Known by Synonyms
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall 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 meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4 NASB
Meditate – David wishes to complete two actions in the full presence of YHVH. The first is to simply experience favor. Translated “behold the beauty,” the Hebrew la-hazot benoam is literally “to see kindness, favor, what is pleasant.” This action is accomplished by simply being permitted to be present. Nothing further is required.
But the second action, meditation (baqar) does not result from simply being in the right place. The verb is only used seven times, but its synonyms help us paint the proper picture. Baqash (to seek) and darash (to study) convey the necessary background, including the ideas of praying to a deity and searching for security.
This means that David asks the impossible. He is a man of war, a fighter, a king, yet he asks for the life of a priest. He is a man whose tasks require him to determine economic and foreign policy, to subdue rebels forces, to govern subjugated people, but he wants to devote his life to study. He carries out campaigns, manages an army, deals with treachery and fails miserably at moral purity, yet his one desire is to be in God’s holy presence and experience favor. David’s song is a pipe dream. It is also my pipe dream.
Make a list of all the things you are obligated to do. Raise children? Manage a business? Go to the job? Balance the checkbook? Help your neighbors? Fix the car? Make the dinner? Clean the toilets? Catch an airplane? So many things—important and trivial—that prevent us from being completely absorbed in dwelling in God’s house, enjoying His presence and studying His word. When will it ever end so that our deepest desire to simply sit with Him as Mary sat with the Messiah can be realized? Even Mary took flack from her sister over that choice. Aren’t our days full enough, exhausting enough, discouraging enough without having to wrestle with the guilt of not doing what we most long to do? When will peace prevail and the trivial become unnecessary?
David isn’t willing to wait for the olam ha’ba. He decides to act now to bring about what he can. He will seek. That is all he can do. Permission to enter into the presence of the King of kings isn’t David’s to grant. YHVH grants our entrance. Amazingly, He does. Then we must act by seeking. Intense, deliberate, consciously setting aside something else in order to get something good. Priorities. That’s the problem. God ensures I have enough time. I must ensure how I use what He grants. And I, for one, need some serious adjustment.
Topical Index: meditate, baqar, seek, baqash, Psalm 27:4
Those times with Him are critically important…He is a Person too. Almost nothing on earth compares to the relationship we sometimes have with a human loved one and the time spent in one on one interaction with that friend or mate. It is a “soft place to fall” – a comfort, and when needed, a trusted blade with which to be sharpened. He offers the same relationship and He loves having it with you. Through experiencing His friendship over time I’ve learned…He looks forward to it…and He’s not “religious” about it. : ) Years ago when my life was filled with children and unending school and activities in every direction, I found I was “dead asleep on arrival of pillow”. That reality hit one day and I felt a twinge of my old companion, Condemnation. Instantly I heard Him clearly say-with a smile in His Voice…”It’s okay, I give to you even when you sleep…I understand.” Now, when I went to read Psalm 127:2, it read as a reminder not to think we have to knock ourselves out to the exclusion of relationship with Him or anyone else. But then I continued on to verse 3.
“Children too are a gift from Adonai, the fruit of the womb is a reward. The children born when one is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. How blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them…” Oh how I wished I could physically give Him a hug! He did understand! From that day we interacted as I went about my day. Whether “we” were driving in the car, shopping, cooking or washing dishes. “Lord! Why did I react that way-what’s wrong with me?”, “Why is my child responding so negatively?” “What do I do about this now?” The children learned the same relationship with Him over time. They learned they can ask anywhere at any time and He will answer, whether it is that day or two weeks from that day…He will answer. Having that relationship encourages that quiet time later when it’s just the “two” of us and I can study or listen or just read His Words…be it in a quiet room…or closet floor..where no one can find you! : ) He is truly, the best Friend EVER!
Beautiful.
Who is it you desire?, an audience of one? Are these the fires of passion that will allow you beyond? May He burn up all your enemies, and lovers too, He is jealous for the heart placed in you. Who is this King of Glory? Is He who you desire? Will you look upon His humble face as you pass through the fire? Running from the sight of those who meant so much to you, like a toddler in a diaper, without a point of view. Avoiding words you want to speak among the company you love to keep. Your heart will guide you to the one walking in your midst rejected and alone, you see him and you wonder if he could be the one, he is so old, walking with a staff, wearing an old worn dark brown hooded robe, you want to see his face, so, bending down and reaching out, you place your hand upon the shoulder of a man, gently asking if he is the head of the church? The sandals will then loose you are both now on the ground, love and compassion have flooded your soul, he speaks your name, you make an offering of service though it seems so small, on your knees now you start to help him and care for him and it is all you want to do. How is this I Love you with your own Love! Worthy is this worthless man when you realize the desire of the nations has his Father’s eyes.
Longing for Him , burning , yearning ……