Psalm 90:1 states, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” This verse indicates that God has been a refuge, shelter, and home for His people throughout all generations. Understanding what it means that God is our “dwelling place” provides insight into how God relates to and cares for His people.
God as a Secure Dwelling Place
Calling God a “dwelling place” implies protection, stability, and security. A dwelling place is a place of residence and refuge from harm. Throughout Scripture, God is described as a fortress, rock, and shield for His people (Psalm 18:2, 31:2-3). He is a strong tower and hiding place from enemies (Psalm 27:5, 143:9). This means God’s people can feel secure and at rest in Him, no matter what storms of life come their way.
God as a dwelling place also indicates closeness and intimacy with His people. He is not some far off deity, but One who is ever-present through the Holy Spirit to provide strength, guidance, and comfort. Jesus said He would be with believers always, “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The name Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), reminds us of His continual presence. As our dwelling place, God welcomes us to abide in close relationship with Him.
God as an Eternal Dwelling Place
Not only is God a secure dwelling place, but He is eternal. The verse says He has been our dwelling place “throughout all generations.” God was a refuge for Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and all who trusted in Him long ago. And He remains a dwelling place for all who come to Him today. While earthly shelter and security eventually fade, God never changes.
Several Psalms describe God as eternal compared to the fleeting nature of human life (Psalm 90:1-2, 102:25-27). He remains steadfast despite the changing, unstable nature of this world. Generations come and go, but our eternal God stays the same from age to age. He upholds His people and outlasts all who oppose Him.
This eternal nature is seen clearly in Jesus Christ, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He lived on earth, died, rose again, and reigns forevermore, providing an eternal dwelling for saints today and for eternity in heaven (John 14:2-3).
God Welcomes Us To Abide In Him
Understanding that God is a secure, eternal dwelling place has implications for how we relate to Him. Most significantly, it means we can and should abide in close relationship with Him. We see this in how the New Testament describes believers’ relationship with God and Christ.
In John 15, Jesus calls Himself the vine and believers the branches. He says, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). As a branch must stay connected to the vine for life, we must stay close to Jesus. Abiding in Christ means walking day by day in intimacy and dependence on Him through prayer, reading His Word, and obedience. Only through abiding can we bear spiritual fruit.
The fact that Christ abides in believers through the Holy Spirit also means God is now our dwelling place in an intimate, interior sense. Paul writes, “…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). God’s presence now dwells in His people through His Spirit.
Knowing God is our refuge and home, we can confidently dwell in Him. We have no need to fear, but can rest in His eternal care and draw close to Him in relationship each day. There is no better, safer, or more eternal dwelling place than our loving Creator.
God Cares For His People As A Dwelling Place
Understanding God as a dwelling place also reveals how He cares for His people. Just as a physical house provides what inhabitants need to thrive, God meets all the needs of those who abide in Him.
Psalm 91 beautifully describes the shelter, refuge, and care God provides. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). God is compared to a mother bird sheltering her young (v. 4). He is a strong tower protecting from evil (v. 9-10) and gives commands to angels guarding His people (v. 11-12). What a comfort that our God cares for us so personally and perfectly!
Jesus also assures that God will meet every need of those who seek His kingdom. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Our wise and caring Father knows and provides exactly what we need when we trust in Him.
The intimacy we enjoy with God through Christ also means we can freely bring Him all our burdens and requests. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We have open access to intimately unburden ourselves before our dwelling place, the God of endless mercy and grace.
Our Ultimate Heavenly Dwelling Place
While God is the refuge and home of His people now, Scripture also presents a future heavenly dwelling place with God. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms […] I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2). Paul wrote that to be at home in the body is to be away from the Lord, “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). One day, we will dwell with God face-to-face.
Revelation 21 depicts this future, ultimate heavenly dwelling. God’s home will be with man as He dwells with them in the new Jerusalem (v. 3). There will be no more tears, pain, or death (v.4). God himself will be the light of the city (v. 23). We will eternally, joyfully dwell in perfect relationship with our loving Creator.
Knowing our eternal dwelling spurs us to persevere through trials, keep hope, and live in light of eternity. As the author of Hebrews wrote, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Heb. 13:14). Our journey on earth is only a shadow of our everlasting home with God.
Key Truths About God As Our Dwelling Place
Let’s recap some key truths from Psalm 90:1 about God as the dwelling place of His people:
- God is a refuge and fortress, giving us security and protection.
- He is eternally constant, never changing, unlike earthly dwellings.
- We are to abide in close relationship with God through Christ.
- God provides all His children need when we seek Him.
- Our greatest hope is our eternal heavenly dwelling with God forever.
Understanding God as our dwelling place brings great comfort and hope. We can trust in His eternal care and abide in intimate relationship with Him all our days, until we reach our forever home. God is our refuge; we need not fear. He surrounds and upholds us with His steadfast love now and for all eternity.