January 19

King David had it all—fortune, fame, military prowess, his choice of the lovely ladies in the land. Many today would find him to be enviable. We’d like to have the accolades that were heaped upon him. We might even suppose he was enthralled with his fortuitous life.

But here’s what he said in the matter, ”Blessed is the man whom You choose and cause to come near to You, that he may dwell in your courts, be satisfied with the goodness of Your house.” Psalm 65:4

Though King David’s coffers overflowed with wealth, though his name was on the lips of all his people, though he conquered all his foes, though his harem was enviable, his true happiness, his joy, was not in those things. His delight was not in the things of the earth. Perhaps it takes one who possesses all the world can offer to understand that temporal things cannot truly satisfy.

The inner man, the essence of who a man really is, needs so much more than the things that moths and rust can corrupt. To have peace deep in his soul, a man must sense the wooing of his Maker, His beckoning into His inner court. David realized that all else is extraneous. The only source of true blessing is in the heart-temple where Jesus dwells, in the presence of the One from whom all blessings flow. May He satisfy us, too, with the goodness of His house.