I. (84:1–4) Blessed Are Those Who Dwell in God’s Courts. The song opens by describing God’s house, the central sanctuary in Jerusalem. It is “lovely” (or “delightful”), for it is the Lord’s “dwelling place” (Hb. mishkan; cf. 26:8; 43:3). Therefore the pious soul “longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord”—this is where the worshiper actually meets the “living God,” and thus it comes as no wonder that the “heart and flesh sing for joy.” The ideal worship pictured here is a matter of both the inner person (soul, heart) and the outer expression (flesh), including kneeling, bowing, raising hands, and so forth. (For all its liturgy and regulation Israelite worship was not “quiet” or “restrained.”)

The marvel is that God’s house is a welcoming place, as “even the sparrow finds a home” there, and the swallow too: these are birds small, common, and humble. Therefore the humble and faithful Israelite need not fear that God will turn him away. “Those who dwell in your house” (84:4) are people with constant access to the sanctuary (cf. comment on 23:5–6); they are “ever singing [God’s] praise,” because they can attend the services so readily. Such people are “blessed,” that is, truly happy (cf. comment on 1:1–2).

II. (84:5–9) Blessed Are Those Who Journey to Zion. The next section describes those who make the journey to Zion to worship at such a sanctuary: they are “blessed” (v. 5). Their “strength” is “in” God—that is, he will sustain them on the way. The “highways” are in their hearts, which probably means that they actually want to go: pilgrimage was obligatory (Deut. 16:16) but ideally not mechanical or burdensome.555 The location of the “Valley of Baca” is unknown;556 it seems to have been a dry place, but the faithful pilgrims “make it a place of springs.” This probably means they delight in this valley as much as if it were well-watered, since they are so happy to be on the way.

These pilgrims “go from strength to strength,” which seems to be an idiom for going from one degree of strength to the next—they keep on finding new levels of strength for the journey557 until finally “each one appears before God in Zion” (cf. Deut. 16:16).

Prayer for the king (the “shield” and “anointed”) closes the section; he not only protects the pilgrims but is called to represent Israel before God, to model faithfulness for the whole people, and thus to keep the whole people serving God securely. The king, then, serves as a shield, representing the shield, God (Ps. 84:11).

III. (84:10–12) Blessed Are Those Who Trust in the Lord. The final section describes the person “who trusts in” the Lord and finds in God his highest good. This person sincerely prefers one “day in [God’s] courts” to a “thousand” anywhere else (v. 10) and prefers even the lowest task of service, that of a doorkeeper, in the “house of my God” to any gain he might have if he were to “dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Such a mode of dwelling would be to fashion his life in opposition to the covenant, perhaps along the familiar lines of the Gentiles.) This person finds God to be a “sun and shield” (he gives light of life and protection), upon whom “the Lord bestows favor and honor” (such a person will not trust in these or turn them into a source of pride).

“Those who walk uprightly” (v. 11) are those whose faith is genuine, which leads to a life aimed at doing God’s will; “No good thing does [God] withhold from” them, for they are living in his light. The chief good thing, which is particularly in view in this psalm, is to be welcome to worship in the temple (the purpose of the pilgrimage; vv. 5–9). The faithful will certainly enjoy many other things, but they enjoy them properly and safely only insofar as they pursue the life of the upright. Such people are “blessed” indeed!