Psalm 27 (2nd)

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the
days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. (4)
Davids greatest desire is revealed as he prays: one thing I ask of the Lord this is what I
seek
This great ambition is expressed in three phrases, yet all are based in his desire to be in the
presence of God, to worship Him, and to know Him
David asked that he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life more
than anything, David wanted to be in the presence of God in this earthly life and into all
eternity
Experiencing the presence of God was confirmed in the Westminster Confession as our
purpose in life (1647 AD): Mans chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever (Psalm
34:3,7:25)
David desired to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord it may be difficult to imagine the
experience of seeing the beauty or the glory of the Lord, but consider the joy of gazing upon
His creation in a sunrise or sunset, a beautiful coastline, snowy mountains, or the Grand
Canyon
Yet this will not compare to the experience of seeing the beauty of the Lord God Himself
As David contemplates seeing God, he desires to seek Him in His temple He wants to
know more and more this God who is his light and salvation (1)
We have the joy of seeking God in this life (on this side heaven), and this pursuit should be
our greatest ambition He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b)
God promises that all those who seek Him will find Him You will seek Me and find Me
when you seek Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13)
God also promises to empower those who seek and trust Him For the eyes of the Lord range
throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (II Chrn
16:9)
And Jesus promised that those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be filled
(Matthew 5:6), and this joyous pursuit of God will fulfill us all the days of our lives (4)
Paul knew we could not grasp the fullness of the love of God in this life, but then as we stand
in the presence of God: for then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (I Cor 13:12b)
Yet Paul wrote to the Ephesians of the joy of knowing God and growing continually in His
love, praying that they would grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of
Christ (3:18)
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of
His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies
who surround me; at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make
music to the Lord. (5-6)
There are scholars who believe the first half of this psalm was written as David reflected on his
experience with Goliath he relied upon God, his light and salvation and his stronghold,
and as a result could say, whom shall I be afraid and my heart will not fear (1-3)

 David spoke of being hidden in the shelter of His tabernacle (5) not as a building, but just as
he contemplated gazing on the beauty of the Lord in His temple (4) the presence of God
In this dwelling of Gods presence, there is safety and exaltation for David as he is set high
upon a rock and is exalted above the enemies who surrounded him (5)
Just as Abraham was blessed by God to become a blessing to the whole world (Genesis 12:2),
so David was exalted above the enemies who surrounded Him so that he might exalt the
name of God who was his light, his salvation, his stronghold, his shelter, his hiding place, and
his rock