Answer
At the close of one of the most comforting passages in the Bible, King David joyfully proclaimed, “Surely your kindness and love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the house of the LORD forever” «Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.», (Psalm 23:6).
Being in God’s presence was paramount to David. Due to his intimate relationship with the Lord, David envisioned himself as a permanent inhabitant in God’s house, enjoying His continual kindness, love, and protection every day. With the assurance of eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom after death, David eagerly anticipated the close and everlasting communion of residing in the house of the Lord forever.
The term “dwell” in Psalm 23:6 signifies “to live or reside.” While the house of the Lord commonly refers to the tabernacle, the temple, or the place of worship as seen in Psalm 122:1, in Psalm 23:6, it specifically denotes “a dwelling place, palace, or sacred abode of a deity.”
God’s presence is the true abode of believers (Psalm 42:1-4;84:1-4). David exclaims in Psalm 65:4, “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house.” Furthermore, in Psalm 27:4, David expresses his fervent and singular desire: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” «One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to en
quire in his temple. », (Psalm 27:4). To dwell in the house of the Lord forever was David’s deepest longing. Scripture says he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22;1 Samuel 13:14).
Like David, the apostle Paul was sure that nothing in this life, not even death itself, could separate him from the loving presence of God: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
While preaching on Psalm 23, Charles Spurgeon said, “While I am here I will be a child alone with my God; the whole world will be His house to me; and when I ascend unto the upper chamber I shall not change my company, nor even change the house. I shall only go to dwell in the upper story of the house of the Lord forever” (quoted by Campbell, R., Spurgeon’s Daily Treasures in the Psalms: Selections from the Classic Treasury of David, Kregel Publications, 2013, entry for February 19).
To dwell in the house of the Lord forever also suggests living with an attitude of heart that expresses constant praise and worship. In Psalm 34:1, David exclaimed, “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises” (NLT). Another psalmist declared, “What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises” «Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. », (Psalm 84:4, NLT).
According to Psalm 84:10, one day spent worshiping in God’s house is better than a thousand anywhere else. The ver
She continues: “I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked” (NLT). “Praise the LORD!” says another psalm. “Let all that I am praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath” (Psalm 146:1-2;NLT).
The good things that God provides for us in this life are just a preview of what awaits us in heaven (1 Corinthians 2:9;Isaiah 64:4). A glorious future day is approaching when all the redeemed of the Lord will gather around the Lord’s table in His eternal house (Isaiah 25:6-9;Matthew 22:1-14;Luke 13:29-30;Revelation 19:9;Revelation 21:2-4). In heaven, as we dwell in the house of the Lord forever, we will enjoy full, uninterrupted communion with God «For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. », (1 Corinthians 13:12).
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