Reflection: Imperfect seeking
Is this really the only thing that King David wanted from God? Remember the other psalms – he wrote a lot – where David is in hiding, fleeing enemies, persecuted, or repenting and seeking forgiveness. How do we integrate those psalms with this prayer in Psalm 27?
Or was this plea aspirational? Maybe David wished he was like this – seeking simply to be in the house of the Lord.
Perhaps we can recognise ourselves in him.
We aspire to be seeking God at all times but, let’s admit it, we get distracted. Like David we are “simul peccator et iustus”. This was Martin Luther’s phrase describing how we are both a sinner and righteous at the same time. Our dual nature, our imperfection, drags us in two directions.
May we seek to follow Jesus all the more. May we seek to ponder “the beauty of the Lord”.
Prayer: Thank you Father that, although a sinner like King David, I can have a relationship with you. May I seek to be closer to you. Help me to pray like David.