“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” (Ps. 27:4).
David knew where true beauty was found. While some seek fleshly beauty (cf. Gen. 6:2) and others value beauty in material things (cf. Eze. 7:19-20), true spiritual beauty is the ideal. Consider three particulars that should be seen in their beauty.
1. Heavenly Messengers. Isaiah wrote, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean” (Isa. 52:1). Such a statement is set against the following statement. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isa. 52:7). The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul cites this passage as referring to the sending of preachers to proclaim the gospel of Christ (cf. Rom. 10:15). The beauty of these messengers is in their good tidings of peace. Truly is it a beautiful thing to know the gospel of peace (cf. Eph. 6:15) that brings a real peace with God (cf. Rom. 5:1).
2. Humble Salvation. The beauty of salvation is the blessing upon the humble, meek and lowly. It is written, “For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” (Ps. 149:4). Hosea closes his writing with the promise of God, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon” (Hosea 14:4-6). And again, it is stated, “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people” (Isa. 28:5). Zechariah wrote, “And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids” (Zech. 9:16-17).
3. Holy Worship. True spiritual worship in keeping with God’s will is beautiful to embrace. God purposed that the priesthood of Aaron and his sons wear beautiful garments (cf. Ex. 28:2, 40). The place for worship was glorified and beautified (cf. Chron. 3:6; Ps. 96:6; Isa. 60:13; 64:11; Ezra 7:27). Even the object of worship, God Himself, is identified as beautiful (cf. Job 40:10; Ps. 50:1-2; 90:17). It is no wonder that there are so many passages describing the beauty of holy worship. “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chron. 16:29). It is stated of king Jehoshaphat, “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever” (2 Chron. 20:21). David had written, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2). See also Psalm 96:9. Surely God’s people above all people see the beauty of true worship.
Jimmy Clark