Read Psalm
84-87 & Romans
9
To discover:
As you read note the future
the psalmist looks to in each case.
To ponder:
Psalms 84 and 85
stem from the descendents of Korah (see Num 16) who seem to have played a key
role in temple worship. Psalm 84 opens declaring how lovely God’s dwelling
place (temple) is. The psalmist yearns for it with soul, heart and flesh. The
reason he does is because he yearns for the living God himself, and the temple
courts are close to him (84v1-3). Indeed, he notes (perhaps with godly envy)
that even birds find a home there (84v3). He then declares that those who dwell
there are blessed because they get to praise God constantly, as did the
Levites. Yet he also declares that pilgrims are blessed, with an image of rain
following them on their pilgrimage, causing vegetation to flourish, and them to
strengthen, perhaps as they are spiritually watered, until arriving at the temple
in Zion (84v5-7). 84v8-9 then
express how love of God is tied to the welfare of his king, no doubt because
one of his roles is to promote worship. So the psalmist prays God’s favour on
his anointed, before declaring that one day or the most menial job in the
temple is better than a thousand days elsewhere or an abode with the wicked
(84v8-10). This perspective stems from the fact that the LORD is a “sun”
(causing flourishing) and “shield” (giving protection) to the upright, holding
nothing back from them. So the one who trust in him is truly blessed
(84v11-12).
This psalm vocalizes the sort of
longing the man of faith has for the closeness of God because of the joy of
praising him and the blessing he bestows. The wonder for the Christian is that
the gathered church and every Christian body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. So
God is always close. Nevertheless, we long to experience his presence
unadulterated by sin in glory. And, to us, a mere taste of this is of greater
worth than anything the world might offer.
Psalm 85 is written when Israel
are experiencing God’s anger in some way (85v4-5). It recounts how God had
forgiven and restored the people in the past (85v1-3), before praying he would
restore and revive the nation again in his love (85v4-7). Nevertheless, it
acknowledges God only promises peace to his “saints” (lit: holy ones) if they
fear him and so don’t return to their folly. Then his glory will dwell in the
land in the sense that he will be present at the temple and display his
righteous commitment to his covenant promises by blessing the people with
security and abundance (85v8-13). The pairings of 85v10-11 suggest that because
faithfulness “springs forth from the earth,” it and the other initial virtues
in each pairing probably refer to qualities in God’s people, expressing the
fear of the LORD the psalmist commends. By contrast, because righteousness
“looks down from heaven,” it and the second of each pair, which are
faithfulness and peace, refer to acts of God that “meet” and “kiss” the qualities
expressed by his people. It’s a marvellous picture of how God meets the
faithfulness and righteousness he works in us, with his far superior
faithfulness and righteousness, not least in ensuring we have peace with him.
The psalm is therefore a prayer for the restoration and revival of the church
that makes clear at the heart of this must be true and sincere repentance.
Psalm 86 may be placed here to
express at a personal level the sort of repentance necessary if one is to be
restored. David faces some “trouble” (86v7, 14) and prays for God to guard his
life and bring him joy in salvation, because of his devotion and faith
(86v1-3). He relies on God’s forgiving love in asking this, and is moved to by
contemplating the greatness of God’s deeds which will one day mean all nations
worship him (86v5-10). But David’s love of God is seen by him not being content
with simple forgiveness. He asks for God to not only teach him his ways, but
give him an undivided and so wholehearted heart, so that he would forever fear
and praise God for his loving deliverance (86v11-13). This is the desire and
prayer of those for whom God really is first. The psalm ends with David
modelling how to appeal to God on the basis of his revelation of himself
(86v15, Ex 34v6-7) - here, by strengthening and saving David, which may be “the
sign” he sought to shame his enemies (86v14-17). For Christ, this sign was his
own resurrection.
Psalm 87 also considers the
honouring of God by the nations. It records the primacy of Zion as the “glorious”
and “holy” city that God loves and dwells in (87v1-3), before declaring that
the nations, and even Israel’s arch enemies, will one day “acknowledge” God;
and those who do will be said to have been “born in Zion” (87v4-5). Indeed, the
psalm suggests it is through these people that the LORD will “establish” and so
build up the city, noting those “born” there as opposed to the others from
these people groups. As for them? They will rejoice, declaring “all” their
“foundations” are in Zion (87v7) –
ie. it is the place on which their whole life is built.
Praying
it home:
Praise God for the
goodness he showers on those who fear him, whoever they are. Pray home Psalm
86v11-13.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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