Psalm 23:6 reads, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This beautiful verse comes at the end of the beloved Psalm 23, which poetically describes God’s tender care and guidance for His people. But what does it mean to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”? Let’s explore this concept further.
The House of the Lord
In the Old Testament, the “house of the Lord” refers specifically to the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. This was the place where God’s presence dwelt and where the Israelites came to worship, offer sacrifices, and draw near to God. Some examples of “house of the Lord” include:
- Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
- Psalm 65:4 – “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!”
- Isaiah 2:2-3 – “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.'”
So in the Old Testament context, dwelling in the house of the Lord meant approaching God’s presence in the temple, worshipping Him there, and living according to His Word and ways. It meant remaining close to God. But after Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s people became His temple.
The People of God as God’s House
The New Testament expands the concept of the house of the Lord beyond the physical temple. Now, God’s people corporately form His house:
- Ephesians 2:19-22 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
- 1 Peter 2:5 – “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Rather than needing to travel to the physical temple to experience God’s presence, now His followers abide in His presence wherever they are. The Holy Spirit dwells within each believer and among the church community.
Dwelling with God for Eternity
But Psalm 23 is not just referring to dwelling with God here on earth. The verse concludes, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” As believers, we have the incredible promise of eternal life with God.
The book of Revelation provides a glimpse of this, describing the New Jerusalem that will come down from heaven in the new creation:
- Revelation 21:3 – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'”
- Revelation 21:22 – “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
What an amazing promise! God’s presence will no longer be confined to a building but will be tangibly experienced throughout the new creation. We will dwell directly in His presence, relating to Him face-to-face. The intimacy we experience with God now through the Holy Spirit is only a foretaste of what is to come for eternity!
Abiding in Christ
But Psalm 23:6 not only talks about the future eternal state. It also has present implications for believers. While we await eternity in the new creation, we currently “dwell in the house of the Lord” by abiding in Christ through the Spirit. Abiding in Christ is a key concept in John 15:
- John 15:4-5 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
- John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
- John 15:9-10 – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
To abide in Christ means to remain or continue in Him – in His love, His word, His presence, His will. It implies an intimate, dependent relationship, relying on Christ for spiritual life and fruitfulness. This abiding happens through the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, obeying Christ’s teachings, we are dwelling in the house of the Lord here and now.
Present Blessings of Dwelling in God’s House
What are some of the blessings of dwelling in the Lord’s house, both now and forevermore? Consider these:
- God’s presence: We get to live in unbroken fellowship with God, enveloped in His very presence (Psalm 16:11).
- Fullness of joy: We will experience ever-increasing joy in the Lord’s presence (Psalm 16:11).
- No more tears, pain: In God’s presence is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures, with no more pain, suffering, or death (Psalms 16:11; Revelation 21:4).
- Security: We are safe in the Lord’s house and His presence forevermore (Psalm 23:6; Psalm 91:1).
- Provision: The Lord will supply all our needs richly and abundantly (Philippians 4:19).
- Guidance: God will lead and guide us perfectly in all matters (Psalm 32:8).
- Purpose: We will serve and worship God in meaningful ways forever (Revelation 22:3).
These are just a few of the blessings of dwelling with God forever. Truly, we could not be in a better place than the perfect presence of the Lord who loves us and gave Himself for us!
How Can We Prepare Now?
Since we have the promise of eternally dwelling in God’s house and presence, how should we live now? Here are some key ways to prepare:
- Develop your relationship with Christ – Abide in Him, spend time in the Word and prayer.
- Walk in the Spirit – Allow the Holy Spirit to transform you and bear His fruit.
- Pursue holiness – Purify yourself as He is pure, putting sin to death.
- Serve God and others – Use your gifts to build up the body of Christ on earth.
- Invest in eternity – Store up heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.
- Set your hope on Christ – Fix your eyes on Jesus each day, not on the world.
The more we cultivate our relationship with Christ now, the greater we will delight in dwelling with Him forever. While we cannot earn salvation, our eternal rewards will be influenced by how we live today. Therefore, let us rejoice that we will dwell in God’s house forevermore – and live accordingly in the present!