Psalm 27:4 – 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 enquire in his temple.
The writer of Psalm 27 is intentionally focusing on one of the most important aspects of our spiritual life. Throughout Scripture, we learn about the importance of the presence of God.
In Psalm 27:4 the writer of the Psalm expresses his desire to dwell within the house of the Lord, to gaze upon God’s beauty and be in His presence in the temple. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was primarily within the temple. But through spending time with God, the Psalmist found hope and restoration for his soul.
Thanks to Jesus, God’s presence is no longer confined to the temple. His presence is now available to us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within believers. We now have access to God’s presence at any time.
The Presence of God under the current dispensation (of grace) refers to God’s nearness, indwelling, and active involvement in the life of believers through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. God’s presence was experienced under the Old Covenant – The Holy Spirit would come on a person to do something and went back again.
Under the Old Covenant (Law), God’s presence was:
- External and limited — dwelling in places like the Tabernacle or the Temple (e.g., Exodus 40:34, 2 Chronicles 7:1-2).
- Access was restricted — only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year (Hebrews 9:7).
- His presence was often associated with fear and awe due to judgment and holiness.
But under the New Covenant — the dispensation of grace (John 1:17) — everything changed through Jesus.
God’s presence is no longer in a physical temple — we are His temple.
Every believer has immediate, continuous access to God through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11).
Now, God’s presence is permanent and personal, not dependent on place or ritual.
He Says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
— Hebrews 13:5
We live in ongoing relationship with God, not distant religion
IN SUMMARY:
The presence of God in the current dispensation is:
NOT CONFINED to buildings, rituals, or human mediators.
ACCESSIBLE 24/7 to every believer through Jesus.
EMPOWERING — helping us walk in holiness and fulfill our calling.
RELATIONAL — God is not distant or angry, but near, loving, and actively involved.
It means that we don’t work to get to God — He has come to live in us through His Spirit. It is God with us, God in us, and God for us — all because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Just like the writer of the Psalm desired to dwell within God’s presence, we also should desire to be with God as much as possible. It is in God’s presence that we find hope, joy, beauty, and the restoration of our weary souls.
It is important that we spend time with God each and every day. We can do this through regularly reading Scripture and reflecting on what we read. We can also spend time in prayer, talking to God about what is happening in our life.
Another way to spend time in God’s presence is to simply be aware that He is with you through your daily tasks each day.
Under the New Covenant — the dispensation of grace (John 1:17) — everything changed through Jesus.God’s presence is no longer in a physical temple — we are His temple. Every believer has immediate, continuous access to God through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11). Now, God’s presence is permanent and personal, not dependent on place or ritual. Amen.
