Homilist Psalm 84:1-12 How amiable are your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!… I. As DEPRIVED of these privileges. In his deprivation he reveals — 1. A devout admiration for them (ver. 1). It is the law of mind, that blessings when lost always appear to us more precious. Lost health, lost property, lost friends, lost privileges. 2. An intense longing for them (ver 2). It is "the living God "that gives these scenes attractions to the soul. It is not the sublimity of the site, the splendour of the architecture, or the magnificence of the services, that the godly soul hungers for, but "the living God." 3. A high estimation of them (ver. 3). What the house is to the sparrow, and the nest to the swallow, true worship is to the devout soul — the home, the resting-place. II. As IN QUEST of these privileges (ver. 5). Not only are they blessed whose home is in the sanctuary, and who spend their days in perpetual praise; but those also are blessed who, though at a distance, have God for their strength and help, and press on in pursuit of religious privileges. 1. Though they encounter difficulties, they are still blest (ver. 6). 2. Though they encounter difficulties, they shall with increasing strength pursue their way until they reach their blessed destiny (ver. 7). III. As in CONTEMPLATION of these privileges. 1. He prays (vers. 8, 9). He invokes the Almighty to attend to his prayers, and to "look upon the face," or to favour, His "anointed," that is, the king. What titles he here applies to the Almighty! "O Lord God of Hosts," "O God of Jacob," "O God our shield," etc. 2. He avows the transcendent privileges of public worship (ver. 10). 3. He exults in the relation and beneficence of God (ver. 11). (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! |
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