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I. DAVID'S HEART WAS SET UPON THE HOUSE OF GOD ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS. He was moved thereto by the wonderful, rare, heavenly blessings which are enjoyed there, and nowhere else.

1. Here God gives direction in every good way (Psalm 32:8).

2. Here is plentiful provision both for soul and body (Psalm 34:10; Psalm 37:3, 4).

3. Here is safe protection and preservation, by special providence (Psalm 91:1; Matthew 10:29-31).

4. Here is most admirable remuneration, even in this life, with the honour of grace, and favour to be His friends (John 15:14, 15), and His children (1 John 3:1), and to have the attendance of the angels (Psalm 34:7; Psalm 91:11); but most abundantly in the life to come. Uses —

1. For instruction.

(1) See here a plain evidence of the great ignorance and unbelief of natural men in the things of God. Not one in a thousand has David's affection to God's house.

(2) Undoubtedly it is a wonderful privilege and prerogative to be a true member of God's Church and to live in His house.

2. For admonition.

(1) To try our affection towards the house of God, by David's.

(2) To get David's affection to God's house; which will be had by knowing their misery that are out of it.

II. THE MEANS HE USED, AND THE COURSE HE TOOK, TO OBTAIN THIS BLESSING. David did with prayer join other endeavour to get this blessing. The reason of this behaviour is twofold.

1. Obedience to God's ordinance, who required of those who would dwell in His house three things.

(1) Repentance from dead works.

(2) To be beautified in soul with inward graces, through regeneration, as faith, virtue, godliness, etc.

(3) To be adorned in life with new obedience (Psalm 15:2, 3; Psalm 24:3, 4).

2. Desire to enjoy the blessings of God's house, wherein he knew that man's true happiness did stand (Psalm 65:4; Psalm 84:4).

III. THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH HE DESIRES TO DWELL THEREIN. All the days of his life.

1. For the fruition of the good things of God's house.

2. For his better opportunity to glorify God (Psalm 63:4; Psalm 146:2).

3. He knew that to be out of God's house was to be out of God's favour (Genesis 4:14; 2 Kings 17:18, 20).Uses —

1. For instruction. See plainly in David that the hearts of the godly do sincerely desire and faithfully strive for perseverance in the state of grace which at this day is dwelling in God's house.

2. For admonition to those that are weary of God's house, and the exercise of religion.

IV. THE BLESSED ENDS FOR WHICH DAVID DESIRES THIS.

1. To behold the beauty of the Lord. As in the works of creation He showed the eternal power and wisdom of the Godhead, so in the ordinances of His service He makes known His justice, goodness, love, and mercy in Jesus Christ.

2. That he may inquire in His temple; i.e. diligently seek direction of God in all cases of doubt or difficulty. Reasons hereof(1) God's own ordinance, directing His people to this duty (Exodus 25:21, 22; 1 Kings 6:19; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 17:8, 9).

(2) For the fruition of the benefits add comforts of this privilege. Freedom from many evils that accompany men's miscarriages who walk in their own counsels (Joshua 9:14, etc.). Assurance to be acceptable to God, and blessed of Him in the things they take in hand, even of this world (2 Chronicles 15:2, 15). Undoubted fruition of glory in the life to come (Psalm 73:24). Uses —

1. For instruction. See plainly that the true members of God's Church are advanced in privilege, dignity and honour above all other people.

2. For admonition. It serves effectually to move all who live in the Church to look unto their state and carriage, that it be such as may give them some good assurance that they have right to this privilege. Let us see —

(1) That we be in covenant with God, else we have no right to this prerogative.

(2) That we keep covenant, living in conscionable obedience.

(T. Pierson.)

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KJV: 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 inquire in his temple.

WEB: One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to see Yahweh's beauty, and to inquire in his temple.