I have been meditating on some of David's key heart attitudes in Psalm 27:4 for several years - he spoke about dwelling in the house of the Lord, and I wanted to look at the places where David set his heart to make a dwelling place.
I wanted to point out that the Hebrew word for "dwell" (yashab)
is not some temporary abode - it means to set, sit, remain and stay in a place.
To be still.
If you just look at the psalms of David, you can hear his cry to dwell in
the presence of God. Look at this progression through the Psalms – the places
where David decided in his heart to dwell – we see a progression from his
desire to dwell in safety right through to his desire for the secret place(s)
of God’s presence.
1. David wanted to dwell in a place of safety -
Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell
in safety.
2. David wanted to dwell in God’s holy hill – Psalm 15:1 Lord, who may abide in Your
tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
3. David wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord forever - Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the
Lord Forever.
Psalm 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.
Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell
in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
4. David wanted to dwell in the land that the Lord provided – Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell
in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.
5. David wanted to dwell in the courts of the Lord – Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied
with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
6. David wanted to dwell in Zion – the place of God’s presence and Judah –
the place of praise - Psalm 69:35 For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That
they may dwell there and possess it.
7. David
wanted to dwell in the secret place of God’s presence – Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of
the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:9 Because you have made the Lord, who
is my refuge, Even the
Most High, your dwelling place, (see also Moses’ prayer:
Ps. 90:1)
Psalm 101:6 My eyes shall be on the
faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a
perfect way, He shall serve me.
Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell
in Your presence.
How lovely is Your dwelling place
