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Psalm 27. This canticle of King David presents us with a sufficiently vivid vignette of his historical lived experience with Yahweh in life’s problematic existence during his reign; specifically related to ‘the day of trouble' (Ps 27:5; Ps 27:1-3), particularly in the area of life’s endangerment.

In the midst of abject turmoil encircling and threatening him, David's singular request was to be in the Jerusalem tented temple meditating on the beauty of Yahweh (Ps 27:4), a quest towards seeking solutions to his troubles! If the spiritual reality of embracing the presence of God did not provide a superior outcome to his ongoing political intrigues and military campaigns, it would have been pure escapism.

However, David claimed that his seclusion elicited a sense of Divine protection and confidence of victory over his enemies, as he sought the will of God (Ps 27:4-6). He is not saying that everything will be fine and nothing will go wrong, but despite them, he trusted in God for safety amidst trouble (Ps 27:2-3; Ps 27:5; c.f., Rom 8:28).

What does ‘the beauty of God’ have to do with trusting Him? In the Biblical milieu, seeking God’s face (Ps 27:8; c.f., Gen 4:14) is indicative of relating personally to our Creator, a reality that transcends a mere liaison; it is to perceive His overwhelming holiness and appreciating and enjoying His aesthetic beauty.

King David did not elaborate what that ‘beauty’ was, but his description implies a conscious sensing of the divine character beyond his ability to describe! To perceive someone’s beauty, both internally and externally, is to know that person’s warts and all, accepting who they are, and still finding it inestimably pleasurable to be in their company.

Hence, David found himself in a constant concentrated gaze on God, admiring His beauty expressed in His attributes, His glory and sovereignty, his heart apparently overpowered by His presence, providing rest to his restlessness in the face of his enemies (c.f.

Ps 16:11; Ps 65:4). The glory of Yahweh was depicted in the Old Testament as the shekinah in the days of Moses. However, Scripture informs us that although Jesus possessed His own glory, by the time He appeared on earth, His façade was marred, and to look on Him was only to see an ordinary man (Isa 52:14; Isa 53:2-3; Phil 5-8).

To perceive beyond Jesus’ disfiguration, we need to look at His heart and the sacrifice He made for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2Cor 5:21). To catch a glimpse of Him is to be profoundly caught by the awesomeness of His excellent and incomparable personal attributes.

David was enjoying God for Who He is! It is remarkably different from ‘knowing’ God as One Who is useful and being able to extract some benefit from Him when a need arises. His example challenges us in the quality and depth of our devotion and fellowship with our Creator.

When David sought to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life,” it was rhetorically hyperbolic. No doubt, the temple was his favourite abode for seeking the face of God, to secure that peace that passes understanding and to know that God was in control, as he meditated in adoration (Ps 27:11-14; c.f., 1Peter 2:9-10), but was David speaking about a vision?

Doubtful! It is likely he was meditating on the Scriptures about Yahweh and His historical faithfulness towards Israel as a nation and allowing the text to guide him in decisions and to examine his life by it (Ps 27:4; Ps 27:7-9; Ps 27:11-14). It was a heart-to-heart communication in the solitude of temple worship in God’s presence.

In other words, a true believer in Christ is attracted to and enraptured with the Scriptural ‘beauty of Yahweh,’ as seen through the eyes of faith.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.