Ps. 84:

"A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH. "

Though we are not given the name of the penman of this exquisite psalm, we are permitted to know for whose special use it was penned; for while there is no reason to question the genuineness of the headings of psalms in general, this psalm bears intrinsic evidence that its heading is correct; thus from whom would verse 10 (where the sons of Koran declare that they would rather be doorkeepers in the house of their God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness) so appropriately come, as from those to whom their office of being doorkeepers had been specially assigned? (i Chron. 9:19.)

Let us for a moment recall the facts. At the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, we read that the wives and sons and little children of the two latter (who were Reubenites and who therefore did not accompany Korah, who was a Levite, to the door of the tabernacle), came out and stood with Dathan and Abiram at the door of their tents (Num. 16:27) and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods (ver. 32). Thus Dathan's and Abiram's households were swallowed up, but only the men of Korah's family perished; for the children of Korah had neither accompanied their father to the door of the tabernacle, where he perished by fire (vers. 19, 35), nor came out to their tent-doors as the children of Dathan and Abiram did, and were in consequence swallowed up; so that we read that "the children of Korah died not" (Num. 26:ii). But where sin abounded grace did over abound. At the door of the tabernacle Korah and his two hundred and fifty companions met their doom by fire; the guardianship of the door of the tabernacle should be henceforth his children's special charge. And a delight some task they found it. There was no irksomeness in their duties. They would rather be doorkeepers in the house of their God than dwell, as Dathan and Abiram had done, in the tents of wickedness.

And, objects of grace themselves, out of full hearts they sing their song, exalting at 'once their service, and the beauty and attractiveness of the courts to which that service attached. "How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts," they cry, and go on to express the fainting longing of their hearts for those courts, where even the worthless sparrow and vagrant swallow could find a home,-fit types of Israel who in their worthlessness had wandered far.

But what of those whose weary wanderings were over, whose feet were no longer "in the ways," but who were at rest within the courts ? " Blessed," cry the sons of Korah, "blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; they will be still praising Thee." There remained a rest for the people of God. They had proved Jehovah in the way, amid all its trials and difficulties and tears; but the trials were now over, the difficulties but a memory, and the tears forever dried. And if amidst its sorrows, they had praised Him on the way, they would praise Jehovah still. At rest in Jehovah's courts, they would still be praising Him.

But if they were blessed who, all their troubles over, were safely housed, blessed too were those who were yet on their way to Jehovah's courts. They, passing as Israel will yet have to pass, through the valley of Baca,-the vale of tears-make it a well; they find a source of blessing down here in their very tears; for the well speaks to us of refreshment from below:nor was this all, as that little word "also" beautifully shows; blessing should also accompany them from on high, "for the rain also"-that comes down from above-"covereth it with blessings" (R. V.). Thus earthly refreshment and heavenly blessing were alike theirs.

But were these blessings unconditional? Would Israel unconditionally rise superior to the trials of the way to Jehovah's house ? Conditions there were, and these the sons of Korah proceed to lay down. First in order for Israel in the latter day to find earthly and heavenly blessing in their trials, their strength must be in Jehovah. Secondly, their heart must be in the way to Jehovah's courts, and the way in their hearts-"in whose heart are the ways." But where-ever there was one whose soul longed, yea, even fainted for the courts of Jehovah, whose heart and flesh cried out for the living God, that one should go from strength to strength-the very trials of such should energize their souls, and every one should finally appear before God in Zion.

Now, "no prophecy of Scripture is of private (or special) interpretation " (2 Pet. 1:20):1:e., we cannot take a scripture and bind it down simply and solely to one sole and only interpretation, however true that interpretation may be. True, this psalm was written primarily for the sons of Korah, and it deals primarily with Israel and their latter-day trials and blessings. But were we to bind the interpretation down exclusively to their primary meaning we should rob our souls of infinite blessing in reading the Psalms. How many an one who knows nothing of dispensational truth has derived the deepest comfort from the Psalms ! As Mr. Spurgeon once remarked, there is no depth of sorrow into which we can descend, nor height of joy to which we can rise, but we find that David has been there before us! Thus, that which primarily applied to him is fraught with richest blessing for ourselves. Truly the Bible is not like a book of man's production, which has a " private interpretation"-an explanation, that is, alone applicable to it; but, being God's work, the meaning of any particular passage cannot be confined to that interpretation which lies primarily and obviously on its face. Hence this psalm of the sons of Korah has its application to ourselves. We, like Israel, who in the latter day will have to win their way through trial and difficulty to Jehovah's house on earth, have ours to win towards the Father's house on high; and trials and tears lie in our path. The way to the throne has ever lain through the pit, whether in Joseph's case, the great Anti-Type's, or our own. But if God is our strength, and the ways to the Father's house are in our hearts, those tears which God puts in His bottle, those sorrows which He notes in His book, shall work us present and eternal blessing. Oh, tried and tested fellow-believer, you are in God's school, where " tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Therefore you may glory in tribulation also; and, Jehovah being your strength, in all these things you are more than conquerors; for earthly victors conquer when their difficulties are overcome:you conquer in them; your tears become a well, and rain from heaven covers you with blessings; for, Achsah-like, the upper and the nether springs are yours (Josh. 15:16). And hence it is that you shall go from strength to strength-"there was not one feeble person among their tribes" (Ps. 105:37); but "every one appeareth before God in Zion." " He never promised me, "said an aged widow in Devonshire to the writer, who had but three shillings a week to live on, – " He never promised me a smooth passage, but He has promised me a safe landing."

Yea, His sheep shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of His hand. Herein is the "final perseverance," not of the sheep, but of the Shepherd. "I am the Good Shepherd," He says. If He lost but one of His sheep He would lose His reputation also. He will never do this; He leadeth them in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake-that name of Good Shepherd. Blessed Saviour, who having loved His own that were in the world, loved them unto the end.

" O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee." JOHN FORT.