TEXT : PSALM 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.  84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  84:10 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.  84:11 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.  84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

 

THEME : TRUSTING IN GOD

 

In Psalm 84 the writer desires fellowship with [his] LORD. As Clarke states [below] this Psalm is similar to Psalm 81 written for Asaph. Thus, Clarke gives us an overview of Psalm 84.

 

"The psalmist longs for communion with God in the sanctuary, Psa_84:1-3. The blessedness of those who enjoy God's ordinances, Psa_84:4-7. With confidence in God, he prays for restoration to his house and worship, Psa_84:8-12. The title here is the same as that of Psalm 81, only that was for Asaph, this for the sons of Torah. This person was one of the chief rebels against Moses and Aaron; there were three, Torah, Dathan, and Abiram, who made an insurrection; and the earth opened, and swallowed them and their partisans up, Numbers 16: The children of Dathan and Abiram perished with their fathers; but by a particular dispensation of Providence, the children of Korah were spared. See Num_26:11 (note), and the note there. The family of Torah was continued in Israel; and it appears from 1 Chronicles 26:1-19 that they were still employed about the temple, and were porters or keepers of the doors. They were also singers in the temple; see 2Ch_20:19. This Psalm might have been sent to them to be sung, or one of themselves might have been its author." [Adam Clarke]

 

The comparison in verse 10 - one day to a thousand elsewhere is telling. It shows us - essentially, there is no comparison between this world and the next. This must be so, since God is eternally present in His Kingdom. Thus, we will never count time again. This life is short - like the steam from a kettle, as the Bible indicates. Therefore, when you leave your [physical] body and enter Heaven, there will be an indescribable experience of joy! Then, perhaps, we will fully understand the sufferings of this present world are [were] not worthy to be counted against the glory revealed! This world has nothing to offer that can compare with the next.

 

"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand." Of course the Psalmist means a thousand days spent elsewhere. Under the most favourable circumstances in which earth's pleasures can be enjoyed, they are not comparable by so much as one in a thousand to the delights of the service of God. To feel his love, to rejoice in the person of the anointed Saviour, to survey the promises and feel the power of the Holy Ghost in applying precious truth to the soul, is a joy which worldlings cannot understand, but which true believers are ravished with. Even a glimpse at the love of God is better than ages spent in the pleasures of sense. "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." The lowest station in connection with the Lord's house is better than the highest position among the godless. Only to wait at his threshold and peep within, so as to see Jesus, is bliss. To bear burdens and open doors for the Lord is more honour tha n to reign among the wicked. Every man has his choice, and this is ours. God's worst is better than the devil's best. God's doorstep is a happier rest than downy couches within the pavilions of royal sinners, though we might lie there for a lifetime of luxury. Note how he calls the tabernacle "the house of my God;" there's where the sweetness lies: if Jehovah be our God, his house, his altars, his doorstep, all become precious to us. We know by experience that where Jesus is within, the outside of the house is better than the noblest chambers where the Son of God is not to be found." [C.H. Spurgeon]

 

Christ, the light of the world provides and protects you in this world as He guides you to the next. The light of His Word dispels all darkness on the inside. That is, He shines the light of His truth on our spirit and soul, and we enjoy the benefit of "knowing." Specifically, you experience the pleasure of the knowledge of the truth, and what believing in Christ brings to your life as well. The LORD is your sun, and HE is your shield. You can trust Him to take care of you as you believe. However, never waver. The LORD has instru cted us not to doubt. It is doubt, hesitancy, vacillation, and unbelief that destroys the benefit of His peace.

 

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield,.... Christ is "the sun of righteousness", and it is in the house of God that he arises upon his people with healing in his wings, Mal_4:2 he is like the sun, the great light, the fountain of light, the light of the world, that dispels darkness, makes day, and gives light to all the celestial bodies, moon and stars, church and ministers; he is a "sun" to enlighten his people with the light of grace, to warm them with the beams of his love, to cheer and refresh their souls with the light of his countenance, and to make them fruitful and flourishing and he is a "shield" to protect them from all their enemies; he is the shield of faith, or which faith makes use of, against the temptations of Satan; he is the shield of salvation, and his salvation is a shield which shelters from divine justice, and secures from wrath to come:

