Salmos 84
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 84
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Many have assumed that this Psalm was written by a Levite, who, for some reason, is estranged from the temple. because of sickness because of banishment or exile because the King has fled (cf. Ps. 84:9) and he has gone with him In this Psalm, fellowship with Israel's God is connected to worshiping in the temple. Your dwelling places, Ps. 84:1a ‒ BDB 1015, cf. Ps. 43:3; 132:5 the courts of YHWH, Ps. 84:2a ‒ BDB 346, cf. Ps. 65:4; 84:10; 96:8 100:4; 116:19; 135:2 Your altars, Ps. 84:3c ‒ BDB 258 Your house, Ps. 84:4a the highways to Zion, Ps. 84:5b, cf. Ps. 86:11; 122:1 appears before God in Zion, Ps. 84:7b, cf Ps. 42:2; Exod. 34:23; Deut. 16:16 Your courts, Ps. 84:10a, cf. #2 stand at the threshold of the house of my God (Eloah), Ps. 84:10b - BDB 706, KB 765, Hithpoel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (used of "gatekeeper" in 1 Chr. 23:5) Notice the different names/titles for Deity. Lord of hosts (YHWH Sabaoth), Ps. 84:1,3,12a; see SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts Lord (YHWH), Ps. 84:2a,8a,11b; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. the living God (El), Ps. 84:2b, cf. Deut. 5:26; Ps. 42:2; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A. My King, Ps. 84:3d My God (Elohim), Ps. 84:3d; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. God (El - Elohim, lit. "God of gods" or with a change of vowels, "before God"), Ps. 84:7b God (Elohim) of hosts, Ps. 84:8a God (Eloah) of Jacob, Ps. 84:8b, cf. Ps. 46:7 God (Elohim), Ps. 84:9a My God (Eloah), Ps. 84:10b Lord God (YHWH Elohim), Ps. 84:11a Many of the Psalms of Asaph have multiple names/titles of God. Each of these, and their combinations, had connotations for Israelites. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY This Psalm is similar in many ways to Psalm 42. The sons of Korah, apparently a family of Levitical singers, also wrote it. The father was Kohath, the choirmaster under David. They wrote Psalms 42-49; 84-85; 87-88. I do not believe the superscriptions to the Psalms in the MT are original, therefore, not inspired. They are not in the Psalms found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were added by later editors or compilers using traditional rabbinical speculation.
Salmos 84:1-4
84:1 "lovely" This ADJECTIVE is literally "beloved" (BDB 391). Jerusalem, the city of the Great God, is beautiful, but even more, it is "beloved" (cf. Isa. 5:1; Jer. 11:15). ▣ "Your dwelling places" This is a parallel poetic relationship with Ps. 84:2. Therefore, it must refer to the courts of the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Ps. 43:3; 46:4), where God Himself chose to dwell (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26; 14:23-25; 15:20; 16:2,6,11,15; 17:8,10; 18:6; 26:2; 31:11). ▣ "Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts 84:2 This verse has three VERBS that describe how the psalmist feels about YHWH. It is very similar to another Psalm of Korah—Psalm 42 (also note Psalm 63). My soul longed ‒ BDB 493, KB 490, Niphal PERFECT; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH my soul even yearned ‒ BDB 477, KB 476, Qal PERFECT, cf. Ps. 119:81 my heart and my flesh sing for joy ‒ BDB 943, KB 1247, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 51:14; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART This emotive language is very powerful. It reminds faithful followers of the wonderful personal side of fellowship with God. The goal is to be with Him! For Israelites that was linked to the temple. For NT believers it is linked to Jesus, the new temple (cf. John 2:18-22)! ▣ "the living God" This is a word play on the meaning of YHWH ("I Am Who I Am," cf. Exod. 3:14). The God of Israel is the ever-living, only-living God! (cf. Ps. 42:2). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. 84:3 "bird" This can refer to two things, one literal and one symbolic. The symbolic would mean that the psalmist longs to be close to God in the temple—to dwell with God. The small helpless bird symbolizes a person. The literal would mean that the birds have free access even to the holiest places in the temple. ▣ "Lord. . .God" Notice how these two most common titles/terms for Israel's Deity are put in a synonymous parallel relationship. