Psalm 84:0

Most of my readership (that teeming mass of humanity) is familiar with Psalm 84. It's a beautiful expression of delight in communion with God in the context of the tabernacle. But what we may not have noticed is the wider context hinted at by the Psalm's prologue:

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Typical enough, right? Anybody who's read the Psalms has seen lots of these, but a recorded sermon by Peter Greasley recently reminded me of the unique significance of this one.

Korah

We know somebody by that name now, don't we? Way back in Numbers 16, we've read the memorable account of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Those men (Levites appointed by God to facilitate the practical aspects of the spiritual life of the congregation of Israel) decided one day that they weren't one bit less special than Aaron and Moses and demanded their own turn in the top authoritative and priestly posts. To make a long story short, there was some mystique to those special offices, and God swiftly and dramatically proved this as Korah and his cohorts and their families were swallowed alive by Sheol while nearly 15,000 Israelites were consumed by fire and plague. The casualties were kept low due to the humble intercession of (who else) Moses and Aaron on the part of the rebellious people.

That's the end of the story as I'd remembered it; but Numbers 26:8-11 (which is, incidentally, smack-dab in the middle of one of those classic Old Testament geneological listings) adds a striking footnote:

The son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah's followers when they rebelled against the LORD. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. The line of Korah, however, did not die out. [Emphasis mine.]

The line of Korah didn't die out? That's interesting. No, that's amazing! It sure sounded bad when God's judgement fell back in chapter 16. Something odd happened here. Apparently, God chose to spare a few and restore them to service before him in his tabernacle!

And indeed, every indication is that those very descendants of Korah, that line that was graciously spared the wrath so justly leveled against so many of their peers, found themselves alive, well, and singing and keeping doors in the house of the Lord:

Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers' house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance. - 1 Chronicles 9

Suddenly now that I know "the rest of the story", I'm reading Psalm 84 with different eyes. There's a whole new light on verse 10:

For a day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

If I don't delight enough in God's presence, or if I lack enthusiasm for his earthly dwelling, that is, for His Church, perhaps I haven't truly begun to grasp the significance of the salvation to which I lay claim.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Indeed, it is those who have experienced the delivering mercy of God who sing,

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.