I have asked the LORD for one thing—
Psalm 27:4 NET
this is what I desire!
I want to live in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,
so I can gaze at the splendor of the LORD
and contemplate in his temple.
What would you ask for if you found a genie in a lamp that could grant you any single wish? You might ask for wealth, power, health, deliverance, or relationships. There are many things in this world that we might want to have. But how many of us would echo David’s desire?
To live in the Lord’s house all the days of your life. Gazing on his splendor and contemplating him? That may seem boring to you and far down on your bucket list. After all, who would want to live in a church building for the rest of your life?
But for David, the Lord’s temple was not a physical structure – the temple had not yet been built. David likely meant this to be the Lord’s heavenly temple. To be there and to see God in all his glory and splendor. For David, that would never grow old.
One of my favorite places to be is out in the mountains near my home—spending time in God’s glorious creation. And I can do it for days at a time.
But how much better would it be to spend that time in the presence of the creator himself? To see, not just his image reflected in the creation. But to see him in all his glory. Could anything be better? And not just for short periods of time. But for eternity.
This one thing I want, to live in the Lord’s house forever.
