Psalms 26:8

8 tibi dixit cor meum exquisivit facies mea faciem tuam Domine requiram

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 in petra exaltavit me et nunc exaltavit caput meum super inimicos meos circuivi et immolavi in tabernaculo eius hostiam vociferationis cantabo et psalmum dicam Domino
7 exaudi Domine vocem meam qua clamavi miserere mei et exaudi me
8 tibi dixit cor meum exquisivit facies mea faciem tuam Domine requiram
9 ne avertas faciem tuam a me ne declines in ira a servo tuo adiutor meus esto ne derelinquas me neque dispicias me Deus salvator meus
10 quoniam pater meus et mater mea dereliquerunt me Dominus autem adsumpsit me
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.