I HAD RATHER BE A DOORKEEPER

It is good to faint for the courts of the Lord, v. 2. In Psalm 42. 2, the psalmist’s soul was thirsting after the living God, with a desire to “appear before God”; this was his exercisein the city. In Psalm 63. 1, 2, David was in the wilderness thirsting after God, desiring to see His glory in the sanctuary. But in Psalm 84, the desire to come to the courts of the Lord appears to be the exercise of an exile—a Levite outside Jerusalem, perhaps when the city was besieged by Sennacherib. Even a sparrow could fly over the besieging army to build a nest on the altar. Yet the exile on the outside found deep spiritual interest in the house, as Paul in prison maintained prayerful interest in the local churches, and John in exile on Patmos could think about the churches in Asia.

There was a supreme blessing to dwell in the Lord’s house, v. 4. David desired to dwell there for ever, Psa. 23. 6; in another psalm he wrote, to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life”, 27. 4. Anna put this into practice, for she “departed not from the temple … night and day”, Luke 2. 37. Believers today should appreciate that they are living stones, “built up a spiritual house”, 1 Pet. 2. 5, permanently placed there by the Lord who is the chief corner Stone.

The title of the psalm shows that the “sons of Korah” were involved. In Numbers 16. 3, Korah and others tried to usurp the authority of Moses, but they perished when the earth swallowed them up, v. 32, an event recalled in Jude 11 as “the gainsaying of Core”. Yet grace prevailed, for “the children of Korah died not”, Num. 26. 11, and later became keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, 1 Chron. 9. 19. Grace changes the most unlikely of men into devoted servants of the Lord.

Thus the writer of Psalm 84, no doubt a son of Korah, would not dwell in “the tents of wickedness”, v. 10, for such tents had characterized the father’s rebellious group, Num. 16. 27, and those of the besieging army. Rather he would be a doorkeeper to keep evil out of the Lord’s house, for this was a porter’s work, “that none … unclean … should enter in”, 2 Chron. 23. 19. To such a Levite God would be a sun, contrasting with the glory of judgment that appeared to Korah, Num. 16. 19.

Take heed … to all the flock, Acts 20. 28.