“One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek;
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 seek him in his temple.”

 Although David speaks of the temple, it is the presence of the Lord associated with the temple that he is referring to. It is the protection and contentment of his presence, in the person of God himself (“his face” in verse 8), that David seeks.

For me, the verse says, “Regardless of whatever worldly disasters may befall us, one thing is important – to know God’s presence with us, and to trust in His loving care.”

Our desire to live in God’s presence was fulfilled through Jesus, when He took the penalty of our sin on Himself on the cross, to restore us to God. At that moment the curtain in the temple, that separated our holy God from sinful man, was torn in two, as mankind could enter into God’s presence with the covering of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

His presence in us is made real through the Holy Spirit, and we refer to this as Christ living within us.

We can join with David as we realise that all we value on this earth is temporary and passing. People will fail us, there is no security in posessions, property, earthly idols, governments, trendy philosophies and social fads, or moral panics of the outrage cycle.

Only God is truly faithful and unchanging, and only He gives lasting joy and contentment, even while His blessings are often given through people who do His will.

His presence through Jesus is more precious than anything this earth can offer.