There is something peculiarly sweet in the songs of the sons of Korah, and few more precious than Psalm 84. If these shadows of heavenly things were so amiable-the earthly tabernacles of Jehovah: if these Levites so longed, yea, even fainted, for those earthly courts of the Lord, which were temporal- a worldly sanctuary, now vanished away; do we so long after the deep realities of the sanctuary of His presence, where two or three are gathered in His name?
But who are these sons of Korah? Many of our readers will say, "Sons of Korah; why, did not the sons of Korah go down alive into the pit, when the earth opened her mouth and swallowed those wicked men, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and all their wives and children?" Let us turn to the Scriptures and see. Here is the account of their rebellion against the Lord (Num. 16). How terrible is sin in the sight of the Lord! "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side." Now mark, in the next clause, Korah is omitted. "And Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children." v. 27. Now read that awful description of the earth opening her mouth and swallowing them up: "And all the men that appertained unto Korah," the earth closed upon them. There is no statement that the sons of Korah went down with their father. No, the Scripture is clear on this point. "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not." Numb. 26:10, 11.
Yes, in the riches of sovereign grace, they were saved from going down alive into the pit. And this was not all. As part of the family of Kohath, they had given to them the cities of refuge, of which Hebron is named first (1 Chron. 6:54-67). Oh, how our God delights in mercy!
Grace spares them from the pit, and gives them the place of Abraham. For Abraham dwelt in Hebron (Gen. 13:18; 18:1).
Have you, beloved readers, been saved from the pit? Children of wrath, even as others, brought in sovereign grace to dwell in the heavenlies, not with Abraham, but in Christ. Oh, blest city of eternal refuge, Jerusalem on high! Can we not adore the riches of His grace?
Shall we trace this divine favor a little further? Saved from the lowest depths of the pit, these very sons of Korah "were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle:... had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Loan... and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God." What a 'stewardship! "All the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, an d the spices," and the meat offering, and "were over the showbread" (1 Chron. 9:19-32). What types of instruction to us! Saved from the lowest depths of hell, and brought to dwell in the eternal refuge of the presence of God by the blood of Jesus. And now what a stewardship, all the riches of the glories of Christ committed to us!
Yes, in the frankincense, and the spices, and the things made in the pans—types of the Person of Christ in all His adorable perfection-our portion. Once children of the pit. Is Christ thus precious to you? And does not all this tell out the varied ministries of the redeemed children of God? All these precious treasures of Christ committed to us. How great the responsibility! How rich the privilege! Very great was the strength required for all this service, and it was given to these favored sons of Korah. They were "mighty men of valor," "strong men," "able men for strength for the service"; and each had his appointed service (1 Chron. 26:1-20).
Would it not be very blessed if we, who have been saved from the pit, each knew from the Lord his appointed work?—weakness itself, yet strong for His service in the power of His might.
Grace upon grace shadowed forth in these sons of Korah. They were royal guards of the hidden king—guards of the house and guards of the foundation (2 Chron. 23:4, 5, 19). We are lost in wonder and praise. Saved from the pit, we are called to be the royal guards of the hidden, but coming, King of glory—guards of the house of God- guards of foundation truth. Once a child of the pit, now a child of glory—what dignity is this! Oh, for wholehearted devotedness to Him whom we shall soon meet in the air!
All this history of sovereign favor gives special sweetness to the psalms of these sons of Korah. But cannot we, now the shadows are past, also say, "How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth," etc. (Psalm 84:1, 2)? Have we not been saved from the pit? Is there any privilege so great as being gathered together unto the name of the Lord Jesus? "There am I," He says, "in the midst of them." Now read this psalm, and think of the deep reality to our souls. Each line of this psalm seems connected with this history of distinguishing grace. What a dwelling place is the presence of the Lord! They will be still praising Thee. Is this our happy place, our sweet employ? Dwelling, praising, strength, these were marks of divine favor to the sons of Korah; are they not to us?
Once sons of the pit, now sons of God, it is our privilege to leave blessing behind us everywhere in this vale of tears—this valley of Baca. On, beloved, from strength to strength. God beholds our everlasting shield; He looks upon the face of His Anointed. Can we not say, "A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Is not our God "as a sun and a shield"? "The LORD will give grace and glory." Sovereign blessing had the sons of Korah. "O LORD..., blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee."
Do we not feel rebuked by this song of the sons of Korah? Do not forget that the veil shut them out of the most holy; the way was not yet made manifest during these days of the worldly sanctuary (Heb. 9:1-8). Now the veil is rent. Now we have boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. And, oh, the joy of God in receiving us-our sins gone forever, no more to be remembered.
May each of these divine breathings in this precious psalm be applied with power to our souls by the Holy Ghost! From "Things New and Old"