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. M SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY ▣ "My King" YHWH was the true "king" of the covenant people (cf. 1 Sam. 8:7). Biblical faith is not a democracy but a theocracy! Jesus put it well in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD 84:4 "How blessed are those who dwell in Your house" This Psalm is structured around the three uses of the term "blessed" (BDB 80, Ps. 84:4,5,12). It basically means "happy" (cf. Ps. 9:1). It could refer, in this context, to priests or to guests (cf. Ps. 23:6; 27:4-6; 65:4). ▣ "They are ever praising You" Praise characterizes YHWH's true followers (cf. Ps. 42:5,11). "Ever" (BDB 728) is used often in this section of the Psalms (cf. Ps. 77:7; 78:17,30,32; 83:4). There is an eternal aspect to fellowship with YHWH (cf. Ps. 23:6)! ▣ "Selah" See notes at Ps. 3:2
Salmos 84:5-7
84:5 "How blessed is the man whose. . ." This is terminology of Wisdom Literature. "Blessed" (BDB 80) is used 26 times in Psalms and 8 times in Proverbs. See note at Ps. 1:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: WISDOM LITERATURE ▣ "In whose heart are the highways to Zion" Many commentators (and BDB) interpret this as a reference to pilgrims approaching the temple. Male Jews over the age of 21, who lived close enough and were able, were commanded to attend three annual feasts at the temple (i.e., Leviticus 23 and Exodus 23). SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION ▣ "highways" This term (BDB 700) has wonderful connotations of restoration, both physically (i.e., from exile) and spiritually (i.e., coming of YHWH's special deliverer, Messiah). The following is my note from Isaiah 19:23. Isaiah 19:23 There will be a free-flowing movement between nations for the purpose of worshiping YHWH. The nations have come! It is interesting how many times Isaiah uses the imagery of a highway. a highway for the exiled Jews to return, Isa. 11:16; 57:14 a highway for Gentile worshipers to come, Isa. 19:23 a highway of holiness, Isa. 26:7; 35:8; 43:19; 49:11; 51:10 a Messianic highway, Isa. 40:3; 42:16 84:6 "Baca" The term (BDB 113) means "weeping." Some take this literally and apply it to a valley close to Jerusalem (i.e., 2 Sam. 5:22-24). Others take it symbolically as the problems encountered on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or a return from exile. ▣ "spring" This term (BDB 745), like "Baca," is taken by some as a literal site of water and by others as imagery for God's care on the journey. ▣ "early rain" The LXX and the Vulgate translate this (BDB 435) as "lawgiver" (cf. NASB margin note at Joel 2:23), which would be an allusion to YHWH's Sinaitic covenant (cf. Exodus 19-20). In this context it refers to the temple in Jerusalem. ▣ NASB, JPSOA, LXX, Peshitta "blessings" NKJV, NRSV, REB, TEV "pools" "the lawgiver" The MT has "blessings" (BDB 139), but the KJV has "pools" (BDB 140), parallel to the term "spring." This involves only a vowel change. 84:7 "from strength to strength" What does this unique phrase mean? The NASB interprets these terms as provisions for the journey (NET). It is possible to translate these consonants as "height to height," meaning ridge to ridge as one approaches Jerusalem. One of my favorite commentators, Derek Kidner, Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 16, p. 336, says he thinks it refers to the excitement that pilgrims have as they come to the final phase of the journey to the temple. It may refer to traditional places of protected rest on the regular route of pilgrims. ▣ "Every one of them appears before God in Zion" Again, the NASB and NKJV are interpreting this as a pilgrim's journey. See note below. ▣ NASB, NKJV, JPSOA "before God in Zion" NRSV, REB, TEV, LXX, Peshitta "the God of gods will be seen in Zion" "God shows Himself to them in Zion" The MT has "God (of gods) will be seen in Zion." The textual issue is how to view the beginning two Hebrew letters of the name/title Elohim in this context. as a name for Israel's Deity a PREPOSITION (BDB 39, #1) denoting movement toward something (NASB, NKJV, JPSOA) The UBS Text Project, p. 344, gives option #1 an "A" rating. This is another allusion for pilgrims journeying to the temple for annual feast days.
