Psalm 27:4
It cannot be denied that we all face death, and in I Corinthians 15:26 Paul calls death the last enemy to be destroyed. That makes us wonder how David could say in Psalm 27:1 that he has nothing to fear and that he's afraid of nothing and no one. For although we understand that his reason for this is that God is his light and his salvation, the question arises for us as to how we can be sure that God is our light and salvation.
We cannot find that out by looking into a mirror. Looking at our family tree and tracing our genealogical background will not give us the assurance that our names are in the Lamb's book of life, and that therefore we can be sure that God is our light and our salvation. But we can be sure, if we can find in our souls, and with David sincerely say what be wrote in Psalm 27:4, namely, "One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple."
The reason why this confession reveals that we have nothing to fear is the fact that this makes it plain that God is our light and our salvation and has already begun to lift us out of the clutches of Satan, our worst enemy. He has already caused us to desire the full salvation from sin and death and made us want to taste and enjoy the beauty of His love, mercy, and grace.
Adam turned away from God and died spiritually; and we did with him. The desire to dwell in God's house means that we want to be brought back to Him and to serve Him in love again. This reveals that God has already begun to give us the victory over Satan, our worst enemy, and that He will most assuredly give us the full victory in the day of Christ. Victory over spiritual death is sure! And enjoying the full salvation prepared in Christ is undeniably ahead of us.
Sing it then with David (PRC Psalter):
My one request has been,
And still this prayer I raise,
That I may dwell within
God's house through all my days,
Jehovah's beauty to admire,
And in His temple to enquire.
Read: Psalm 91
Psalter versification: #71:3
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #329
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezra 3 ; Ezra 4:1-23
I Corinthians 2:6-16 ; I Corinthians 3:1-4
Psalm 28:1-9
Proverbs 20:24-25
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Quote for Reflection:
“Women sigh for fame. They would be sculptors….or they would be poets….But is any work in marble so great as hers who has an immortal life laid in her hands to shape for its destiny? Is the writing of any poem in musical lines so noble a work as the training of the powers of a human soul into harmony? O that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained!” ~ J.R. Miller
“Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies…Her children arise up, and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” ( Proverbs 31:10, 28, 29 )
Additional Info
- Date: 6-August
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.