DWELLING WITH GOD IN THE SANCTUARY
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:4-5 (NIV)
Throughout the Old Testament, the sanctuary is often (more than two hundred times) called the house of the Lord. God wasn’t confined to a particular location, but the idea of house gave God’s people the image of a dwelling, a place where God could be found and experienced. This passage describes David's primary goal in the sanctuary: to experience God as His dwelling. It was more about God than an actual building, which makes sense since the temple wasn’t built until the time of Solomon, David’s son.
Notice several key points in today’s passages. David made dwelling with God his highest priority: this only do I seek, he says. He longed to experience God continually, all the days of my life, he expressed. To him, seeing God required more than an occasional glance. Rather, he gazed – took time, slowed down, didn’t rush. The word translated beauty describes something that moves the beholder to its loveliness, its pleasantness. It’s a beauty the Lord has within Himself. David was also convinced God would meet him, not just in a general sense, but personally. He was sure God knew his circumstances and would protect him from all the hardships of being a nation's king. He had a posture of trust, dependence and humility.
This is a good reminder to seek God always. He alone can provide refuge and safety. It’s a reminder that going to church, praying and reading the Bible are meant to be more than religious activities—boxes to check. May we seek God with all that we are and all that we have so that we might experience him as our dwelling.
APPLICATION: Let’s follow David's example this week, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord and experiencing Him as our dwelling—the place where we find refuge and safety. Carve out a more extended time this week to simply be with God.
PRAYER: Lord, You are my refuge. I long for shelter in these challenging times. Help me move beyond religious ritual and draw my heart to gaze upon Your beauty. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?