Psalm 27:4

Psalm 27:4 
Dwelling with the Lord
     If ever there was a plaintive cry from the heart of a tender man, this is it. Here we have a king who, in worldly terms, has it all. He is surrounded by family, albeit a disjointed lot! He has power and authority and status. He reigns over a prosperous land that has extended its borders under his leadership. Other enemy nations are being subdued, the money is flowing into the national coffers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is happy. David has a palace and servants and the people love him. Everything that a modern ruler craves is at hand and yet this is not his dream. There is a love and a passion and a longing in David’s heart that looks beyond worldly achievements and material success. One thing he craves and yet this one thing will allude him in this earthly life. David’s gaze and focus is heavenward, it is the company of his Lord and the pleasures of the Lord’s house that far outweigh the things of this world. If only he could be free of the cares and worries and responsibilities of the office of king, to go and dwell in the Lord’s house, to gaze at the Lord, to seek the Lord – that is all he wants to do. And yet, life must go on, he cannot hide himself from the world, people need him and kingdom responsibilities demand his time. Do you understand how David felt? There is a vital lesson here for us all. He could have hidden himself away and enjoyed an intimate relationship with God that would have fulfilled all those longings. But David carried on being a king and a husband and a father and a General and a friend of his people. Because he did so we have all been blessed by his example and by his insights, for he has shown us how to live for and with the Lord in the world, despite a longing to be out of it. And the wonderful thing is; - our dwelling in the house of the Lord awaits us. As someone once said to me, “It’s good to yearn for future glory, but don’t be so heavenly minded you are no earthly use!” Hallelujah!

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