GOD'S DWELLING PLACE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Lord, remember David and all his self-denial. He swore an oath to the Lord, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

“I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:

“Let us go to His dwelling place, let us worship at His footstool, saying, ‘Arise, Lord, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests be clothed with Your righteousness; may Your faithful people sing for joy.’”

For the sake of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one. The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath He will not revoke:

“One of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever.”

For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling, saying, “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy. Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for My anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Psalm 132

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

It seems that every year there is a new threat against Israel and its capitol Jerusalem. Some group wishes to annihilate the chosen land and people of God. There lots of menacing rhetoric but the end result is still the same. Nothing ever comes to fruition.

Perhaps those who wish to destroy Israel would be better suited to read the 132nd Psalm first and then not waste their efforts. For as we read this Psalm of David, we’re reminded of what makes Jerusalem and Israel different than any other place in God’s creation. Look at these words:

Lord, remember David and all his self-denial. He swore an oath to the Lord, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

“I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:

“Let us go to His dwelling place, let us worship at His footstool, saying, ‘Arise, Lord, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests be clothed with Your righteousness; may Your faithful people sing for joy.’”

For the sake of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one. The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath He will not revoke:

“One of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever.”

For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling, saying, “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy. Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for My anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

No man dictates to God where He resides. God made everything and can choose to settle wherever He chooses. And as we read our scripture, we see that the Lord desired no other place than Zion, making it His resting place forever and ever. He selected it as His holy dwelling place and then not only abided there then but has abided there ever since.

Within this divine, sacred abiding, Jerusalem and Israel have been blessed. God promised it and He has delivered. He has never forsaken His people nor His resting place and He never will. Even when Christ returns and the reset button is set on all creation, the new dwelling place for Christ and those who placed their faith and hope in Him will be called none other than a new Jerusalem. Look at these words from Revelation:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

Friends, this is just one other beautiful part of believing and trusting in Jesus. Not only will we spend the rest of eternity with Him forever with no death or mourning or crying or pain but we will do so in the special and hallowed dwelling place of God.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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