This Psalm, written by the sons of Korah, echoes the message found in Ezekiel chapter 18, where the prophet emphasizes that God’s forgiveness is available to every generation, regardless of the sins of their ancestors. There is often a belief that God’s punishment for the sins of the forefathers carries over to their descendants. However, the sons of Korah stand as a testament to God’s grace and mercy, showing that He does not hold us accountable for the sins of previous generations. Despite their father’s rebellion against God, the sons were spared and allowed to remain as worshippers in the temple. There may have been a period when they were barred from entering the temple, and during that time, they longed to be in God’s presence rather than turning away from Him.
My Soul Yearns
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.– Psalms 84:1-4 (NIV)
The sons of Korah express their deep and cherished memories of dwelling in God’s presence, recalling the beauty of it. To truly understand God’s love and beauty, one must experience it firsthand. When we experience God’s love and the joy of His presence, the temporary allure of the world loses its grip on us. If we are easily drawn to worldly pleasures, it is a sign that we have not yet fully experienced the depth of God’s presence.
David, after experiencing the joy of salvation, found it impossible to live without it. Similarly, Jesus, who delighted in His relationship with the Father, was agonized when that connection was broken because of the sins of the world. Many people turn to Psalms as a model for prayer, but this form of prayer truly resonates with those who have once encountered God’s presence and now feel its absence.
The Beauty Of His Presence
The NIV and some other translations use the word “yearns,” suggesting that the sons of Korah felt as though God’s presence was now beyond their reach. This sense of separation drained their strength and left them feeling faint, as described in the Psalm. Do we feel weakened and discouraged when something prevents us from experiencing God’s presence? The sons of Korah even envied the sparrows that nested near God’s dwelling place.
When this Psalm speaks of the beauty of God’s sanctuary, it is not referring to the physical structure — like the splendor of Solomon’s temple or today’s grand cathedrals — but rather the beauty of God’s presence itself. The sons of Korah likely longed to enter the tabernacle, even though it could not compare to the architectural magnificence of modern cathedrals. This reveals that their desire was not for an impressive place or a grand stage for preaching, but simply to be near God.
Have we ever truly experienced the beauty of God’s presence? Or have we become more captivated by the external beauty of church buildings than the presence of God Himself?
Finding Strength In God
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. – Psalms 84:5-7 (NIV)
The absence of God’s dwelling place made the Psalmists faint, but they regained their strength in God. This demonstrates that God’s presence cannot be confined within the four walls of any grand structure. His presence is everywhere, offering strength to the meek. Many believers embark on a pilgrimage toward the temple of God, but the true pilgrimage is about attaining the eternal life that God has prepared for us. Attending Sunday services may seem like an easy and satisfying way to fulfill this journey, but many people mistakenly settle for this routine, unaware of what they are missing. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness (Romans 10:3).
The Valley of Baka represents weeping and sorrow. Those who are content with simply attending Sunday services may find a sense of peace, but they risk becoming accustomed to the barren state of the Valley of Baka. They are not deeply troubled by the corruption of this fallen world and are satisfied with maintaining their self-earned peace to survive.
However, those who truly seek salvation and work with the Holy Spirit to sustain it until they receive eternal life face a different reality. Their life in this world may feel like a form of suffering, but the Psalmists showed how they gained strength upon strength through their pilgrim journey.
Many people mistakenly believe that if they are with God, He will provide them with a life free from struggles. Others think that God gives them suffering in this world to change it for a crown in His Kingdom. Both views are incorrect. God never promised us a struggle-free life, nor did He guarantee a life filled with hardship. Instead of changing the situation for us, God gives us strength to pass through the Valley of Baka. The valley remains a place of sorrow, but it loses its power to trouble those who have gained strength in God.
God’s grace is a constant reminder of His promises. The Old Testament assures us that His grace never departs from us (Isaiah 54:10), and the New Testament confirms that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). Rather than expecting God to change our circumstances, we should receive His grace and allow it to make our lives joyful. We do not know how long our pilgrimage through this weeping world will last, so we should not delay receiving His grace. If we remain faithful, our Savior Jesus will present us unblemished before our Father God, as promised in Jude 1:24.
The Shield Of Our Salvation
Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. – Psalms 84:8-9 (NIV)
Perhaps, the sons of Korah would have asked God to shield them from the people who forbid them the dwelling place of God. They remembered that they were once an anointed singers of God and hence boldly they demanded the favour of God. As the forgiven children of God we should always look for His favour instead of man’s. In a deeper sense, it reveals the love of God who substituted His beloved Son on our place, and counted His obedience over our disobedience.
Whenever we are sinning, God grace surmounts us not because that we are gaining His favour, but as Jesus had gained the favour His Father, God looked at the sufferings of Jesus and favour us by providing His grace. But this will not last long, if we fail to repent and confess our sin with penitence. Also this reminds us of His Holy Spirit that is given us as a shield of our salvation, and God is looking at His Spirit as our guardian and it is our turn to align our will with the Holy Spirit to ultimately accomplish the will of our Father in Heaven.
Better Is One Day
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. – Psalms 84:10-12 (NIV)
We often sing this song when we gather to worship God. But do we truly feel its meaning, or are we merely singing along to invite His presence? We must understand that God already dwells in our hearts; we do not need a song to summon His presence among us. Instead, we should sing as those who have already received the Spirit of God, rejoicing in His presence with our whole being—our lives, our souls, and our bodies. Rather than longing for something distant or holding onto illusions, we should embrace the reality of His presence within us. If one day in His presence is better than a thousand days elsewhere, shouldn’t we make His presence our permanent and secret refuge? Or are we content with remaining outside, only occasionally feeling the comfort of His presence?
God is both our Sun and our Shield. This recalls the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, where God led them as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He is our light, as the Psalmist declares, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” At the same time, He is our shield, the protector of our salvation. This Psalm assures us that God will not withhold any good thing from His children. In other words, His children will lack nothing—but this promise is fulfilled only when His forgiven children seek His righteousness and His Kingdom above all else (Matthew 6:33). True blessing belongs to those who trust in God’s salvation, not in material provision.
We should also recognize that we do not need to long for God’s dwelling place as if it were far away. God Himself dwells within us as the assurance of our salvation. His presence is not something we must chase—it is already within us. Let us not treat His presence like a temporary retreat, where we enjoy the benefits but have no intention of staying permanently. When we truly grasp the goodness of His presence compared to the emptiness of this fallen world, He gives us the strength to remain with Him forever.
Lord, help us to understand that when we have You as our Father, we lack nothing. At the same time, awaken us from the comfort of earthly blessings so that we may focus on the greater gift of salvation and live forever in Your eternal dwelling place. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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