By Rev. Daniel Yaw

Introduction
This is my conclusion on the meditation on Psalm 23.  The last statement that King David made was that he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever – “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Reading this statement, we inevitably ask the question – is that possible?  David is still alive and in fact, he was still a young lad during the time he was writing these words.  What did he mean?

In Psalm 27, he expressed the same desire – one single passion of David that he sought after.  Only one thing that he sought, and that is his desire to be in the house of the Lord forever, to inquire in his temple and to gaze upon his beauty.
So what does that mean?  Two main thoughts came to my mind as I read those words.

Inhabit
The word “dwell”, means to inhabit, to stay for good, and to be at home.  When King David started the psalm, his theme was that Jehovah God would be his Shepherd who would walk with him.  And then he ended by saying that he wants to walk with this Shepherd all the days of his life.

He found the preciousness of such a Shepherd and he would not let Him go.  Thus, he made this statement.

From our perspective today – it is indeed possible as it is promised where David looked forward in faith.  Jesus promised his presence with us, never to leave us nor forsake us.  And if God is for us, indeed there is nothing that can come against us.

Based on what he revealed that goodness and mercy shall follow him, he knows therefore that he will be in the presence of God forever.

The house here simply means the Tabernacle, the place of worship and the presence of God.  As his desire to be in God’s presence goes, he has decided that it would be his home as well.  To inhabit the presence of God was his one pursuit in life.

In praise
What would one do in the presence of God?  It is a place of praise indeed to the Almighty and yet passionate God.  In Psalm 27, he mentioned two things namely, to inquire in his temple and to behold his beauty.

These two things talk about the ability to find counsel in God – to trust in God’s direction, to depend on God’s wisdom, to allow his word, his command, and even his rebuke to govern his life.  That is what it means to inquire in his temple.  To know that God is always there when I need Him.  Is that not what we all desire?  How often I wished my God would just tell me what to do with my life and ministry.

The other aspect is to behold his beauty – or to bring our adoration to him.  When I think of home, coming home is a joy.  We have this phrase, “Home sweet home”, meaning that this is the most comforting place at the end of a hard’s day work.  We often hear ourselves saying, “Nothing like home!”  I hope that is true of most of us.  Today, we know that many men would avoid going home.  How sad when it is no longer home sweet home.  What do we find ourselves doing when we cannot find our home sweet?  I know that what we will find ourselves doing is either unpleasant or unrighteous.

However, when we know we have a wife who is waiting to serve us, a place where we can unburden ourselves, and find good food and company – indeed it will be “home sweet home”.  That is what David meant as well.  To be in the house of God in praise because we have a God who fills our hearts with peace and joy.

Conclusion
May his psalm be such an encouragement to all of you and bring true comfort, not just being read at funeral services but filling our hearts at all times.  Yes, it may always be an all-time favorite psalm because of the Shepherd we have.  Stay blessed in the presence of God.