Psalms 26:8

8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.

Psalms 26:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 26:8

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house
Meaning the tabernacle, for as yet the temple was not built; which was an habitation for the saints, where they chose to dwell, and reckoned it their happiness, and was the habitation of the Lord himself: the sanctuary was built for that purpose; and between the cherubim, over the mercy seat, he took up his residence; hence it follows,

and the place where thine honour dwelleth:
or "glory" F1: when the tabernacle was set up, the glory of the Lord filled it, as it did the temple, when it was dedicated, ( Exodus 40:35 ) . The psalmist expresses his love to this place, in opposition to the, congregation of evildoers, which he hated, ( Psalms 26:5 ) ; and to remove a calumny from him, that being among the Philistines, and at a distance from the house of God, his affections were alienated from it; whereas it was his greatest concern that he was debarred the privileges of it; see ( Psalms 42:1 Psalms 42:2 ) ( 63:1 ) ( 1 Samuel 26:19 ) ; besides, he had showed his great regard to it by his constant attendance before his exile, as he did after it, ( Psalms 42:3 ) ( 55:14 ) ; and it was out of pure love to the worship of God, and with real pleasure and delight, that he did attend; and not through custom, and in mere form, ( Psalms 122:1 ) ( Psalms 84:1 Psalms 84:2 Psalms 84:10 ) . The Lord's house is loved by his people, because of his word and ordinances, which are ministered there, and because of his presence in it: or else what was typified by the tabernacle in here designed; either the tabernacle of Christ's human nature, called the true tabernacle, ( Hebrews 8:2 ) ; in which the fulness of the Godhead dwells; which the Son of God, the brightness of his Father's glory, inhabits; and in the redemption and salvation wrought out in it the glory of all the divine attributes is displayed; and Christ incarnate is the mercy seat from which God communes with his people, and is their way of access unto him, and whereby they have fellowship with him; and who is loved by the saints sincerely, above all creatures and things, and in the most ardent and affectionate manner: or heaven itself, of which the tabernacle was a figure, ( Hebrews 9:24 ) ; which is the habitation of the holiness and glory of God, and in which are many mansions or dwelling places for his people; and is the continuing city they seek, the heavenly and better country they are desirous of, and where their hearts and affections are; because there their God, their Saviour, and their treasure be; which sense seems to be confirmed by what follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Kkwbk) "gloria tua", Musculus, Piscator; "tabernaculum gloriae tuae", Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius, Gejerus; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 26:8 In-Context

6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.
9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.