Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 84
PSAL. LXXXIV.
A Pſalm] Of the ſame ſubject with the forth ſecond, and made when David was baniſhed either by Saul or Abſolom; or elſe when buſied abroad in his wars, 2 Sam. 8. and ſo, debarred from the uſe of Gods publick ordinances.
Verſ. 1. How amiable are shy Tabernacles] viz. For thy Words lake that is there preached, and thy worſhips there performed. The Proteſtants at Lions in France called their place for publick meetings to ſerve God,Hom. 36. a… 1 Cor. 14. Paradiſe, Chryſoſtom calleth it the place of Angels and Archangels, the Kingdome of God, yea Heaven it ſelf. Another calleth it, The heavenly Exchange betwixt God and his people; they preſent dury, he conferres mercy. Luther ſaith, he would not live in Paradiſe without the Ordinances; as with them he could frame to live in Hell it ſelf: And a ſmall village with a godly Paſtor, and a good people in it, is an earthly Paradiſe, ſaith He. If that Italian Martyr could date his letter From the delectable Orchard of the Leonine priſon, what may we think of the free uſe of the ordinances? what of Heaven? nam facile literatransfertur ad Spiritum.
Verſ. 2. My ſoul longeth] As ſhe did, who ſaid, Give mee Children or elſe I dye. His ſoul once longed for the waters of the well of Bethlehem, but not ſo earneſtly as now to draw waters with joy out of thoſe wells of ſalvation.
My heart and my fleſh] Ut ſit ſanctitus in corde, & ſanitas in corpore. And for obtaining of this, whole David cryeth aloud, as a child when hungry cryeth every whit of him, hands, feet, face, all cry; and then the Mother flings by all, then ſhe flyes and out-runs her ſelf: So here; The deſires of the Righteous ſhall be ſatisfied, Prov. 10.24.
Verſ. 3. Yea the ſparrow] Avis communiſſima, haunteth about houſes, buildeth about windows, and there chirpeth.The Heb word ken for a neſt hath the firſt letter bigger than the reſt, to note Gods providence in teaching birds to build. Exclamatio pathetica ex abrupto. Trem.
And the Swallow a neſt for her ſelf, &c.] She hath her name in Hebrew from her liberty to flye boldly, and to neſtle in mens chimneyes, Prov. 26.2.
Even thine Altars] Or, Oh thine Altars! (ſo ſome read it) by a paſſionate exclamation, importing ſtrongeſt deſires after them. The want of Gods Ordinances ſhould pinch us to the heart.
Verſ. 4. Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy houſe] viz. Thoſe Meniall-ſervants of thine, the Prieſts and Levites, who have their lodgings near thee, and their imployment about thee. This is ſtill the happineſs of Gods Miniſters, whoſe holy function and calling (both in the preparation to it, and execution of it) leadeth them to God, and holdeth them with him.
They will be ſtill praiſing thee] As having hearts full of Heaven, and conſciences full of comfort. There cannot but be muſick in the Temple of the holy Ghoſt.
Verſ. 5. Bleſſed is the man whoſe ſtrength is in thee] i.e. Who is enabled by thee, both in body and mind, to come from the place of his aboad to the ſolemn feaſts.
In whoſe heart are the wayes of them] Here the old tranſlation, In whoſe heart are thy wayes, is far better. i.e. As he bringeth his body to the Ordinances, ſo he hath thy wayes or laws ingraven in his heart.
Verſ. 6. Who paſſing thorough the valley of Baca] That is, of tears, ſay ſome,foreign, Sept. of Mulberry-trees ſay others; the one are moiſt, the other uſe to grow in more dry places. Betwixt them both, they may ſerve, ſaith One, to make up a more compleat emblem of this miſerable World, made up of woes and wants. In hoc exilio ſaith Bernard, in hoc ergaſtulo, in hac peregrinatione, in hac valle lachrymarum, &c.
Make it a Well] They are as chearfull in their travel to Gods houſe, as if they had plenty of water all the way. Finis edulcat media, the joy of the Lord is their ſtrength, whereby they are carried on an end, as they ſay, to their journeys end the joyfull preconceit of appearing before God in Zion; allaying their great thirſt.
Verſ. 7.Pergunt tarmatini. Beza They go from ſtrength to ſtrength] i.e. Luſtily and conſtantly, turma turmae ſubinde ſeſe adjungente, one company comming this way, and another that, out of their ſeveral pariſhes, and ſo they grow ſtronger, and go more comfortably on together. Some render it, de doctrina in doctrinam, vel de academia in academiam; they grow til they come to a perfect knowledge of God.
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God] And then think their pains though never ſo great, well beſtowed, though then they ſaw Gods face, but obſcurely in the dark glaſs of the ceremonies. Popiſh pilgrims though uſed hardly, and looſe much of their eſtates, yet ſatisfie themſelves in this, I have that I came for, viz. the ſight of a dumb Idol. What then ſhould not we then ſuffer to ſee God in his ordinances, &c.?
Verſ. 8. O Lord God of Hoaſts hear my prayer] Satisfie mine earnings, pantings, and inquietations of mind after the liberty of they Sanctuary, verſe. 2. Theſe very deſires he calleth prayers.
Verſ. 9. Behold] Not only Hear, ſee Pſal. 34.15. with the Note.
Look upon the face of thine anointed] Chriſti, cujus feſtina adventum, ſaith Kimchi; do me good for Chriſts ſake.
Verſ. 10. For a day in thy Courts] Every Flower hath its ſweetneſs: ſo hath every holy duty its comfort.
I had rather be a Door-keeper] As the Korites were, to whom this Pſalm was committed; and for whoſe incouragement this might be ſpoken. A Door-keeper is firſt in, laſt out; ſo would David be in holy aſſemblies. Tardy hearers would be loath to beg this office out of his hand.
In the tents of wickedneſs] Tentoriis vexationis, Kimchi.
Verſ. 11. For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield] An univerſal All-ſufficient and ſatisfactory good, proportionate to our neceſſities.
The Lord will give grace and glory] One would think that were enough, yea but then here is more than enough, No good thing will he with-hold, &c. and thence is Davids deſire, ſo to be about him.
Verſ. 12. O Lord of Hoſts, &c.] Concluſio Epiphonematica.