Psalm 84 was written by the sons of Korah and Spurgeon considered the same as “the pearl of the Psalms”. In Spurgeon’s words: “If twenty-three is the most popular, one hundred and three is the most cheerful, one hundred and nineteen is the most experimental, fifty-one is the most plaintive, this is one of the sweetest Psalms of Peace”.
In this Psalm 84, the Jewish people were captive and were far from the house of God, and one of the great frustrations of the sons of Korah expressed in their psalms, is to be far from the house of God, is that intense desire for Go and worship God at His home. However, through their writings they show us that they maintained that faith that they would again worship the living God.
This historical and spiritual context is very important to understand the depth of this Psalm. The sons of Korah were not simply writing poetic words; they were expressing a longing born from pain, separation, and hope. Being far from the temple meant much more than being away from a physical place; it meant being unable to fully participate in communal worship, sacrifices, and the sacred rhythms of life centered on God’s presence.
Look closely, the psalmist says in verse 1:
How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
Psalm 84:1
The psalmist does not say: How kind your dwelling places “were”, O Lord of hosts!. No! For him the dwellings of God, His holy temple, was still a kind thing to worship God, and this is part of the hope he had. Although his present was somewhat devastating, he knew it would not be that way forever.
This statement reveals a heart that refuses to let circumstances redefine truth. Even in captivity, even far from Jerusalem, the psalmist speaks in the present tense. God’s dwelling places remain lovely, desirable, and worthy of admiration. Faith allows him to see beyond his immediate reality and to anchor his hope in the unchanging character of God.
He continues:
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2
This second verse shows us the spiritual depth of the sons of Korah. First, they had that burning desire to be in the house of God, second, despite all the trials and difficulties they were going through as captives, they recognized that their heart and flesh had to worship and sing to the living God, the only God alive.
Here we see that worship is not limited to a location, even though the temple was deeply important. Their longing was not merely for a building, but for the presence of God that filled that place. Their entire being—soul, heart, and flesh—cried out to God. This teaches us that true worship begins internally, long before it is expressed outwardly.
Psalm 84 also challenges believers today. Many have access to churches, gatherings, and places of worship, yet sometimes the desire for God’s presence is weak or routine. The sons of Korah remind us what it means to value communion with God deeply, to miss His presence when it is not felt, and to yearn for moments dedicated entirely to Him.
This Psalm should serve as an example to feel love for the house of God and to understand the importance of true worship and praise before God. It invites us to examine our own hearts and ask whether we long for God with the same intensity. Even in seasons of difficulty, distance, or spiritual dryness, Psalm 84 calls us to keep our eyes on the living God, trusting that one day we will again rejoice fully in His presence.