I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever Continued

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A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller

In the last verse, Keller observes, “Here is a sheep so utterly satisfied with its lot in life that it says, ‘Nothing will ever make me leave this outfit—it’s great!’”

What is referred to by “house” is the family or household or flock of the Good Shepherd.

Christ Himself—the Good Shepherd—boldly declared, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).

When all is said and done on the subject of a successful Christian walk, it can be summed up in one sentence.  “Live ever aware of God’s presence.”  If we do that, there is a habitual awareness of Christ within us, empowering us to live noble and rewarding lives in cooperation with Him.

We need to recognize that our Good Shepherd is conscious of every circumstance we encounter.  He attends us with care and concern because we belong to Him.  And this will continue through eternity.  What an assurance! 

“I shall dwell in the presence of (in the care of) the Lord forever.”  Bless His Name.

The Lord is My Shepherd by Robert J. Morgan

His Palaces at Life’s End

Morgan points out that the genius of Psalm 23 is its simplicity.  Consider this condensed version:

With its final line, Psalm 23 comes full circle, back to the Father’s House: “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

The House of the Lord

In the Old Testament, the house of the Lord was the Tabernacle and later the Temple.  It was the place where God dwelled among His people.  The house of the Lord is the place where God’s presence is centered.  It represents the place of His throne, the place where He lives in the immediate essence of His presence.  In short, the house of the Lord is the presence of the Lord.  David was saying, “I will live in the presence of the Lord.” 

Charles Gabriel’s “The Glory Song” says:

When all my labors and trials are o’er

And I am safe on that beautiful shore,

Just to be near the sweet Lord I adore

Will thro’ the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me

Glory for me, glory for me.

When by His grace I shall look on His face,

That will be glory, be glory for me.

Never forget that the last word of Psalm 23 is the first word of eternity.  We shall dwell in the house of the Lord—forever!

Traveling Light: The Promise of Psalm 23 by Max Lucado

Where will you live forever?  In the house of the Lord.  This earthly house is not our home.  As Philippians 3:20 puts it, “Our homeland is in heaven.”  This explains the homesickness we feel.

Homesickness is one of the burdens God doesn’t mind if we carry because we are being prepared for another house.  And we know we aren’t there yet.

You have an eternal address fixed in your mind.  God has “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Down deep, you know you are not home yet.  So, be careful not to act like you are.  Aging is God’s idea.  It’s one of the ways he keeps us headed homeward.  Every wrinkle and every needle takes us one step closer to the last step when Jesus will change our simple bodies into forever bodies.  No pain. No depression. No sickness. No end.

Lucado concludes his book, urging us to get rid of our bags and give our luggage to God.  Let’s take him at his word, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28):

  • Rest from the burden of a small god.  Why?  Because I have found the Lord.
  • Rest from doing things my way.  Why?  Because the Lord is my Shepherd.
  • Rest from endless ants.  Why?  Because I shall not want.
  • Rest from weariness.  Why? Because he makes me to lie down.
  • Rest form worry.  Why?  Because he leads me.
  • Rest from hopelessness.  Why?  Because he restores my soul.
  • Rest from guilt.  Why?  Because he leads me in the paths of righteousness.
  • Rest from arrogance.  Why?  Because of his name’s sake.
  • Rest from the valley of death.  Why?  Because he walks me through it.
  • Rest from the shadow of grief.  Why? Because he guides me.
  • Rest from fear.  Why?  Because his presence comforts me.
  • Rest from shame.  Why?  Because he has prepared a place for me in the presence of my enemies.
  • Rest from my disappointments.  Why?  Because he anoints me.
  • Rest from envy.  Why?  Because my cup overflows.
  • Rest from doubt.  Why?  Because he follows me.
  • Rest from homesickness.  Why?  Because I will dwell in the house of my Lord forever.