"One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in his presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4 (AMP)
The word dwell means to live or continue in a given state. In other words to dwell means to hang on to something that you feel is important to you. Something you cling to when it matters most. What's interesting about this passage is that out of anything David could have asked for he asked to dwell in the presence of the Lord. To spend time and linger with God above anything else. Not riches, not fame, not fortune, all he wanted was to spend time with God. Wow!
Reminds me of people who clung to the presence of God when the chips were stacked against them. Consider Hannah, who wanted so badly to have a child and the only thing she felt compelled to do was to dwell in the house of the Lord and inquire of His presence, and sure enough God showed up for her and gave her Samuel (perhaps the greatest prophet of all). Likewise, Elizabeth was also found in the house of the Lord seeking after Him and an angel appeared to her and told her she was going to give birth to John the Baptist.
It is no coincidence that God chose to reveal himself to these women just as He made himself known to David. If you dwell in the presence of the Lord, you will find whatever you're looking for, whatever is the deepest desire of your heart will be fulfilled. In fact, God asks you to come after Him in this way by telling us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8) Take Him at His word.
