Divine Dwelling Place

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. (Psalm 90:1)

Regardless of where we live — whether in a mansion on a mountain or a tent in the wilderness — our God is our dwelling place. This biblical concept of God as our dwelling place expresses the dependability, reliability, stability, and immovability we have when we are resting in the Creator of the universe.

Nobody understood this better than Moses, who was called by God to deliver His people out of bondage in Egypt. Our passage of Scripture for today comes from the only psalm attributed to Moses, who knew very well what it meant to have God as his dwelling place. You’ll recall that the people of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years with no permanent place to live, and yet their God never left them; in 40 years their clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on their feet (Deuteronomy 29:5).

Check out how other psalmists expressed this truth:

You hide them in the secret place of Your presence (Psalm 31:20)

You are my hiding place (Psalm 32:7)

God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1)

You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 71:3)

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:2)

Here is something else to consider about God being your divine dwelling place. You have unbroken fellowship and friendship with Him. When Jesus died on the cross for your sins, it was because He wanted to be in an intimate and loving relationship with you. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus came to “tabernacle” with us — to encamp with us and dwell with us (John 1:14). When you experience those times in your life when God seems distant, remember that it is you who has moved, not Him. Jesus has promised that He will never leave nor forsake you, no matter what you do. The life, death, and resurrection of our Lord has given all of His followers moment-by-moment access to Him so that we can enjoy the fullness of joy in His presence.

Let’s close with one of the most encouraging verses in all of sacred Scripture, one that should be engraved on your heart and emblazoned in your mind:

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 21:3).

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!