Dwelling with the Lord!

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Who would not want to dwell with God? We might be intimidated or self-conscious, but imagine being able to live with God, have Him by your side, share your life with Him and have Him as a constant companion. In the Bible we see that God desired to dwell in the presence of people. God has existed forever and does not require fellowship with people to exist, but He desired out of His love to share His existence with men and women. This is one reason He made all of creation, to share His love, creativity and holiness with Mankind. He created the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve to live in and fellowship with their Heavenly Father. But Adam and Eve sinned and because God cannot tolerate evil wicked sin, Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden and out of the presence of God. Sin not only removed the possibility of Adam and Eve dwelling in the presence of God it also twisted and tainted God’s Creation and placed a barrier between God and men. Psalms 5:4 tells us that God cannot dwell in the presence of sin and evil. “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.”

 

In the Old Testament we find that God had a plan that would restore His fellowship with Mankind and allow people to dwell in His presence. In the beginning it would be restrictive and under certain laws to assure God’s holiness and purity were not compromised. This would communicate to Mankind that there was a standard that was required for fellowship with God for two reasons. First, God could not be approached if there was sin present, so offerings would have to be made, repentance of wickedness be confessed and a cleansing had to be done. Secondly, God wanted Mankind to know that living a pure holy life would not only allow God to dwell among them it would bring peace, rest and contentment into each person’s life. That is the result when a man or woman dwells with the Lord on a continual basis.

 

God made a decision to begin this reconciliation with Mankind by choosing a race of people, a specific group of men and women, that He would use to bring restoration of His relationship with Mankind to fruition. The Jews were chosen for this holy task. We see in the Holy Bible how God rescued the Jews from slavery in Egypt, how He entrusted them with His holy law and how He dealt with their obedience and disobedience.

 

In the Holy Bible there are several words that speak of God dwelling among His people. One such word is “shakan” pronounced (shaw-kan’). This means to lodge, reside or permanently stay. It can also mean abide, dwell, have habitation with, inhabit or rest.

 

In Exodus 25:1-9 we have an example of this word being used to describe how God dwelt among His people and had a relationship with them. It says, “1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows a; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 8 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.’”

 

This same Hebrew word is also used in Exodus 29:44-46 to describe God dwelling among His chosen people in the Tent of Meeting, “44 ‘So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”

 

Here we see that God is laying down specific actions that must take place to honor His character and person so that He can dwell among men and women. These instructions, rules and boundaries made it possible for God to dwell among His people without dishonoring His holiness. They also began the process of laying a foundation upon which His ultimate plan for restoring Mankind to fellowship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ could take place. Each rule and instruction, each offering required, each implement in the Tent of Meeting, Tabernacle or Temple as well as the actions to be taken within these holy places had a meaning that related to the process of enabling Mankind to once again, have a relationship with God. This plan would take hundreds of years to fulfill, but God is patient and waited for the fulfillment of His desire to dwell with men and women in an intimate way.

 

In the Psalms we discover another Hebrew word that speaks of the pleasure, joy and security of dwelling in the presence of God during a person’s life. The word is “‎yashab” pronounced (yaw-shab’). This is a word that means to sit down in quiet, by implication, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to abide, dwell, inhabit, remain.

 

This word is used in Psalms 23 to describe how God can be a “shepherd, watchman or caregiver” of a man or a woman who dwells with the Lord. It states, “23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

When you dwell in the house of the Lord, you dwell in a most intimate and safe place. It is similar to living in a secure warm home on a frigid winter night with a storm raging outside and wolves circling the house. You know you cannot be touched. You know you are in the presence of someone who can protect and provide for you. You not only have a great overwhelming peace in your heart and mind; your soul is also warmed by the joy of the presence of God in your life. It is a great place to be, especially if you are in the midst of a trial, struggle or hardship.

 

Another Hebrew word that is used to describe dwelling or abiding with God is “‎guwr” pronounced (goor). It means to turn aside from the road for the purpose of lodging to protect oneself from something fearful and dwell where there is a safe place. It can also imply an emotion of standing in awe, in relationship to the safety that one has in such a place of dwelling.

 

There are many things that can harm us in life, many struggles that can cause us to fear for our safety. Psalms 61:4 speaks to this emotion when it uses this Hebrew word “guwr” to describe dwelling in the “tent of God” and taking shelter under His powerful covering. It says, “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”

 

Yet another word used to describe dwelling with the Lord is “‎duwr” pronounced (dure). It means to remain or dwell. When we dwell in the presence of God, a most secure, peaceful, restful, protected place we would wish to live forever because of the secure feeling it gives us. Psalms 84:10-11, communicates these emotions when it says, “10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

 

But we see here a mention of a qualification again of those who can dwell in the presence of God. They must have a blameless walk in their life. How can anyone be in the presence of God because none of us are blameless? It is because of God’s grace through His son Jesus Christ.

 

The word “yashab” for dwell is mentioned again in the Old Testament in Psalms 91:1-2 where it says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Here again we see that there is promised security and blessing to anyone who dwells in the shelter of the Most High. But dwelling in God’s presence requires you walk a blameless life, one of obedience and one of purity. How can anyone do this for we are all sinful? Again, when we are a member of God’s family we can dwell in His presence.

 

God’s complete plan was laid down upon the foundation of His law in the Old Testament and was fulfilled by His only Son Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for the sins of all Mankind. While Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient to pay for the sins of all people, it is only effective when accepted as payment. In other words Christ’s death, while sufficient to pay for everyone’s sins, only pays for the sins of those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. Once a person accepts Christ in this fashion and admits they are sinful, repents and agrees that Christ can rule over their life, they are forgiven of the sin that separates them from fellowship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Once a person is saved they can now finally dwell in the presence of the Lord.

 

A word in the Greek New Testament that describes Christ “dwelling” in a Christian’s life is “‎katoikeo” pronounced (kat-oy-keh’-o). It means to permanently house, reside or inhabit, implying a sturdy and concretely set mansion. What a beautiful picture of an eternal relationship with God that will last forever. This word is used in Ephesians 3:16-19 where it says, “16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

 

Because God has now revealed His entire plan for restoring His relationship with Mankind anyone can fellowship with Him and dwell in His presence if they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. But once you make this commitment, you must seek to live according to the holy calling you have upon your life. You cannot claim to be saved and continue in a life of habitual sin. A Christian will sin, but a true Christian will keep short accounts with God. They will confess any sin they commit because they love God and desire to dwell in His presence, remain filled with God’s Spirit and establish the fact that Jesus is their Lord and Master. Many passages mention this necessity for purity in the life of a Christian.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

 

Ephesians 4:29-32 tells us, “29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

 

I pray that if you are not a Christian, a follower of Christ, that you will repent of the sin in your life and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord so you can dwell in the presence of God.

 

I pray that if you are a Believer in Christ and His Lordship over your life that you will continue to live in the presence of God and have a relationship with Him because you submit to His authority and therefore live a pure and holy life, understanding that when you do sin, you will quickly repent and ask for forgiveness so that you can remain in fellowship with Him.