This was posted by Pilgrim, on the old site.

Seeing the Beauty of God

One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Ps. 27:4

What is the beauty that radiates from God, but the absolute perfection of His moral nature? The Scriptures portray a full and complete picture of God. Whereas the gods of men are a reflection of their corrupt natures, the true and living God is essentially pure in His character, the glorious admirability of which comprises a unique beauty in the universe. When we view beauty in the natural realm, it is notable for its uniqueness, for the balanced proportions of its form and for its desirability. These same qualities of beauty, when transposed to the moral and spiritual realm characterize God.
Firstly, He is unique.

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Ex. 15:11

In the Old Testament we see the gods of the Gentiles as having the same characteristics of those men who created them. One can see their capriciousness (changeability) when reading between the lines. Like their makers, they are, likewise impotent.

Second, God is perfectly balanced in all of His traits and attributes. Even though He is perfectly righteous and without moral flaw or failing, this righteousness is balanced with mercy.  Jesus came into the world as the manifestation of the grace and truth of God. (Jn. 1:17)  Whereas the penalties for violation of the law under the Old Covenant were quite severe, mercy was always available to those whose hearts were contrite and repentant. It was, and still is the hardness of men’s hearts that merits His wrath. The most outstanding example of the balanced proportionality of God’s character is the atonement that He provided for sin, both as a type in the ceremonial sacrifices under the Old Covenant, and in the death of His Son under the New. Wrath had to be propitiated (appeased), and manifesting it upon Christ as a substitution was the perfect way to accomplish this task in satisfaction of both the righteousness and the mercy of God. What a beautiful scheme, unimaginable and incomprehensible to the fallen human mind, but marvelous in its genius of conception in the mind of the holy and good God!

Finally, the beauty of God is desirable. Though the fullness of the revelation of Christ’s work on the cross was undoubtedly veiled in large measure to the Psalmist, He could see these beautiful qualities in his God, and valued them above all treasures that he might covet to obtain in this life. Somehow, in the good as well as in the difficult experiences of his life, he had come to know God in an intimate way. He had seen the demonstration of the divine attributes in effectively saving him in all his troubles and from all his adversaries. For this reason only, could he express such an other-worldly desire as this:

 thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

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Have we seen the beauty of the Lord in His word, and in the salvation He has shown us, and do we, likewise long to inquire in His (spiritual) temple in order to know Him more and become more like His Son? This is a question the true disciple must continually ask himself, lest the circumstances of life and the propensities of the flesh would gradually harden his heart and cool the love he has for his God.

My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. Songs 6:2-4

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.  Deut. 30:6