But I, by Your great mercy, will enter Your house, and I will worship in Your holy temple with fear of You.
David does not base his right to draw near to God’s presence on his own merits. He says, “By Your great mercy.” This is the main emphasis of the verse. A person enters God’s house not because he is flawless, but because the Lord is merciful. At the same time, that mercy does not produce insolence. David worships “with fear,” reverently acknowledging God’s holiness. Mercy and fear are not opposed to each other. The more deeply we understand that God receives us by grace, the more humbly we stand before Him. In the Old Covenant, the temple was the notable place of God’s presence. In the New Covenant, believers draw near to God through Christ, who opened the way that leads to the Father (Hebrews 10:19–22). This verse teaches that true worship is founded on grace and is expressed with reverence, gratitude, and obedience.