Psalm 27:4 — “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.”

It happened the other night as the sun sank behind the horizon. The sky surrounding our house was transformed with a blend of colors from peach to pink to purple. It seemed that our whole property was enveloped in a coral glow like the insides of a conch shell. Preparation for dinner halted numerous times as we gazed at the awe-inspiring artistry of God’s creation.

It is times like these that I am overwhelmed with God’s breathtaking beauty. The Master Designer has revealed a glimpse of His exquisiteness in the mirror of His creation, and those who recognize it must take a moment to gaze upon it and worship Him.

As the writer of Psalm 27 voices his confidence in God during times of difficulty, he also expresses his desire to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord by seeking Him in His temple. His deepest longing is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. He has seen God’s goodness and longs to experience His presence continually.

Does the Psalmist really want to pack his bags and move into the temple made of gold and silver? I don’t think he wants that any more than we would desire to make our bed in the local church building. He understands that there is no manmade structure that could contain God’s power and beauty.

God’s presence extends everywhere simultaneously and even the whole world cannot contain Him. The Psalmist has seen God’s goodness throughout his life and longs to dwell in the presence of the Almighty One forever. He understands that residing in the shadow of the Almighty provides a hiding place in time of trouble and a place of deliverance in time of need.

What a comfort to know the shelter and safety we can experience in the constant presence of our great God. He will keep us safe in His dwelling and will always hear the voice of those who seek Him. What better place to abide all the days of our lives than in God’s presence gazing on His breathtaking beauty!