“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psalm 90:1)
Some time ago, I drove past the house I had lived in when I was growing up. It’s 500 miles from where I live now, but it will always be home. Trees that I had climbed are still standing; the chimney for the fireplace I had loved is still in place; hedges I had trimmed still separate that homeplace from the neighbor’s. If I close my eyes, I can imagine the footpath meandering from the back yard down to the creek. In my mind, I tour the rooms, garden, and yard. Memories–whether ordinary or outstanding–return when I take such a tour.
Most of us have one place we think of as home. Moses was the same. For him, though, the homeplace was not a house filled with memories. It was, instead, a Person. The Lord God Himself was the very dwelling place for Moses and the chosen people of Israel. How can that be so? Psalm 90:1 gives us two key truths to show us how.
First, the verse begins with “Lord”, a reference to the ancient Hebrew name “Adonai”. It carries the meaning of rule, mastery, or sovereignty. The majesty and power of Adonai is so great that we have our very life in Him and from Him. In that sense, Psalm 90:1 tells us that He is so great that we actually dwell in Him. The verse tells us that there is amazing familiarity between the Lord and His subjects. As such, His subjects dwell in Him. It’s an abstract thought, but it points to the grandeur of our God. He cares for us so much that we dwell in Him as one who dwells in a beloved, familiar, welcoming home. As Psalm 107:4 tells of Israelites who “wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way” and “found no city to dwell in”, so Psalm 90:1 tells of Israelites who are so protected that the Lord houses them in Himself!
Second, dwelling in God is permanent. Though Israel was often unfaithful to God, her Lord never waivered. This is shown by a simple phrase in 90:1: “...in all generations”. God is so great that we dwell in Him. His greatness is so constant that we dwell in Him always (in all generations). Note that Moses is declaring this truth to God in prayer. He humbly confesses the greatness of the Lord. It is wonderful to have a Lord in whom we dwell. It is more wonderful still to have a Lord in whom we dwell in all generations. When doubt plagues you, remember the Lord in whom we dwell forever. When fear hinders you, remember the Lord in whom we dwell forever. In Him is the comfort of a homeplace that provides perfect sanctuary forever.
The New Testament counterpart to this sweet truth may be Matthew 11:28. There, the Lord Jesus invites us to come to HIM for rest. He doesn’t invite us to a religion, a ritual, or a system. He invites us to Himself with the same familiarity, power, and eternality with which Israel dwells in the Lord forever. There is no better homeplace!
