My Desire

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-23-2025

Psalms 27

(Temple 2-23-25)

Introduction:

 

A.  A Psalm of David.  When I think of the Psalms that are Davidic, some expose the heart of this great King called by God “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

 

B.  King David was many things.  As a warrior, he was unrivaled.  As to his wealth, the world lay within his grasp.  As to his legacy, the greatest King who ever lived. 

 

C.  What a wonderful Psalm we have read tonight!  Psalm 27 is one of those psalms that allow us to look into the heart and soul of David.  The first verse of the Psalm should instill a wonderful confidence in our Lord. 

 

Psalms 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

D.  In this verse, we see that the Lord was all that David needed.  By the same token, the Lord is all that we need.  He loves us, He is with us, He is for us, He cares for us, He guides us, He provides for us, He comforts us, He keeps us, He encourages us, and He protects us!  And the list could go on and on!

 

1.  “The LORD”  He is sovereign.  His sovereignty should excite us.  Nothing touches us unless He allows. 

 

2.  “is my”  He is personal.  As if we were His only child.

 

3.  “my light”  He is glorious.  A LIGHT in a world of darkness.

 

4.  “and my salvation”  He delivers.  In salvation and in problems.

 

5.  “whom shall I fear”  He is greater.  Greater than our foes.

 

6.  “the LORD is the strength of my life”  He upholds us when we fail; He secures us when we fall.

 

7.  “of whom shall I be afraid”  He gives confidence.

 

E.  Verses 2-3.  The Psalmist’s Delivery.

 

1.  Our past victories.  “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

 

2.  Our present victories.  “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear”

 

3.  Our providential victories.  “though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

 

F.  Verses 4-14.  The Psalmist’s Desire.  “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after”

 

G.  What did David desire more than anything else?  “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 enquire in his temple.”

 

1.  Verse 4.  It was a place of Dwelling.  His residence!  I live in two places tonight and so should you.  I live in our home with my beloved wife.  But we also live in Temple Baptist Church.  So many believers visit the church and we are glad to see them when they come, but they do not dwell in the church.  Once again, I fully recognize that people must work and are sometimes providentially hindered.  But, these are times of providence, not choice.

 

2.  Verse 4.  He beheld the Beauty of the LORD.  How do God’s faithful people perceive the LORD.  He is precious to us.

 

3.  Verse 4.  He enquired there.  The local church is a “House of Prayer!”  God hears us when we pray privately, but the Lord Jesus said His house was the house of prayer.

 

4.  Verse 5.  He could go there and hide from the troubles and problems of the world.  Our attitude towards the fears and tribulations of life cease when we pull up on the parking lot!

 

5.  Verse 6.  He was filled with joy, singing, and praising there.  A place of happiness, a place where we can praise the Lord with our lips and sacrifices.  Many believers dread the passing of the offering plates because they will not trust God with their finances.  Non-tithing will affect your joy of and praise in church.

 

6.  verse 7.  He found the mercy and grace of God.  We need to get right with the Lord every day but, in church, we are confronted with our failures and ask God to hear our prayer of repentance and He does.

 

7.  Verses 8-9.  He sought and found the “face” of God.  This speaks of finding the will and approval of God.  Two of the greatest commitments that I ever made were made in church.  It was in church that I found the Lord in salvation and it was in the church that God demanded my service.

 

8.  Verse 10.  He found peace.  “Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore”  If the world, friends, and family forsake us, HE WILL TAKE US UP!  We have found a real friend in Jesus.

 

9.  Verses 11-12.  He found teaching that brought about freedom.  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!” (John 8:32)   “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)  He made me free; He made me free; He broke the bars of prison for me.”

 

10.  Verse 13.  He saw the goodness of God in the land of the living.  So often the things of the world overwhelm us, and the goodness of God is obscured.  We need to know, not just say, “God is good all the time.”

 

11.  Verse 14.  He learned to wait on God!  He found the spiritual “fuel” necessary to continue. 

 

In Psalm 27, we find the Importance of the House of the LORD to the man who had everything!