November 1, 2021 – Psalms 26-30

An often referenced verse: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: 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 inquire in his temple” (27:4). I wonder, when reading these words from David, if sometimes our focus is a bit misplaced upon “the house of the Lord.” Surely, it is a good thing to go into the house of the Lord, but the reason is that there we “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.” Charles Spurgeon: “What a word is that, the beauty of the Lord! Think of it, dear reader! Better far—behold it by faith! What a sight will that be when every faithful follower of Jesus shall behold “the King in his beauty! O, for that infinitely blessed vision!”

And what about: “Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (30:4,5). Spurgeon composed a hymn based upon this psalm, a portion of which is:

All through the night I wept full sore,

But morning brought relief;

That hand, which broke my bones before,

Then broke my bonds of grief.

My mourning he to dancing turns,

For sackcloth joy he gives,

A moment, Lord, thine anger burns,

But long thy favour lives.