Psalms 84
Summary for Ps 84:1-12: Ps 84 a The psalmist expresses his deep spiritual longing for God’s presence. He faints with longing as he reflects on the Temple and on pilgrims making the journey to Jerusalem (84:1-7 b). He prays for himself and for the community (84:8-9 c). The conclusion of the psalm (84:10-12 d) clarifies that the Temple represents God—the psalmist truly longs for God’s presence. He knows that God’s goodness is greater than life and that only God can give his people favor and honor (84:10-11 e).Summary for Ps 84:1-4: 84:1-4 f The psalmist is far from the Temple. He turns toward it in hopeful reflection.
84:3 g The poet envies the birds that have nesting places in and around the Temple.
84:4 h The priests and Temple personnel lived in the Temple.
Summary for Ps 84:5-7: 84:5-7 i The pilgrimage to Jerusalem reenacted the Exodus, when God marvelously provided for his people (see 78:15-16 j; 105:41 k). The psalmist imagines the pains of travel turning to the joy of arrival. 84:5 l Travelers needed strength to meet the challenges of pilgrimage by foot along unpaved paths, in all kinds of weather and with the possibility of assaults.
84:6 m The Valley of Weeping probably refers to the anguish that lonely pilgrims endured (see 23:4 n), rather than to an actual location.
• refreshing springs ... autumn rains: Even when pilgrims feel totally exhausted, the prospect of drawing near to the Lord renews their spirits (cp. Isa 35:6-10 o; 41:18-20 p; 43:17-20 q; 49:10 r).
84:9 s Both kings and priests were anointed to dedicate them for service (see 132:17 t; Exod 28:41 u; 1 Sam 9:16 v; 16:1-13 w; cp. Isa 61:1 x; Acts 10:38 y).
84:10 z The psalmist viewed being in God’s presence as much better than being anywhere else.
84:11 aa Some people worshiped the sun as a god, but the true God provides all that anyone needs.
Psalms 85
Summary for Ps 85:1-13: Ps 85 ab The psalmist leads the postexilic community in lament and prayer for full redemption. He ponders God’s past rescue of Israel from exile (85:1-3 ac), longs for greater evidence of God’s goodness, and leads the community in prayer for full restoration (85:4-7 ad). God responds with a message of peace (85:8-9 ae), and the psalm concludes with a lyrical outburst at the grandeur of God’s salvation (85:10-13 af).Summary for Ps 85:1-5: 85:1-5 ag Though the psalmist gratefully acknowledges God’s goodness, he also asks God whether his wrath will last forever. 85:1 ah God restored the fortunes of Israel by bringing the nation back from exile (see 14:7 ai; 126:1 aj).
85:2 ak When God forgave the guilt of their sins, he gave the people the possibility of fellowship with him (see 32:5 al).
Summary for Ps 85:6-7: 85:6-7 am This prayer for renewal is based on God’s unfailing love for his people.
Summary for Ps 85:8-9: 85:8-9 an When God the Lord speaks, his faithful people listen. He promises them peace, meaning wholeness and well-being (see 37:11 ao). They fear the Lord and know that he and his salvation are near to them.
• The Lord does not tolerate foolish ways, such as those that resulted in the Exile.
Summary for Ps 85:10-13: 85:10-13 ap In the glorious world of renewal and salvation, all the qualities of God’s care—love, truth, righteousness, and peace—come together and transform the created order into something new (see Isa 32:15-20 aq).
85:13 ar Righteousness is like a messenger preparing the world for God’s coming in response to the prayers of his people (85:4-7 as; 89:14 at).
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