The Lord's Presence

The Lord’s Presence

Psalm 27:4-9

I was thinking about my best day on Planet Earth.

I can think of many good days. I remember skiing on Lake Berryessa, I remember my first big buck on my first day ever hunting, and I have had many good days of horseback riding.

I remember buying our wholesale business, along with our new warehouse building, and better than that, I remember selling that same business as well.

I remember the birth of all four of my sons. I remember getting my first car which was the 68 Camaro.

But, there are two specific days that bring back fond memories; one was in 1982, I remember walking down the aisle of Good News Fellowship in Daly City CA to receive Christ.

The other was a day that only happened because God performed a miracle and opened up some closed roads for me and Sandra to be able to get to Lake Tahoe and get married.

Please open your Bibles to Psalm 27 as we continue in our current series surveying through that book.

Last week in Psalm 24 we heard everything belongs to the Lord. Most commentators say David wrote this Psalm, during the time he was bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.

The Children of Israel were instructed to sprinkle blood from the animal sacrifices on the Mercy Seat because it foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, the shed blood of Christ.

Christ’s reward is the gift of salvation, the righteousness of God.

We also learned that the King of Glory shall come. The Lord Jesus Christ was always and will forever, be God.

Ultimately, the LORD of Hosts refers to the Almighty God who fights on behalf of those who are His own. Jesus offers forgiveness, protection, and provision as our King.

Today, in Psalm 27, David declared that he desired to live in the Lord’s presence all the days of his life.

I. Seek after the Lord’s beauty.

Read Psalm 27:4

Wiersbe said, “The word beauty in verse 4 means not only the glory of God’s character but also the richness of His goodness and favor to His people.”

Before the Cross, the Holy Spirit would come on a person to fulfill a task, and then leave. At Pentecost, after the resurrection, the Spirit was promised as a permanent part of a believer’s life.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. NKJV

As we study his writings, it is helpful for us to remember who David was.

From his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy, until becoming the 2nd King of the nation of Israel, he was amazing.

David was the youngest son of Jesse, and the prophet Samuel was told by the Lord to anoint him as the future king of Israel.

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. NKJV

Although David sinned and made plenty of mistakes in his life, he always had a heart to repent and love the Lord, so he was special to the Lord and known as a man after God’s own heart.

Here in Psalm 27:4, David seems to be communicating that the main desire of his heart is to dwell in the house of the Lord.

As David said, “That I may dwell in the house of the LORD”, it is equivalent to a New Covenant believer, abiding in Christ.

Some believe David was referring to the Tabernacle and its awesome beauty, and others believe David was referencing heaven with the presence of the LORD and His heavenly hosts.

The Lord told David he could not build the Temple because of "blood on his hands". David had killed many, including Bathsheba’s husband after he had committed adultery with her.

David said in 1 Chronicles 22:7, "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God;

1 Chronicles 22:8 but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. NKJV

We do not have time for a comprehensive list, but let’s discuss the meanings of some of the different parts of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 36:1 every gifted artisan in whom the LORD has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the LORD has commanded." NKJV

The Tabernacle was a tent with a frame and a series of coverings, and the first covering described was a fine linen curtain, it was sewed together with five separate curtains.