February 28, 2025, the 59th day of 2025
In His Presence
Where is our pleasure? Where is our resting place? Where do we take comfort? Where do we go to find answers?... View MoreFebruary 28, 2025, the 59th day of 2025
In His Presence
Where is our pleasure? Where is our resting place? Where do we take comfort? Where do we go to find answers?
"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. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock."
Psalms 27:4-5
David wrote this before there was any physical temple. That awaited his son, King Solomon, to build.
This temple, this tabernacle, that David wrote of is in the Heavenly places.
"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalms 16:11
In the presence of God is the most blessed and the safest place for anyone to dwell. It is the most beautiful of all, though only spiritual eyes can see it right now.
In the pesence of God is the best place to be. KIng David--though he would reign as King after his time in the escaping from the clutches of King Saul--did not sing praises of his earthly home, or of the treasures that were his. Instead his focus was on God. And being in the presence of God was his delight.
Forty years David ruled over Israel. Before that he faithfully served his father and tended the sheep. He ran errands and fought off predators He fought and defeated Goliath. He brought peace to the soul of King Saul and he had to escape from King Saul's evil, jealous fits. Many tried to kill him.
When God had chosen David as the next King over Israel, this is what He had His Prophet Samuel, tell King Saul.
"And Samuel said to Saul, 'You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.'”
I Samuel 13:13-14
There was something in David that God saw, to choose him as the King that would forever be known as the King of Israel, even as other kings rose and fell. God called David, "a man after His own heart" and that is something to say about any man!
David came to God with his praise, his requests and in repentance when he fell into sin.
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight— that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge."
Psalms 51:1-4
The praises of God's lovingkindness were upon his lips in so many ways.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed."
Psalms 103:1-6
We would not know the heart of David, without the Psalms of David. The history of David was one filled with all kinds of trials, tribulation, temptations, successes and failings. David had very high points and very low points and everything in between. And in all, he went to the Lord, to speak his heart, beg forgiveness, seek mercy, sing God's praises and make his petitions known.
David knew where his help came from. David knew to Whom he relied upon.
David did not hold back what he was feeling from God. He couldn't hide from God even if he wanted to, because God already knew, but still he came, even if at times he needed a nudge to admit his failings.
It was not an easy life. But God had chosen him for such a time and because his heart was open to God, to follow Him, God was never far from Him.
And through the kingly line of David, from the father who raised Him, Joseph, came the throne of David. And through the kingly blood line of David, through His mother Mary, Jesus, the Messiah was born of his line. Jesus was known as the Son of David.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham..."
Matthew 1:1
"Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'”
Luke 18:35-38
Though the only begotten Son of God, Jesus also answered the pleadings of those who came to Him as the Son of David.
The love of God is so great, and His knowledge of our hearts so expansive, that He sees the potential in us that we cannot see.
And the love of Jesus is so great for His creation that He stepped down from His throne in Heaven and was born into it.
And He suffered and died to redeem it.
And when He rose again, it was in the resurrected human form, incorruptible that all those who have chosen to repent and surrender to Jesus as Lord and Master, will one day share!
It is something to strive for, to be so transparent with God, that though the world may misunderstand us and critics will bring up our past sins, as if that is the whole story of who we are, that we stand accepted by God, as a beloved child of His.
Stay strong! Remain open with God. He already knows it all, but you need to lay yourself open to God, to His searching light, for your sake.
NAN
