September 16. The Soul's Final Feast

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after,

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27. 4. God is not unresponsive to the

contrite longing of the soul. He comes and lifts the load of sin and fills our heart with

gladness and gratitude.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.

You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Psalm 30, 11 through 12.

But our joy does not just rise from the backward glance in gratitude. It also rises from the

forward glance in hope. Why are you downcast, oh my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.

Psalm 42, 5 and 6.

I wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in his word, I hope.

Psalm 130, verse 5. In the end, the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God

himself to see him and know him and pray. not for any of God's good gifts, but for God himself.

To see him and know him and be in his presence is the soul's final feast.

Beyond this, there is no quest.

Words fail.

We call it pleasure, joy, delight, but these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience.

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