What does Psalms Chapter 84 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speaker recalls pardon before asking conversion, mercy and salvation. Peace, land fruit and justice’s steps remain future declarations. The heading’s Christ interpretation is separate from the psalm’s speech.

Chapter breakdown

The incipit is Benedixisti, Domine. The separate heading interprets the psalm as Christ's coming bringing peace and salvation; the inscription is for Core's sons. The speaker recalls the land blessed, Jacob's captivity turned, the people's iniquity forgiven and all sins covered, all anger mitigated and wrath turned away. He asks the saving God to convert them and turn anger away, asking whether anger lasts forever and through generations.

He anticipates God's turning and bringing life and the people's rejoicing, then asks mercy and salvation. He will hear what the Lord God will speak in him, anticipating peace to people, saints and those converted at heart. Salvation is near those fearing Him, that glory may dwell in the land; this is not a guarantee of permanent habitation. Mercy and truth have met, justice and peace kissed, truth sprung from earth and justice looked from heaven. God will give goodness, earth shall yield fruit and justice shall walk before Him and set steps in the way. These future declarations do not report a completed harvest or a dated post-exilic community.

The story inside

Opening: The speaker recalls pardon before asking conversion, mercy and salvation. Development: Peace, land fruit and justice’s steps remain future declarations. Conclusion: The heading’s Christ interpretation is separate from the psalm’s speech.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speaker recalls pardon before asking conversion, mercy and salvation.
2
Peace, land fruit and justice’s steps remain future declarations.
3
The heading’s Christ interpretation is separate from the psalm’s speech.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 63071–63072
84:2. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Lines 63074–63075
84:3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered all their sins.
Lines 63085–63086
84:7. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall rejoice in thee.
Lines 63090–63092
84:9. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.
Lines 63097–63098
84:11. Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.
Lines 63100–63101
84:12. Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.