“One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
I’ve always been someone who sees beauty all around me. At six, instead of running for Easter eggs, I stood looking up at the sky with an overwhelming sense of God’s presence. That moment has stayed with me my whole life.
David explains in Psalm 19:1 that God's beauty directs us to Him:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
David was more than a shepherd, warrior, and king. He was also a musician and poet. His God‑inspired Psalms are still sung in churches today.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is God‑breathed, so the Psalms—and the whole Bible—are God’s Words. Even their structure reflects His order and beauty.
Psalm 27 uses chiastic form, a poetic technique where an idea is repeated in reverse order. This structure unifies the message and helps us remember it.
The pattern used in Psalm 27 is ABBA: confidence-seeking-seeking-confidence. Through this literary device, David shows that confidence in God leads us to seek God, and seeking God, in turn, leads to greater confidence. And this pattern isn’t only poetic. It mirrors how God often works in our lives.
It wasn’t until recently that I realized my encounter with God occurred the year my parents divorced. Seeing God in the beauty of a Montana spring sky led me to turn to Him at other times. Though I didn’t know God well at that age and didn’t experience His special grace until I was almost 30, God's common grace served as a compass in my life, always directing my thoughts to Him.
At almost thirty, I experienced God’s special grace; I repented and accepted Jesus. True transformation began as His light illuminated the dark places in my life. The more I saw of Him, the more I wanted Him.
This truth echoes what Peter reminds us:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Because God reveals himself through beauty, if you’re struggling today, go outside, take a walk, and look around you. Beauty is there. Maybe it’s as close as your yard or high above you in the sky. When you find it, let it remind you of the Creator—the God who delights to reveal Himself through beauty.
Closing Prayer: Lord, help us develop hearts for you, so that we see You in all things. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of Your Word. Light our paths and direct the steps that lead us to You and to eternal life with You.
