THE CHILDREN OF KORAH

THE CHILDREN OF KORAH!

Ps 84

Psalms 84:1 To the chief Musician upon Git'-tith, A Psalm for the sons of Ko'rah.

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

           This psalm is long but not too long to include because I wanted you to see the things that are contained in it. It is written like a proverb with snippets of truth like spiritual coupons clipped from some paper. They are very valuable. If you look closely you can see some of those that we have clipped and saved.

           In Numbers chapter 16 we learn that there were three main rebels in the insurrection to return to Egypt, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. The earth opened up and swallowed them but the children of Korah were spared. “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.” (Num 26:11) The family of Korah entered Israel with the rest and it seems that they were employed in the temple, perhaps as porters or doorkeepers. Second Chronicles 20:19 also indicates that they were singers. So this was a song for them regarding the temple.

           They had been spared by providence. Worthy of death yet alive, they developed a longing for the God who had spared them. They yearned to be “in church.” Verse 2 says: “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.”  It is the same with those of us who have been redeemed. There is a deep seated desire to be where the Word of God is preached, where songs and hymns are sung, and where God’s people congregate. I am highly suspect of those who claim to have been “spared” but have no such desire. I feel sorry for them! They have failed to receive something very special.

           Passing through the Valley of Baca, (see verse 6) they found that God provided refreshment. He made it a well and the rains filled the pools. Baca means “valley of weeping.” God had turned their sorrow into joy. They were children of the condemned yet they lived to serve and sing!

Dear Lord, let me serve and sing all the day long. AMEN