Monday-October 19-Psalms 27-Tim Keller

THE BEAUTY OF GOD. Is there certain music that gives you deep joy? Is there a view or landscape that does the same? If someone says, “What is the use of that?” you answer that the music or landscape is not a means to some other end but profoundly satisfying in itself. David’s supreme priority is “to gaze on the beauty of the Lord” (verse 4). “Gazing” is not a one-time glimpse but a steady, sustained focus. It is not petitionary prayer but praising, admiring, and enjoying God just for who he is. David finds God beautiful, not just useful for attaining goods. To sense God’s beauty in the heart is to have such pleasure in him that you rest content.

FINDING HIS BEAUTY. David is having difficulties, but the beauty of God enables him to live in confident peace (verses 1 and 6). If our hearts delight in God and his face, then we can contemplate losing earthly joys without fear. Even if our mother and father forsake us, we can face it (verse 10). Why? If our greatest treasure—communion with the living God—is safe, of what can we be afraid? Yet we are afraid of so many things. So our fears can serve an important purpose—they show us where we have really located our heart’s treasure. Follow the pathway of the fear back into your heart to discover the things you love more than God.

Prayer: Lord, I will obey you simply because you are worthy of it and it is my duty. But don’t let my service to you remain at that level. Show me your beauty—attract my heart, capture my imagination, so that I find joyful pleasure in serving you. Amen.