Psalms 84

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, commander of the armies of heaven

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! Psalms 84:1–3

The LORD of hosts who dwells in the temple and is called 'my King, and my God' is Jehovah, the premortal Christ. The worshipper's longing for His house is a longing to be in His presence.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Isaiah 6:3 — Isaiah sees the LORD of hosts in the temple; John 12:41 says Isaiah saw Christ's glory.

Messiah

Anointed — Hebrew mashiach, Messiah; Greek Christos, Christ

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. Psalms 84:9

'Thine anointed' is the Hebrew word Messiah. In its first setting it meant the anointed king, but every anointed king of Israel pointed to the one great Anointed One, Jesus the Christ, for whose sake God looks on His people with favor.

• the same title in Psalms 2:2 — The rulers take counsel against the LORD and against His anointed.

Sun of Righteousness

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. Psalms 84:11

The LORD is pictured as the sun that gives light and life and as the shield that protects, the One who gives grace and glory. Malachi later names the coming Christ the Sun of Righteousness, and grace comes through Him.

• alluded to by Malachi 4:2 — The Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings.