Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 84:7
They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.
7. They go from strength to strength ] Instead of fainting on their toilsome journey they gain fresh strength as they advance. Cp. Isa 40:31, and for the form of expression, Joh 1:16; 2Co 3:18.
every one of them in Zion ] Better as R.V., every one of them appeareth before God in Zion. The words every one of them are not in the original, but may legitimately be supplied, the use of the verb in the singular individualising the different members of the company.
The LXX read El Elhm, ‘God of Gods,’ for l Elhm, ‘unto God,’ and thence, through the Vulg., came Coverdale’s rendering, And so the God of Gods apeareth unto th in Sion. The P.B.V., while giving the right construction to the Heb. sentence, has retained God of Gods.
appeareth before God ] The technical term for visiting the sanctuary at the great Festivals. Cp. Psa 42:2, note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They go from strength to strength … – Margin, company to company. The Septuagint and Vulgate, They go from strength to strength; the God of gods is seen in Zion. Luther, They obtain one victory after another, that one must see that there is a righteous God in Zion. DeWette, Going they increase in strength, until they appear before God in Zion. This last is doubtless the true idea. As they pass along, as they come nearer and nearer to the end of their journey, their strength, their ardor, their firmness of purpose increases. By their conversation; by their songs; by encouraging one another; by seeing one difficulty overcome after another; by the fact kept before their minds, and increasingly apparent, that they are constantly approaching the end of their journey – that the distance to be traveled is constantly diminishing – that the difficulties become less and less, and that they will soon see the towers and walls of the desired city – they are invigorated, cheered, comforted. What a beautiful illustration of the life of Christian pilgrims – of the bands of the redeemed – as they journey on toward the end of their course – the Mount Zion above! By prayer and praise and mutual counsel, by their songs, by the fact that difficulties are surmounted, leaving fewer to be overcome, and that the journey to be traveled is diminishing constantly – by the feeling that they are ever drawing nearer to the Zion of their home, until the light is seen to glitter and play on its towers and walls – they increase in strength, they become more confirmed in their purposes, they bear trials better, they overcome difficulties more easily, they walk more firmly, they tread their way more cheerfully and triumphantly.
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God – literally, He shall appear to God in Zion. The meaning evidently is, that they who are referred to in the previous verses as going up to Zion will be seen there, or will come before God, in the place of worship. There is a change of number here, from the plural to the singular – as, in Psa 84:5, there is a change from the singular to the plural. Such changes are frequent in the Scriptures as in other writings, and the one here can be accounted for on the supposition that the author of the psalm, in looking upon the moving procession, at one moment may be supposed to have looked upon them as a procession – a moving mass – and then that he looked upon them as individuals, and spake of them as such. The idea here is, that they would not falter and fall by the way; that the cheerful, joyous procession would come to the desired place; that their wishes would be gratified, and that their joy would be full when they came to the end of their journey – to Zion. So it is of all Christian pilgrims. Every true believer – everyone that truly loves God – will appear before him in the upper Zion – in heaven. There their joy will be complete; there the long-cherished desires of their hearts will be fully gratified; there all that they ever hoped for, and more, will be realized.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 84:7
They go from strength to strength.
The theory of true progress
What is the true progress of man? We say progress of man in contradistinction to the progress of ideas, graces, principles, faculties, or arts.
1. Progress in the accumulation of wealth is not the true progress of man.
2. Nor progress in the attainment of knowledge.
3. Nor progress in social influence.
4. Nor progress in theological zeal.
5. Nor the progress of any element in the soul distinct and separable from it.
I. True progress is the progress of the soul in appropriating, with happiness to itself, all external objects to its highest use. But how is this appropriation to be made? How is this outward universe to promote the growth of our souls? Not without our willing and earnest effort. Put the acorn into a congenial soil, and external nature, by a necessity, will draw all the particles of vitality from its milky veins, and elaborate them into majestic forests. The seed has no resisting force; it is passive in the plastic hand of nature. But it is not so with mind; it has a choice in the matter. There must be investigation and application.
II. True progress is the progress of the soul in distributing, with happiness to itself, the highest blessings to the creation.
1. Analogy indicates it. There is nothing made for itself–nothing whose powers and influences, are entirely circumscribed to self. Whatever a creature receives it gives out, with the modification and increase of its own force. The clouds borrow water of the ocean, but they pour it forth again in refreshing showers upon the thirsty hills, which, in their turn, send them amongst the valleys. The tree borrows from every part of the world in order to build up itself, but it gives out, in return, beauty, fragrance, and fruit. Thus all things give what they appropriate. The material is but the emblem of the spiritual, and thus all nature typifies mans distributive function.
2. Its instinct suggests it. There are, says Bishop Butler, as real, and the same kind of indications in Nature that we are made for society, and to do good to our fellow-creatures, as that we were intended to take care of our own life, and health, and private good; and that the same objections lie against one of these assertions as against the other.
3. It has a sphere for it. No two spirits, perhaps, throughout the intelligent universe are exactly alike: the one has what its neighbour requires, and thus to all there is a field for distribution. Now, true progress is, as we have said, the progress of the soul in distributing the highest blessings, with happiness to itself. What are the highest blessings? Spiritual thoughts. Ideas that will stimulate to duty, and nerve for nobler deeds; that will shed new light on being, and present the Eternal to the mind under aspects yet more lovely; that will guide to loftier walks of existence; that will touch new chords, develop new powers of being, awaken new hopes, and kindle higher aspirations; I call the highest blessings.
III. True progress is the progress of the soul in both appropriating and distributing, under an ever-heightening consciousness of the Creators presence and approval. Neither of the two former instincts to which we have referred–that of self or society–is more real, deep, or universal, than the Divine All men, in all periods, circumstances, and places, have developed their intuitive belief in the supernatural and Divine. This instinct is the ultimate fact in our spiritual constitution: it is the fountain-head of all religions. It has reared temples for the world, transformed men into priests, and wood and stone into gods. It is the breath of prayer, the song of thanksgiving, the soul of worship, through all lands and ages. To enjoy the approbation of the Deity is the grand desideratum of life. This last element of progress–namely, the ever-heightening consciousness of Divine approbation–transcends the other two, inasmuch as it involves them. It is only as this consciousness is felt that the spirit can succeed, either in the great work of appropriation or distribution. This is the spirit of advancement. (Homilist.)
Spiritual progress
Progress is the order of the day. It pervades everything. It is found in every walk of life. It is breaking up many of our old stereotype notions, and is forcing into notice and practice the newest and best discoveries. Who would not wish our age to be progressive in the useful and beautiful and great? So it is pleasant to see individuals progress–to see them rise step by step to the attainment of some great and worthy object
I. The character of spiritual progress.
1. It is slow. From step to step Holiness and heaven are to be obtained slowly–little by little. If we cannot fly or run we must be willing to climb and walk, thankful to go forward, though slowly.
2. It is toilsome. Not only slow work, but hard work. The ascent is difficult and dangerous, like the ascent of some ice-bound mountains. Painfully does the traveller move upwards.
3. It is certain. They go, etc. They rise. They are near heaven. They have more of Christs likeness.
II. Some of the inevitable consequences of ceasing to progress.
1. Declension. If the soul is not gazing upward and Godward, it will gaze earthward. If Christ, the strong, loving magnet, does not draw the soul to Himself, the worldly magnet will draw it to itself.
2. Loss at every step; his prospects and hopes clouded, his peace gradually departs. (W. Darwent.)
From strength to strength
The old and the new man co-exist, and they bring antagonistic elements to bear, so that warfare and strife are the result. The spirit born of God is annoyed, and hindered, and offended, by the spirit born of Adam. But in this condition there is progression as well as conflict. The new man gains ground, and the victory is reserved for him; and on each successive collision his power is greater, and that of his adversary is enfeebled. Although he may win his way but inch by inch, he shall win it in the end. The signs of this progress are–
I. A growing sense of God. His faith in God is a belief which stirs his mind, which sways his conscience, which animates his soul. Impatient, sometimes, in his fleshly thralls, he breaks away from time and sense, and strives to get at God. If he digs deep, he digs for God; if he soars high, he soars for God. Does he range creation? He finds God everywhere–in landscape, in field, in flower, and in flood. Nature is full of Him. Does he rehearse the ways of Providence? He sees the methods of Gods wisdom, and the traces of His care. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about him. Not only does he think of Him as the God of his life, but as his reconciled God and Father through Jesus Christ. The spirit of estrangement is exorcised; and, in a filial and full assurance, he asserts his sonship by the cry of Abba, Father!
II. A growing dependence upon Christ. He strikes out the I both for the past and for the future, and puts in Christ. It is not what I have done; but what Christ has done. Not what I can do; but what Christ can do. The Christian lives inversely, if we may so speak; the weaker he becomes, the stronger he becomes;–i.e. the weaker grows the man, the stronger grows the Christian. For just in proportion as he realizes he is not only weak and helpless, but that he is absolutely nothing without Christ; in that proportion is he impelled to take the firmer hold upon Him, till he who was weak, helpless, and nothing in himself, grows mighty, able, and everything through Christ who strengthened him. This growth in grace, moreover, is accompanied by increasing spiritual discernment.
III. Increasing steadiness and success in the resistance of temptation. The natural man makes no stand. He rather goes over to the enemy. Neither does the converted man, all at once, attain the full power of resistance, because he cannot, all at once, learn to look entirely to, and lean entirely on, Jesus. The young conscript will often show more apparent zeal against sin than the advanced Christian. The old soldier does not battle the less valiantly when the enemy is before him, because he does not brandish his sword so swaggeringly on parade. It is purpose, and not impulse, by which the old soldier is guided. And it is the veteran, not the recruit, who makes the fewest relapses, is most seldom disgraced by a repulse, and who gains the more frequent and most signal victories.
IV. Decreasing absorption in worldly objects and attractions. He puts things in their proper place, and in their proper order. God and heaven stand first; self and earth stand second.
V. An increased unselfishness and disinterestedness of religious emotion. He sees spiritual things now, absolutely; not merely in their relation towards himself, but as they are in themselves. He sees Jesus in a higher light than as a mere personal Saviour; he elevates Him to a loftier throne, for, as he beholds His moral excellency, he loves to commune with Him, and grows restless to be with Him face to face. The fully renewed heart wants to see Him take all His power, and reign.
VI. A deepened composure in anticipating death and eternity. Talk to him of death, and you talk to him of liberty; you tell him of one who strikes off the dungeon bars, and unclasps the detaining gives. (A. Mursell.)
The untiring travellers
I. The progressive nature of the Christians course. His repentance will be characterized by a greater hatred to sin–not so much on account of its penalties as of its pollution–its opposition to the Divine nature. His love to God–his benevolence to his fellow-creatures–and his affectionate sympathy for the household of faith, will perpetually improve in fervour, activity, and enlargement. His fortitude, mailed with a growing conviction of Divine truth, will be displayed in a more uncompromising adherence to what is right–in a more unbending resistance to what is wrong. Thus will he go from strength to strength, while the beauty of holiness will be daily brightening upon him, and his affinity and relationship to heaven made thereby increasingly manifest.
II. The means by which He gathers increasing strength and energy for its prosecution.
1. What the vale of Baca was to the Jewish pilgrims, the word and ordinances of God are to the heaven-bound traveller. Just as the little pits in the desert contained the rain which came from above to confirm the ancient inheritance of the Lord when it was weary, so are ordinances the instituted receptacles of the descending influences of Divine grace which come down like showers that water the earth to revive and invigorate the soul that thirsts for them.
2. The Israelites, in going up to Jerusalem, were strengthened and encouraged by the society of their fellow-pilgrims, who divided the toils of the journey, and whose presence and converse animated them to prosecute it to the end. Union and co-operation are powerful stimulants in any pursuit.
3. In going up to Jerusalem from the several parts of their country, to worship the Lord in the place where He had recorded His name, the Israelites, we are told, cheered their spirits and beguiled the weariness of the way by certain sacred melodies which they sang at intervals and in concert as they travelled along. The psalms entitled Songs of Degrees are generally understood to have been sung on these occasions. Now, this was a fruitful source of solace and refreshment. This made the journey pleasant and delightful. It is thus that the joy of the Lord is the strength of the Christian pilgrim. Every grace of the Spirit gives pleasure in its operation.
4. The Israelites were animated to the prosecution of their journey by the hope of reaching Zion and the prospect of the sacred enjoyments which awaited them there. I had fainted, says the psalmist, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. As he advances onward in his Christian course, with the glow of spiritual health and activity, every fresh triumph over besetting sin–every fresh act of self-denial increased–every new habit of goodness acquired–every Christian virtue striking deeper root in his character–and every known duty more faithfully, fully, and cheerfully discharged, bear him record that now is his salvation nearer than when he believed. While he measures not his pace by his own strength, but leans upon the faithfulness of Omnipotence with all the confidence that one reposes on the arm of an old and well-tried companion, the oil of gladness is poured into his heart, and his soul becomes like the chariots of Aminadab, for he can run and not be weary, he can walk and not be faint.
III. The blessed and glorious termination. The final issue of the Christians course rests not upon a peradventure, but upon the omnipotent power and faithfulness of God, that they may have strong consolation who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before them. The same hand which gave the new bias to direct the soul in its heavenward motion will continue to quicken and secure its progress (Php 1:6; Joh 10:28-29). (J. Anderson, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. They go from strength to strength] They proceed from one degree of grace to another, gaining Divine virtue through all the steps of their probation.
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.] This is a paraphrase, and a bad one, but no translation. They shall proceed from strength to strength, yeraeh el Elohim betsiyon, “The God of gods shall be seen in Zion.” God shall appear in their behalf, as often as they shall seek him; in consequence of which they shall increase in spiritual strength.
Some think there is a reference here to companies of people going up to Jerusalem from different parts of the land, blending together as they go on, so that the crowd is continually increasing. This meaning our translators have put in the margin.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They go from strength to strength; the farther they travel onward in that way, instead of being faint and weary, as travellers in such cases use to be, they grow stronger and stronger, being greatly refreshed with the comfortable end of their journey, expressed in the following words. Or, They go from company to company. For they used to travel in troops or companies for many reasons, and some companies were before others, accordingly as they were nearer to the place of worship, or more diligent or expeditious in their travel. And such as were most zealous would use their utmost endeavours to outstrip others, and to overtake one company of travellers after another, that so they might come with the first unto God in Zion.
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God: this is here added as the blessed design and fruit of their long and tedious journey, as that which put life into them, and made them bear all inconveniences with great cheerfulness, they are all graciously admitted into the presence of God in Zion. But the words are and may be otherwise rendered, until every one of them appear before the God of gods in Zion; or, the God of gods shall be seen (or useth to appear, or manifest himself; for the future tense oft notes the continuance of the action) in Zion; which is mentioned in the close as the reason of that affection and industry which is described in the foregoing passages.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. The figure of the pilgrim iscarried out. As such daily refit their bodily strength till theyreach Jerusalem, so the spiritual worshipper is daily supplied withspiritual strength by God’s grace till he appears before God inheaven.
appeareth . . . Godtheterms of the requisition for the attendance on the feasts (compare De16:16),
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They go from strength to strength,…. Whose strength is in the Lord, and in whose heart are his ways, and who pass through the valley of Baca, and find a well of supply, and pools of blessings there; they renew their spiritual strength; they grow stronger and stronger every step they take; the way of the Lord is strength unto them: or “from army to army”, or “from company to company” d, as Kimchi, alluding to the companies in which they went up to the feasts; see Lu 2:44 when those who were more zealous, or more able to undergo journeys, would outgo the rest, and first overtake one company, and then another, and get to Zion first: or from victory to victory: first overcoming one enemy, and then another, as sin, Satan, and the world, being more than conquerors through him that has loved them: or “from doctrine to doctrine” e; being led first into one truth, and then into another, as they were able to bear them; and so following on to know the Lord, and increasing in the knowledge of him: or “from class to class” f; from the lower to an higher form in the school of Christ; so Jarchi interprets it, from school to school; and the Targum, from the sanctuary to the school; compare with this Ro 1:17
everyone of them in Zion appeareth before God; three times in the year, but not empty, Ex 34:20 so the saints appear before God in his church below, presenting their persons, souls and bodies, prayers and praises, as holy and spiritual sacrifices unto him; than which nothing is more desirable to them. This is the wished for happiness, and the issue of their travel, toil, and labour; see
Ps 42:2, and they shall appear before him, and in his presence, in the, church above; when Christ shall appear, they shall appear with him in glory, and be like him, and see him as he is; even everyone of them, not one shall be wanting; because he is great in power, not one of them shall fail; and he will present them to his Father, saying,
lo, I and the children thou hast given me: some render the words, “the God of gods will appear”, or “be seen in Zion” g; there Jehovah manifests himself, and grants his gracious presence; this is the mount of the Lord, in which he is and shall be seen, Ge 22:14.
d “de exercitu in exercitum”, Pagninus; so Piscator, Junius Tremellius “de turma ad turmam”: Vatablus, Cocceius. e “De doctrina ad doctrinam”, so some in Vatablus. f “Ex cohorte, vel classe rudiorum et infirmiorum, ad classem adultiorum”, Gussetius, p. 725. g “videbitur Deus deorum in Sijon”, Pagninus Montanus; “videtur Deus deorum in Sion”, Musculus; so Sept. and Eth.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7 They will go from strength to strength. In this verse the same sentiment is repeated. Mount Zion being the place where, according to the appointment of the law, the holy assemblies were observed, after the ark of the covenant was removed thither, it is said, that the people of God will come to Zion in great numbers, provoking one another to this good work. (467) The word חיל, chayil, seldom signifies a troop, or band of men, but most commonly power, or strength. It will therefore be more in accordance with the ordinary use of the term, to translate, They will go from strength to strength; (468) implying, that the saints are continually acquiring fresh strength for going up to mount Zion, and continue to prosecute their journey without weariness or fatigue, until they reach the wished-for place, and behold the countenance of God. If the word troop is preferred, the meaning will be, that not a few only will come, but numerous companies. The manner in which God manifested himself to his servants in the temple in old time, we have spoken of elsewhere, and especially on the 27 psalm, at the 4 and 5 verses. No visible image of God was there to be seen; but the ark of the covenant was a symbol of his presence, and genuine worshippers found from experience, that by this means they were greatly aided in approaching him.
(467) “Horsley reads, ‘from wall to wall;’ Merrick, ‘from station to station;’ others, ‘from virtue to virtue,’ in the military sense. All come to the same effect; they persevere through all difficulty or opposition, having their hearts set on reaching Zion’s hill.” — Williams. “I think with Gejerus that the Hebrew may be translated from strength to strength, (answerably to the words from faith to faith, Rom 1:17, and from glory to glory, 2Co 3:18,) and signify, that whereas other travelers grow more and more weary as they travel, each of the pious persons here described shall, by the refreshments administered to them, proceed from one degree of strength to another, viresque acquiret eundo . As Jerusalem is represented in the New Testament as a type of heaven, I see nothing irrational in supposing that the inspired writer might, in describing the ascent to Jerusalem, have in view also that spiritual progress which leads to the city which is above, the mother of us all. The words before us are certainly very applicable to the advances made in this progress, from strength to strength, from one stage of Christian perfection to another.” — Merrick ’ s Annotations.
(468) “ Ailleurs .” This supplement is not in the Latin version.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) They go from strength to strengthi.e., each difficulty surmounted adds fresh courage and vigour.
And he who flaggd not in the earthly strife,
From strength to strength advancing, only he
His soul well knit, and all his battles won,
Mounts, and that hardly, to eternal life.
MATTHEW ARNOLD.
The marginal from company to company follows the alternative meaning of the Hebrew word, and suggests a picture of the actual progress of the various bands composing a caravan. But the expression in either sense is hardly Hebrew, and the text is suspicious. It emends easily to They go to the Temple of the Living God, to see the God of gods in Zion (Grtz).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. They go from strength to strength Thus their faith and love convert obstacles into encouragements, and their journey is as a march of triumph, each victory of faith adding new strength, and each khan or halting station a refreshment, not to the body only, but to the soul as well, proving that “he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger,” (Job 17:9,) and so, despite all difficulties, they shall appear in Zion before God “with songs of joy,” as predicted, Isa 35:10
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 84:7 They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.
Ver. 7. They go from strength to strength ] i.e. Lustily and constantly, turma turmae subinde sese adiungente, one company coming this way, and another that, out of their several parishes, and so they grow stronger, and go more comfortably on together, Pergunt turmatini (Beza). Some render it, de doctrina in doctrinam, vel de academia in academiam; they grow till they come to a perfect knowledge of God.
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God = he appeareth before God in Zion. Note the singular, “he appeareth”: i.e. “the man” of Psa 84:5. The valley of Baca thus becomes the valley of Berachah (or blessing), 2Ch 20:26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
They: Job 17:9, Pro 4:18, Isa 40:31, Joh 15:2, 2Co 3:18, 2Pe 3:18
strength to strength: Heb. company to company, Luk 2:24
in Zion: Psa 43:3, Deu 16:16, Isa 46:13, Jer 31:6, Zec 14:16, Joh 6:39, Joh 14:3, 1Th 4:17
Reciprocal: Gen 32:10 – two bands Exo 23:17 – General Exo 34:23 – Thrice Deu 31:11 – to appear 2Sa 3:1 – David waxed 2Ch 30:13 – there assembled Psa 29:11 – give Psa 122:2 – General Pro 10:29 – way Pro 24:5 – increaseth strength Isa 35:10 – and come Jer 50:5 – ask Eze 46:9 – come before Hos 14:9 – and the Act 9:22 – increased Rom 3:3 – faith 2Th 1:3 – your
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 84:7. They go from strength to strength The farther they travel onward in that way, instead of being faint and weary, as travellers in such cases are wont to be, they grow stronger and stronger, being greatly refreshed with the comfortable end of their journey, expressed in the following words. Or, they go from company to company. For they used to travel in troops or companies, for many reasons, and some companies were before others accordingly as they were nearer to the place of worship, or more diligent or more expeditious in travelling. And such as were most zealous would use their utmost endeavours to outstrip others, and to overtake one company of travellers after another, that so they might come with the first unto God in Zion. Every one appeareth before God This is here added, as the blessed design and fruit of their long and tedious journey, as that which put life into them, and made them bear all inconveniences with great cheerfulness they are all graciously admitted into the presence of God in Zion. But the words are and may be otherwise rendered, until every one of them appears before the God of gods in Zion. Or, the God of gods shall be seen (or, useth to appear, or, manifest himself) in Zion. Which is mentioned in the close, as the reason of that affection and industry which are described in the foregoing passages.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
84:7 They go from {f} strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.
(f) They are never weary but increase in strength and courage till they come to God’s house.