Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John CalvinPSALM 84The Psalmist complains that nothing proved to him a source of greater distress than his beingprevented from coming to the tabernacle, and his being banished from the assembly of the saints,where God was called upon. And yet he shows, that nothing can withstand the longing desires ofthe godly; and that, surmounting all obstacles, they will be constantly engaged in seeking God,and, so to speak, will make a way for themselves where there is none. 452 At length he expresseshis desire to be restored to the tabernacle of God, and again testifies that a day spent in the tabernaclewas in his estimation more to be prized 453 than to live for a long time in the society of unbelievers.To the chief musician upon Gittith. A Psalm of 454 the sons of Korah. 455The title of this psalm does not bear the name of David; but as its subject-matter is applicableto him, he was in all probability its author. Some think that it was composed by the sons of Korah,for his particular use; but to prove the groundlessness of this opinion, it is only necessary to advertto this one consideration, that David in his time was so eminently distinguished by the gift ofprophecy as to be under no necessity of employing the Levites to perform a service for which hehimself was so well qualified. The only difficulty to our ascribing it to David is, that mention ismade of mount Zion, to which the ark of the covenant was not brought until he was put in peaceablepossession of the kingdom. how after that, he was never deprived of the liberty of appearing beforethe ark with others, except once, and then only for a short time; namely, when he was under thenecessity of betaking himself to flight on account of the rebellion raised against him by his sonAbsalom. 456 The contents of the psalm, however, indicate, that at the time of its composition, hehad been compelled to wander long in different places as an exile. If we reflect that David recordedin psalms the persecutions he endured under Saul long after he was delivered from them, we willnot be surprised to find him making mention of Zion in connection with them. Of the word Gittith,I have already spoken on the eighth psalm.Psalm 84:1-41. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of Hosts! 2. My soul longeth, [or greatlydesireth,] yea, even fainteth after the courts of Jehovah: my heart and my flesh leap for joy towards452 “Mais au contraire que par dessus tous empeschemens ils poursuyvront constamment a chercher Dieu, et par maniere dedire, se feront voye la ou il n’y en a point.” — Fr.453 “Il tesmoigne derechef qu’il estime plus de jouyer de ceste liberte d’assister avec les autres au tabernacle de Dieu, quandmesme il ne devroit vivre qu’un jour, etc.” — Fr. “He again testifies, that to enjoy the liberty of assisting with others at thetabernacle of God for only one day was, in his estimation, more to be prized, etc.”454 “It is admitted that the Hebrew preposition here used (lamed) may be translated either by, to, or for. When applied to anindividual, we consider it as marking the author by whom it was written, or the musician to whose care it was addressed, foradapting it to music. But when addressed to a company of choristers, as the sons of Korah, there seems no doubt but it wasintended for them to sing it.” — Williams.455 The sons of Korah were the descendants of Korah, whom the earth swallowed up for striving against Moses and againstthe Lord. In the narrative of that event, we are informed that “the children of Korah died not,” (Numbers 26:10.) They joinednot with their father in his sedition, and therefore escaped his punishment. It appears from 1 Chronicles 9:19, and 26:1-19, thattheir posterity were employed as porters or keepers of the tabernacle and temple. They had also a place among the singers ofthe temple, (2 Chronicles 20:19.) Their name occurs in the title of nine psalms.456 “Or est-il, que depuis ce temps-la, il ne perdit jamais la liberte de pouvoir comparoistre devant l’Arche avec les autres, sinon une fois et pour bien peu de temps, c’est ascavoir quand il s’enfuit pour la persecution que luy faisoit son fils.” — Fr.212