A heartfelt desire

The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Psalm 27:4-6

What an expression of a heartfelt desire is found in these verses by David! Though he was experiencing a tremendous trial from the pursuing King Saul, David articulated his lifelong goals of beholding the beauty and the presence of God. His concept of experiencing God’s presence in the temple is not about going to a specific address to offer his worship. It is a metaphorical expression of his longing to regularly experience the presence of God no matter where he was and no matter what circumstances he was in. We have here from these passages the undeniable expression of trust and confidence in the promises of God. He knew that no matter how difficult his challenges will be, God’s presence will be with him. This is a lesson that we must learn. Even though things may not be going well the way we want them to be, circumstances are getting difficult, and it seems that life’s challenges are relentless, our God is greater than what we are going through and His presence will be a source of joy and peace forevermore. He is our hiding place in times of troubles and He will set us up on a high rock. Let us trust Him to do what He alone can do and let us live in ways that our confidence and trust are expressed in ways that honor Him. Let us ask Him that while here in this world, He will help us be drawn to Him and that we will not doubt His promises.

Blessings,