The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 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 27:1-4, NOV)
Dwell. Gaze. Seek. Could the clue to conquering fear be in these three words?
The psalmist David believes it is possible to trust God when the wicked advance and when our enemies attack. Come what may, he responds in the same intentional way: dwelling, gazing, and seeking.
First, David wants to dwell in the house of the Lord. David could be referring to the temple that his son Solomon would build. At its dedication in 1 Kings 8, the Bible describes the glory of the Lord filling the temple. The temple became for the Jewish people a constant reminder of God’s presence. For David, dwelling in the house of the Lord is to be in the ongoing presence of God and to live in awareness of God’s presence. God is with us.
Second, David wants to gaze at the beauty of the Lord. When we gaze at something, we focus on it steadily and intently. David is suggesting that, instead of focusing on our problems, on our fears, on the adversity swirling around us, we can instead focus on the beauty of God, our Light and our Salvation, our stronghold, and our rock.
Finally, David intends to seek God. The Hebrew word translated “seek” may be also translated “to get advice or counsel.” If we constantly seek God’s counsel, David believes that we will find it. If we will listen to God’s advice, our fears will decrease as our trust in God increases.
As we prepare our hearts and minds for the many ways that Christ comes this Advent, may God grant us the grace to dwell, gaze, and seek.
