I love the house of God

Psalms 84: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Meditation:
It seems that the author was far away from the tabernacles and he has a deep longing, even for the temple courts (Court is a yard). He admired the sparrow (a bird that hopped around or come and go) who would settled and build their house, and swallow (a swift bird, a bird that loves freedom) their nest to lay their young where the altars were (court). He considered these birds blessed as they could dwell (to sit or to settle) to 'hala'l (Hebrew means to boast) the Lord. Similarly, the man is blessed when his security in the Lord, for his heart is as a causeway or pathway to the Lord. He would spring up as a fountain when he acquainted with depression (which cause weeping). There would be blessings (rain) that covered it and he would be stronger for His countenance was towards God.

The author was most likely a king as the prayer was for God to direct His favor on the anointed. Perhaps, he was far away from Jerusalem and was in the battle field. He called to the Lord of armies (hosts) and acknowledge Him as his defend, protector (buckler). To him, to be in the house of God is far more blessed than any where else. He would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than what he was (a king) then.

The author described the Lord as the Sun and Shield. He gives grace and glory. The sun typified grace while the shield typified glory. The Lord will not withhold any good thing from us who are righteous. Those who trust Him is blessed.

Jesus, our propitiation

Rom 3:25 - 26 (KJV)
Jesus, 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Who - Jesus
Meditation - Jesus means Savior


Where/who sent - Jesus was sent by God, God set Him forth (He determined and purposed it)
Meditation - Jesus was not sent by man. He was sent by God. God purposed to sent Him.


What was Jesus sent for (His mission) - to be a propitiation (He turn God's wrath away from us). He is  our mercy seat.
Meditation - Jesus came to turn God's wrath away from us. Rom 4:15 says: "because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression."
Remember the Ark of Covenant, what was inside the Ark? They were the tablets of the 10 commandments, the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded. All these items spoke of the rebellion of the children of Israel. All these items were put into the Ark of covenant and the Mercy Seat was placed above them. An innocent lamb was killed and it's blood was sprinkled over the seat. Through faith in Jesus blood, the propitiation takes effect for us.


Why it is necessary for God to perform this act - God now can righteously (Just and Justifier) forgive those (of the old convenant/testament) who could not live up to the Law and those who sins but have believed in Jesus in this present time.
Meditation - God is Wise. His thoughts are not our thoughts and He thinks through things. He saw through all eternity, and what He does, are always just. His plan benefits all.