
in the desert a highway for
our God.” (We know this prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptizer
– Matt. 3:3, John 1:23
c.
As they pass through
the Valley of Baca
(weeping) – there is no physical valley that we are aware of that had
this name. However,
figuratively it could reference our wandering through this life with its
disappointments, frustrations, troubles and trials.
These are the times between the great spiritual gatherings.
AND during those times, “They
make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools” – the idea is
clearly that of being refreshed and sustained with what they need.
d.
They go from strength
to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.
(8) – What I see in this expression is that time between their
assembling together – the assemblies were the times of strengthening and
the times between were the troubles.
It was because of these “troubles” that they would CRAVE that
time when they could be with the saints and the Lord to be built up.
And God provided them at such intervals that they would continually be
strengthened by His word if they kept the feasts and weekly observances
He commanded.
Sadly, as you study the downfall of Israel and Judah, you find that
among the things neglected were these feasts.
They were neglected both in quantity and quality.
And with their neglect was a drifting far away from the LORD.
e.
Application:
i.
How OFTEN do we see
it important to assemble with our brethren?
In our psalm we find the need
for FREQUENT assembling! It
is that frequent assembling that gave the righteous the strength to
endure between those periods of assembly.
ii.
When our heart is
right we are going to WANT to be here as often as possible.
We will see the assembly as an opportunity to build each other up
(both to build up and to be built up)?
We will not possess the “one and done” attitude of many.
Do you ever wonder why we assemble on Wednesdays? It is the MIDDLE of
the week – a time determined by the elders of our congregation to lift
us up so that we can make it through the rest of the week serving God.
Do you ever wonder why we still have gospel meetings? It is intended to
be a time of intensified worship and devotion to God (much like the
feasts of Israel). We NEED
times like these in our lives as we strive to shine our lights “in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15-16)
iii.
We will make
PREPARATIONS to be there as often as possible.
When away from the assembly where is our heart? Do we make
excuses for not assembling? Cf. Luke 14:15-23.
Does it excite us to assemble with our brethren to worship God –
cf. Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when
they said, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
iv.
Friends, do we have
the attitude of this psalmist?
Do we long to assemble to worship Him?
When someone asks, “Do I have to go to church every time?”, it is
not a matter of doctrinal authority, rather it is almost always an issue
with the heart! NOTICE in
vs. 4 of our text, “those who “dwell in Your house; They will still be
praising You.” The NASU
says, “They are ever praising You.”
I ask – Where is your heart?
In Matt. 6:21 Jesus said, “Where
you treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
It deals with treasure in heaven (as opposed to material things
on earth), but it presents a truth!
If you have a heart driven to worship God you are going to do
that without hesitation!
a.
Vs. 8 begins with a
request that God hear the prayer of the psalmist.
b.
Vs. 9 – The prayer, “O
God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed.”
You again find this psalmist understanding his place before God
and how He is our protector and we belong to Him.
The sacred assemblies and the temple make this possible.
c.
Vs. 10 –
For
a day in Your courts is better than a thousand (outside) – what an
attitude – ONE day assembling is of great value in preparing us to deal
with the days we cannot or do not assemble together.
d.
“I
would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the
tents of wickedness” – it is better to be a lowly servant assembling
before God than to enjoy the abundance of the ungodly who forsake Him.
WHAT AN ATTITUDE!
e.
For the Lord is a sun
and shield
The Lord will gives grace and
glory – God is our source of life (and light) and our protection.
There is a realization of need and what God is capable of doing
for them. When you compare
what the treasures of this life (i.e. the tents of wickedness) offer us,
they cannot provide anything of lasting worth – that we can take with us
beyond this life.
f.
“NO
good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly”
As the psalmist begins to conclude this writing, there is here a
realization that God’s blessings come to those who faithfully serve Him
and choose Him over the world.
If they wanted the Lord’s protection, they NEEDED to seek Him,
serve Him and worship Him His way! Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek
the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him and
to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
g.
Application:
i.
What a lesson! How
many today see our worship as drudgery or a necessary ritual to endure
so that you have “paid your due”?
ii.
How many will let
ANYTHING in this world keep them from assembling with the saints?
iii.
WE often wonder why
the Lord is not with us.
Could it be because we are not with Him? (cf. Matt. 12:30)
Could it be that He is simply not the priority He ought to be in
our lives?
iv.
Instead, we ought to
consider it a PRIVILEDGE to worship Him – especially in our society
where we can still do so freely and openly.
BUT there is an even greater assembly that every Christian ought to
anticipate with his every fiber and that is when we assemble in heaven
for all of eternity. Do we
really look forward to that day with the anticipation we have discussed
in this lesson? It is my
hope that we do! Think about it.