Salmos 84:8-12
84:8-9 Notice the different titles/names for Israel's Deity. YHWH Elohim of hosts Eloah of Jacob Elohim Using multiple titles/names for Israel's Deity is common in this book of the Psalter. ▣ There are four IMPERATIVES OF REQUEST used in two parallel lines. hear ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal give ear ‒ BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil behold ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal look ‒ BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil These are prayer requests for YHWH to restore access to temple worship. Notice how the PLURALS of Ps. 84:4-7 return to the SINGULARS of Ps. 84:2-3! Many of the Psalms start out as individual prayers and concerns, but over time turned into liturgy of corporate worship. Psalm 84:8-9 is a prayer for a person's restoration to temple worship and for this to come about by God strengthening and empowering Israel's king (Ps. 84:9b)! 84:8 "God of hosts" "Sabaoth" (BDB 838) usually has a military connotation (i.e., Joshua), "God, the commander of the heavenly army." In a Babylonian astral idolatry context it refers to the "stars." YHWH is the creator and controller of all heavenly lights. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts 84:9 "our shield" This is a title for God (cf. Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; Ps. 18:2; 115:9-11) or Israel's king (i.e., Ps. 89:18). ▣ "Your anointed" This could refer to the High Priest (cf. Lev. 4:3; Zechariah 3-4), but probably the King (cf. Ps. 2:2; 18:50; 20:6; 28:8; 89:51; 132:10,17; 1 Sam. 2:35; 16:6; 2 Sam. 19:21). In Ps. 89:18 both "shield" and "king" are used of the King of Israel. For "anointed" see SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES OF THE SPECIAL COMING ONE. 84:10 "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside" This is the use of the term "thousand" in a symbolic way (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND [eleph]). The comparison is not fully stated, "One day with YHWH in His temple is better than a thousand days anywhere else!" (i.e., Ps. 27:4). ▣ "the threshold" It is true that in the ancient world, the threshold (BDB 706) was viewed as potentially demon filled, especially in Roman culture. However, in this context it seems obvious that this is a comparative statement. The psalmist would rather be at the outskirts of the temple than in the plush comfort and hospitality of the wicked. Some commentators try to make "threshold" (BDB 706) a title for the Levite gatekeepers (cf. 1 Chr. 9:19,22; 2 Chr. 23:4). I think "threshold" (cf. Jdgs. 19:27; 1 Kgs. 14:17; 2 Chr. 3:7) fits this context best. ▣ "tents of wickedness" This is an anachronism from the nomadic days of Israel. The opposite is expressed in Ps. 27:5-6. 84:11 "a sun" The Aramaic Targums interpret "sun" (BDB 1039) as "bulwark." "sun," שׁמשׁ, BDB 1039 "battlements," שׁמשׁתיך, BDB 1039, cf. Isa. 54:12). Battlement fits the parallelism with shield better. The OT was reluctant to use "sun" in connection with YHWH because of the widespread worship of the sun in the ANE. If "sun" is original, then it is Canaanite imagery (i.e., Ugarit) that focuses on YHWH as light, truth, health, revelation, blessing, etc. Deity is described in this way in Isa. 60:19-20; Mal. 4:2; Rev. 21:23. He is the true, eternal light. 84:11-12 This is a summary of the believer's worldview. God is with us and for us, even when we are physically separated from the designated place of worship. To faithful followers YHWH is sun and shield gives grace and glory withholds no good thing (cf. Ps. 34:10b) blesses those who (conditional element) walk uprightly trust Him ▣ Notice again the multiple names/titles for Israel's God. YHWH (twice) Elohim YHWH os Hosts SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. D. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts 84:11b NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, NJB, Peshitta "grace and glory" "favor and honor" "grace and honor" "kindness and honor" "favor and glory" These are two major theological terms. "grace" (BDB 336, KB 332) has the basic meaning of "honor" or "finding favor." It is used many times; here are a few people "favored" by YHWH (i.e., accepted by God) Noah ‒ Gen. 6:8 Abraham ‒ Gen. 18:3 Moses ‒ Exod. 33:12,13,16,17; 34:9 "glory" (BDB 458 II, KB 457) has a general meaning of abundance honor, reputation, distinction It is often used of God, but also of humans favored by Him So, this is a wonderful group to be a part of. Here, it denotes pilgrims on a journey to the temple for a feast day. SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT)