It is often said that “home is where the heart is”, and there is an undeniable truth in that. The genuine love of a spouse, parent or friend brings a sense of security, safety, and warmth. To have people who understand us, and to know they have our best interests at heart, can drive out loneliness and fear and create a sense of belonging, a home.

Psalm 26, however, offers a nuanced perspective on this idea. Rather than saying “home is where the heart is”, David says his heart is where God’s home is. “I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells”. More than anything in this world, David longed to be surrounded by the rich safety of God’s presence and eternal glory. He knew true satisfaction could only be found there.

If home is where the heart is, none can surpass that established by our heavenly Father. The magnificence of his character, more radiant than the summer sun, decorates the walls of his house with an unassailable beauty. The potent purity of his enduring love offers us a safe haven of tremendous worth and should always be the appetite of our souls. David was right to long for a place in his presence. God’s love is true home.

For David and the people of Israel, God manifested his presence through the tabernacle. In a sense, this Psalm celebrates that earthly provision. Through the tabernacle, God accommodated himself to the needs of his people in the present time. However, there was also a future focus to David’s desire. He hoped for a temple, not just a tabernacle, for something lasting, not temporary. It was a future hope which fuelled a present focus on living a life worthy of the Lord. 

David’s hope is also our hope. But we have the privilege of knowing the full realisation of that hope in the resurrected Jesus. No earthly tabernacle or temple can surpass what God rebuilt in three days. And no greater glory shines into our world than that which destroys sin and death on our behalf.

Our heart’s best desire is for the heart that desires us more. In Christ, God’s love has been lavished upon us. His resurrection demonstrates the indestructibility of that love. In him, we dwell in the presence of the Almighty and will do forever. Such is his faithfulness to us.