There was man in the bible named David. He faced many of the same challenges as national leaders today. His country was facing an external military threat. Closer to home, his political opponents were “spouting malicious accusations” (Psalm 27:12) and finding “false witnesses” to tell outright lies. These were spreading, even without the help of social media. Some things never change.
 
In the midst of all of this, what did David hope for? What was his deepest desire? Interestingly, it wasn’t that the external threat of war would disappear. It wasn’t that his political opponents would shut up. I sure he wouldn’t have objected to these outcomes. But David said this.
 
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).
 
These words revealed David’s greatest desire, the object of his hope. He lived in the hope of gaining the “one thing.”
 
Maybe he would win the war and maybe he would lose. Maybe people would believe the false accusations made against him and maybe they wouldn’t. But here is the power of hope. David’s “one thing” made everything else pale into insignificance. If David had his “one thing,” nothing else really mattered and fear was gone.
 
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? He is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)?
 
That begs the question, what is our “one thing”? If we could ask just “one thing” from God, in the absolute certainty that he would provide it, what would it be?

Neil Percival