Ps. 27:4 David Desired God's Presence

David asked to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life—Ps 27:4

Ps. 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

Five Secrets to making the desire for God's presence your “one thing.”

Desired: 7592. Sha’al to ask, enquire, borrow, beg, to enquire carefully, enquire of, to seek

• "One thing have I desired" - bring your desire for God into focus. Reduce it to the most important thing. Notice that the word "desire" does not simply mean "to ask" but it means to make a careful request - even to "beg."

Seek: 1245. Baqash, ba-kash; a primitive root; to gush over, i.e. to swell; (figuratively) to desire earnestly; to ask; to require; to seek to find or secure; to seek the face, demand

• "That will I seek" - this word means to "seek until you find," or to demand. Don't give up until you find the face of God.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” (Matt. 6:33; Lu. 12:31)

To look with your eyes.

Dwell: 3427. Yasha, (yashav) assemble; gather (together); inhabitant; remain, sojourn; stand in awe; to dwell, remain, sit down abide, stay; have one’s abode; to marry

• This word "dwell" means to "sit down, abide or stay."

• When we make a dwelling place, we put time into it to become comfortable - become comfortable with His house. Claim it as your own.

• This is our personal and intimate space. It is here that we are truly ourselves

• We become intimately acquainted with those who live there. In this case we have come into God’s house to make it our own – we have moved in on Him.

• In this verse, it says that we can dwell in His house forever (all the days of my life), so this is not a temporary dwelling, it is our forever home.

• When you make the place your home

Behold: 2372 Chazah; (Kha-za) to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide; to see as a seer in the ecstatic state, to see with the intelligence; to see by experience

• This is what David exhorts us to see: the beauty of the Lord: 1926. hadar, haw-dawr´; from 1921; magnificence; splendor; comeliness; excellency; glorious glory; goodly; honor; majesty; favor

• "To behold the beauty of the Lord" - means "to see with your whole being." Look with spiritual eyes, but also look with your understanding. Take time to look at the Lord carefully. He wants us to see Him (John 17:24).

To look with your spirit.

Inquire: 1239. Baqar, (ba-kar); a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, diligently inquire, make inquisition, question, require, search, seek (for, out); to consider or reflect; to search for an answer; to become a student

• "...And to inquire in His temple." - This word means to cling to the thing you are looking at. There is a sense in this word that we are expecting a response from the Lord. We are asking Him for a response to our looking.

To look with your heart and mind.

The first three principles prepare for the last two – we can never see and know Him…until we have desired Him; sought Him; dwelled with Him

Gaze upon God and fill your mind with His thoughts

Is. 55:7-9

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 
      

8 “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 
      

9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“Face” and “Presence” from the same root

A glimpse of God will save you

To gaze at God will transform you