Psalms 84

⁴Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

They - That constantly abide in thy house; the priests and Levites, or other devout Jews who were there perpetually, as Anna, Luke 2:36 - 37. They will - They are continually employed in that blessed work.

⁵Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Whose strength - Who trusteth in thee as his only strength. Thy ways - Blessed are they whose hearts are set upon Zion and their journey is thither.

⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

Baca - A dry valley in the way to Jerusalem, here put for all places of like nature. Make a well - They dig divers little pits or wells in it for their relief. The rain - God recompenses their diligence with his blessing, sending rain wherewith they may be filled.

⁷They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

They go - They grow stronger and stronger. Appeareth - This is added as the blessed fruit of their long and tedious journey.

⁹Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

Look - Cast a favourable eye towards him. Anointed - Of me, who though a vile sinner, am thine anointed king.

¹⁰For 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.

Than dwell - In the greatest glory and plenty.

¹¹For 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.

A sun - To enlighten and quicken, and direct and comfort his people. Shield - To save his people from all their enemies. Grace - His favour, which is better than life. Glory - The honour which comes from God here, and eternal glory.