“One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4
As I was recently meditating on this verse, I felt God highlight the phrase “to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.” What does it mean to gaze at something?
We try to teach our children proper manners while in public. Once in a while, we’ll have the privilege of teaching them new things. One of the things we try to teach them is not to stare at people in public. There are certain times when our kids just seem to stare at a person or situation. We try to communicate that it is ok to look, smile and possibly even wave (if they’re feeling brave), these all can bring dignity and can make a person feel seen, loved, and even valued. However, staring or gawking often carries negative connotations.
Yet, as I meditated on this verse, these are the words that came to mind. I felt as if Jesus was inviting me to just stare and gawk at the beauty and majesty of God.
Growing up we spent a lot of time outdoors, usually camping. It was a cheap way for a family of six to vacation on a small income. Each year we’d travel to a different part of the country to experience the beauty of God expressed in nature. This instilled in me a love for nature and the outdoors. I love climbing mountains and taking in the views from the summit.
Recently, we took a family vacation with all of my family up to the mountains of Colorado. Now there are 7 adults and 12 kids. We rented a cabin for all of us to stay in together. It was early in the summer and there was still a lot of snow at the tops of the mountains. My son really wanted to hike to the top of a mountain. So, we bundled up and one afternoon we hiked to the top. Even though it was cold, the view was magnificent and, even though I don’t like the cold, I could have stayed up there for a long time just taking in the view. The view from the top was just breathtaking.
This image came to my mind and all the emotions that were running through me as I was standing at the top reveling in the moment and taking in the view. I realized that there is rest when I stop to gaze at the beauty of the Lord. There’s awe, wonder, beauty, and majesty in those moments. I felt like this also was an invitation from Jesus. He was inviting me to just rest and gaze at the beauty, wonder and majesty of our God.
Just read over these descriptions and allow your imagination to paint a picture in your mind.
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”
“There before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.”
“In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Revelation 1:12-16, 4:2-5, 6-11
What do you see when you stop to gaze at the beauty and majesty of our God? What do you experience? I don’t even understand all that’s being said, but I’m fascinated. Our God is so much bigger than the little boxes that we try to fit Him into. He’s so big and so glorious that our feeble minds can’t comprehend the expansiveness and the beauty that he exhibits, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try.
Take some time to gaze upon the beauty of our God. Gaze upon the beauty of creation and let that draw you into gazing upon Him. He is so great and so beautiful. When we begin by gazing at the beauty of our God, everything else seems dim in comparison to Him. All troubles fade away. Therefore, we are drawn to gaze at him more. We begin to desire Him more. As we begin to desire Him more we begin to find our delight in Him.
I think David understood this which led him to write in his book of songs,
“One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4
Ryan Lee
