God’s Dwelling Place

How wonderful it must be to enjoy the Holy Presence of the LORD in His eternal dwelling place! How marvelous it must be for the angels and the saints to behold His Majesty. The times of worship we offer to God as His Family dwelling on earth is indeed blessed, but is a small foretaste of what celebration with the Father in the fullness of His glory. When King Solomon built the LORD’s Temple in Jerusalem, he built it according to the God’s direction and design. Adorned with carved images of palm trees and blooming flowers, God’s dwelling place was made to look like paradise. It was a reminder of when the LORD first walked with humans in the Garden, and spoke to them face to Face. It harkened back to a time when Adam and Eve saw and knew God is His fullness. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Solomon’s Temple in all it’s glory was that it pointed to a close relationship with the LORD.

See how the psalmist recalls with fondness and longing God’s dwelling place. There is not a description of what it looks like. But there is an emphasis on Who is there. The courts of the LORD are a far better place to dwell than anywhere else. The front door of God’s house is far more desirable than a place at the table of the wicked. But why? This is because a nearness to the LORD is what the psalmist seeks. We also long for the light of His Truth to illumine our way and the warmth of His Presence to strengthen and comfort us. We seek to be near to Him, to hide under the shadow of his protective Wing. We long to know Him closely, to follow Him adamantly, to be assured that we are His and He is ours.

Continue in faith, believer. Continue to seek God, and to trust in Him in all things. While we have been blessed with a life with Him now, there is far more to come in heaven. One day, we will be able to see His Face, to know Him fully, and to dwell with Him in eternity.