 

the Lord will give grace and glory: he gives converting grace, the first grace, and all future supplies of it; he gives sanctifying grace, all sorts of it, faith, hope, love, and every other; he gives justifying, pardoning, adopting, and persevering grace, and all freely; he gives honour and glory among men, fellow creatures, and fellow Christians; and he gives eternal glory, the glory his Father gave him, the crown of glory, life, and righteousness: this is the gift of God through Christ; Christ gives a right unto it, meetness for it, and the thing itself; and in his house and ordinances, as he gives more grace to the humble that wait upon him, so he encourages and increases their hope of glory; and he that gives the one will certainly give the other; for these two are inseparably connected together, so that he that has the one shall enjoy the other:

 

no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly; that walk by faith, and on in Christ, as they have received him; who have their conversation according to the Gospel of Christ, and walk in the uprightness and sincerity of their hearts; from such the Lord will not withhol d any good thing he has purposed for them, promised to them, or laid up for them in covenant; no spiritual good thing appertaining to life and godliness, and no temporal blessing that is good for them; he will deny them no good thing they ask of him, not anything that is good for them; and he will not draw back any good things he has bestowed on them, his gifts are without repentance." [John Gill]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN STOP GOD FROM BLESSING YOU!

 

"Blessed is the man." This is a promise pregnant with possibilities of what life will be for you as you trust in Christ. When God tells you that you are "blessed," it is no glib remark. The blessing of the LORD, is an unutterable experience. It places you in a position where no one can stop the good things from flowing in and through your life. Nothing can stop God from blessing you. Yet, His blessing is predicated on you fully trusting Him.

 

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." Here is the key of the Psalm. The worship is that of faith, and the blessedness is peculiar to believers. No formal worshipper can enter into this secret. A man must know the Lord by the life of real faith, or he can have no true rejoicing in the Lord's worship, his house, his Son, or his ways. Dear reader, how fares it with thy soul?" [C.H. Spurgeon]

 

Happiness is an elusive quality in the world. People look for happiness and contentment in things that cannot last and never fully satisfy. However, in the LORD - who is a Spirit, you will find an everlasting source of strength, joy, peace, and prosperity. Truly, anyone who trusts in Him IS blessed!

 

"Lastly, He pronounces those blessed who put their confidence in God, as he did, Psa_84:12. Those are blessed who have the liberty of ordinances and the privileges of God's house. But, though we should be debarred from them, yet we are not therefore debarred from blessedness if we trust in God. If we cannot go to the house of the Lord, we may go by faith to the Lord of the house, and in him we shall be happy and may be easy." [Mathew Henry]

 

What an empty and disappointing experience it is to trust in Man! Man cannot bless if he would, and would not bless if he could. Man is tainted with sin displayed in selfishness. Christ is sinless and Holy and uns elfish. No one can stop His Hand from blessing. Thus, you are wise to make Him your hope and salvation, for vain is the help of Man.

 

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee,.... For grace and glory, and every good thing; that trusts in the Lord at all times, and not in the creature, or in an arm of flesh; but in the Lord of hosts and armies, in whom is everlasting strength, and is the sun and shield of his people: happy are such that trust in him, whether they have ability or opportunity of going up to the house of the Lord, or not; they are happy that have and make use thereof, and so are they that trust in the Lord, whether they have or not; they are safe, being as Mount Zion, which can never be removed; and do and shall enjoy perfect peace and solid comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter; see Jer_17:5. The Targum is, "blessed is the man that trusteth in thy Word;'' in Christ, the essential Word." [John Gill]

 

The Bible declares Christ saves to the uttermost. [Heb_7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.] That is, there is no place in you that God cannot touch for good. Truly, He IS a sun and shield. He WILL give grace and glory. Moreover, He will not withhold any good thing from you. Not one good thing shall be held back as you trust in Him. Truly, there is nothing that can stop the LORD from blessing you - except yourself.

 

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee - Blessed in every respect. His lot is a happy one; happy in thy friendship; happy in being permitted to worship thee; happy in the blessings which religion scatters along his path here; happy in thy sustaining grace in times of trial; happy in the support given in the hour of death; happy in the eternity to which he is going. Oh that all men would try it, and experience in their own souls the happiness - the real, genuine, deep, permanent joy - of trusting in God; of believing that there is a God; of confiding in his character; of leaning on him in every situation in life; of rel ying on his mercy, his grace, and his faithfulness, in the hour of death!" [Albert Barnes]