Today’s Reading: Psalm 26

“LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.” (Psalm 26:8)

The meditation of David in this Psalm reveals a stark contrast between two realms.

The first realm is the abode of men whose hearts are dishonorable. They are mischievous, vulgar and enslaved in evil. I say, this barren wilderness is no place for the man of God to reside.

But the second realm — oh! — how very different it is than the first! It is like Eden, the garden of God, where He can be found walking in the midst. Here God's glory is at the forefront where His lovingkindness is always before our gaze and His truth is the pavement beneath our feet.

“For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.” (Psalm 26:3)

It was the yearning of David’s soul to be in the presence of God. Thus, when David spoke of the house of the Lord, he pointed to the holy Tabernacle where the divine glory dwelt above the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.

“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 27:4)

Noteworthy is the instance when David, though not of priestly lineage, wore the ephod of a priest (2 Samuel 6:14) as he danced before the Lord. It demonstrated his desire to draw near to God. At another juncture, we find “the man after God’s own heart” sitting before the Lord in the quietness of the tabernacle, earnest to commune with the God of Glory.

When David was king, how the royal palace must have paled in comparison to the Tabernacle of the Most High. I imagine King David often went missing. One servant must have said to another, “Surely, he must be at the house of God sitting with the Lord." Oh, how David loved the presence of the Lord more than any earthly thing! It was his unquenchable zeal!

Beloved, are we not also a people after God’s own heart? — whose own hearts are now the very temple where He dwells? (see 1 Peter 2:5) No longer do we have to hike to the divine glory, we have the fullness of God dwelling in us (see Ephesians 3:19). And we can, at any moment in any place, enter boldly into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus (see Hebrews 10:19), which is also His throne room of grace (see Hebrews 4:16).

Therefore, be of good cheer today! Christ has chosen to make His home in you, and you are now His chosen sanctuary where His glory dwells! Commune with Him freely and behold the beauty of the LORD who always goes before you.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

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