Today we conclude our series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm. 

Now, today verse we recapitulate the core verse of the Psalm. 

“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 NIV11)

“One thing that all mature Christians agree on is the absolute beauty of God. They’ve experienced it! They’ve seen it and have been changed by it. They long for it, just like the writer of Psalm 27. “One thing I ask”—what is that one thing? To seek and to see the beauty of God. That’s not a bad summary of prayer. Starke, John. The Possibility of Prayer (p. 32). InterVarsity Press.

O Worship The Lord In The Beauty Of Holiness

Verse 1
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Bow down before Him His glory proclaim
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness
Kneel and adore Him the Lord is His name

Verse 2
Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness
High on His heart He will bear it for thee
Comfort thy sorrows and answer thy prayerfulness
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be

Verse 3
Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine
Truth in its beauty and love in its tenderness
These are the off’rings to lay on His shrine

Verse 4
These though we bring them in
Trembling and fearfulness
He will accept for the name that is dear
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness
Trust for our trembling and hope for our fear

Verse 5
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Bow down before Him His glory proclaim
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness
Kneel and adore Him the Lord is His name

John Samuel Bewley Monsell
(https://youtu.be/LBEmXFkwcOE)

What are the lessons from this verse and this Psalm? 

  1. Trouble comes on God’s faithful people. But it does not mean God does not care.
  2. The only healthy response to challenges beyond our control is to make God our priority.
  3. Reflection on God’s loving nature will inspire our confident trust in Him.

We will conclude today’s podcast with the song I wrote using the words of Psalm 27 verse 4.

Next week we will move on to a different topic. In the meantime, please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org. 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org. 

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm