That I May Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever

Dwell – Abide – Take Refuge

Back in the ’70s, I ordered the Book of Lists on a Scholastic Book Order. I loved looking at all the lists of useless information. Windiest Cities. Longest Rivers. Stupidest Criminals. The book calls itself a compendium of curious information. If memory serves, one of the lists was the most euphonious words, words that were most pleasing to the ear. Words like golden and hush and aurora, ones that evoke a visceral response of pleasure.

This week’s name of God instilled a longing, no, a yearning for what it promised. Dwelling place – refuge – shield – fortress – strong tower. What does it mean to dwell or abide or take refuge in Yahweh? To me, it means rest. To set aside the frantic and put on peace.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: 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 meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4

Did you know that the words emboldened below are the same as the word translated tabernacle? Mishkan. Our secure dwelling place is his tabernacle. He will tabernacle, or dwell, with us.

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness
And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and ^[a]confidence forever.
Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation,
And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places – Isaiah 32:16-18

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High. – Psalm 46:4

My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  – Ezekiel 37:27

But this dwelling and abiding is no passive promise for the great bye-and-bye. We abide in him and he in us now by clinging to him, seeking him, putting him first, and practicing his presence. In Raising Spiritual Champions, George Barna says,

Jesus did not command people to attend church services regularly. He did call for His followers to meet together and to worship God in the company of other believers. But the way He modeled that with His disciples was typically through shared meals and experiences, by intensely discussing the meaning and application of the Scriptures, and by serving other people.

He goes on:

Jesus did not say that your spiritual development is the responsibility of, nor is it determined by, religious leaders or organizations . . . He pushed His disciples to take responsibility for their own righteousness and lifestyle choices. He taught them to lean on the power and guidance of God.

Furthermore:

Jesus did not teach that discipleship is about emotional connection to an ideology, movement, or persona. His conception of Christianity was deeply rooted in understanding God-His nature, purposes, truth principles, standards, and promises-and applying that understanding to produce a biblically consistent lifestyle that revolves around God rather than self.

Is the modern church practicing what Jesus modeled? Are we raising spiritual champions? Barna says that only 58% of born-again parents believe they “have the primary responsibility for the spiritual development of their children.”

What do born-again parents believe children need to succeed in life? “Born-again parents were more likely to list basic logic and reasoning, reading ability . . . money management skills, and basic mathematics than any of the spiritual skills or insights offered as options.”

Is it any wonder that anxiety and depression plague the younger generations?

Yet peace is possible in the midst of turmoil.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[b]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Phil 4:6-9

Hold fast to the lover of your soul.