Psalms 84:1-12·~1 min

Better Is One Day in Your Courts

The psalmist exclaims over how lovely the dwelling places of the LORD of Hosts are. His soul longs and even faints for the courts of the LORD, while his heart and flesh cry out to the living God. Even the sparrow and swallow have found a place near God's altars, and those who dwell in his house are called blessed because they are always praising him.

F¹or the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. ²My soul longs, even faints, ³Even the sparrow has found a home, ⁴How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!

Blessed are those whose strength is in God and whose hearts are set on the pilgrimage roads to Zion. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs, and the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength until each one appears before God in Zion.

⁵Blessed are those whose strength is in You, ⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baca, ⁷They go from strength to strength,

The psalmist asks the LORD God of Hosts to hear his prayer and to look with favor on the face of his anointed. He declares that one day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere and that it is better to stand at the threshold of God's house than to dwell comfortably among the wicked. The LORD is sun and shield, giving grace and glory, withholding no good thing from the upright. The psalm ends by blessing the one who trusts in the LORD of Hosts.

⁸O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer; ⁹Take notice of our shield, O God, ¹⁰For better is one day in Your courts ¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; ¹²O LORD of Hosts,

Section summaryThe psalm opens with a passionate love for God's dwelling place, describing the soul's fainting desire for his courts and the blessedness of those who live near his altar and praise him continually. It then blesses those whose strength is in God and whose hearts are set on pilgrimage, because even the Valley of Baca becomes a place of springs as they go from strength to strength toward Zion. The final section is a prayer that God would hear, look upon his anointed, and grant the worshiper the incomparable privilege of being near him, since one day in his courts is better than a thousand elsewhere and he withholds no good thing from the upright.

Role in the chapterThis section celebrates God's presence as the true goal and sustaining joy of his people, both for those already near and for those still on the way.