PSAL. LXXXIV.
The Prophet longing for the communion of the Sanctuary, sheweth how blessed they are that dwell therein. 9 He prayeth to be restored unto it.
To the master of the musicke upon Gittith, a Psalme to the sonnes of Korach. [unspec 1]
HOw amiable are thy dwelling pla∣ces, O Iehovah of hosts! My soule [unspec 2] [unspec 3] longeth and also fainteth for the courts of Iehovah; my heart and my flesh doe shout unto the living God. Yea the sparrow findeth a house, and the swallow a [unspec 4] nest for her, where she laieth heryoung: thine altars Iehovah of hosts, my King and my God. O blessed are they that abide in thine [unspec 5] house, still they shall praise thee Selah. O [unspec 6] blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, they in whose heart, are the high-wayes. They that passing thorow the vale of Baca, [unspec 7] put him for a well-spring, also with blessings the raine covereth. They shall goe from [unspec 8] power to power, he shall appeare unto God in Sion. Iehovah God of hosts, heare thou [unspec 9] my prayer: give yeare, O God of Iakob, Se∣lah. See thou, O God, our shield, and looke [unspec 10] [unspec 11] upon the face of the Anointed. For, bet∣ter is a day in thy courts than a thousand: I have chosen to sit at the threshold in the house of my God, rather than to remaine in the tents of wickednesse. For Iehovah God is [unspec 12] a Sunne and a shield, Iehovah will give grace and glory, he will not withhold good from them that walke in perfection. Iehovah of [unspec 13] hosts, O blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
GIttith] see Psal. 8. 1. [unspec 1] [unspec 2]
Vers. 2. dwelling places] or habitacles,: see the Notes on Psal. 43. 3.
Vers. 3. for the courts] that I may come into [unspec 3] them: for the Priests onely went into the Temple, the people stood in the courtyards which were two, 2 Kings 21. 5. See Psal. 65. 5. shout] to wit, for desire to come unto God.
Vers. 4. the sparrow] or bird, in Chaldee, the [unspec 4] dove; the Hebrew tsippor is generally any bird, Psal. 11. 1. Gen. 7. 14. specially the sparrow, when other birds are named, as here and Psal. 102. 8. for such haunt mens houses. swallow] or, free bird, called in Hebrew dror, of libertie which this bird seemeth to have above others, flying boldly and nestling about houses: so Prov. 26. 2. The Greeke takes it here for the turtle dove, (which hath in Hebrew another name, Psal. 74. 19.) so also doth the Chaldee, adding this reason, because her young are lawfull to be offered on thine altar. thine al∣tars] to wit, are the places where the birds nestle neere unto them, in houses or trees, which some∣time were by Gods tabernacle, Ios. 24. 26. or un∣derstand as before, (I long for) thine altars.
Vers. 6. the high wayes] or causeyes; namely, [unspec 6] which lead to thy house: that is, they which affect heartily, long after, and delight to goe up to thy house. Spiritually these wayes or pathes are made by preaching of the Gospell, Esa. 40. 3. and 35. 8. and 11. 16.
Vers. 7. They that passing] or, of them that passe. [unspec 7] of Baca] that is, of mulberie trees; which use to grow in dry places. The Greeke saith, vales of teares. Both meane that through wants and affli∣ctions we must come into the kingdome of God. This valley was neere unto Ierusalem, as may be gathered by 2 Sam. 5. 22, 23. Ios. 15. 8. put him