…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6b)
We have been looking at Psalm 23 for two months now, and we finally come to consider the grand concluding phrase.
Let’s remember that this psalm describes the events in a full year in the life of a sheep, told from the perspective of the shepherd. The entire psalm flows from the first verse—The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. The rest of the psalm describes how the Good Shepherd supplies the needs of those who know Him.
It is so important that you know the Lord Jesus. This does not come by nationality, pedigree, church membership, church affiliation, or church attendance. It is not produced by infant baptism, the Mass, confession to a priest, participation in the Eucharist/Communion, or any other religions activity.
Being a sheep of the Shepherd comes by one means only—repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are a child of God, if you have been washed in the blood, born again, forgiven, made righteous in God’s sight, then, and only then, are the promises of this psalm applicable to you.
Therefore, if you have not come in humility to the foot of the cross and claimed the gift of eternal life for your very own, purchased by the blood of the Son of God, who loves you and gave Himself for you, please do so now.
The last phrase of the verse says that the sheep will “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This is the hope God promises for those who know Him: Heaven, forever with the Lord.
There are only two alternatives. There is no Purgatory. There is no Limbo. It is heaven or hell. And the only way to heaven is through the crucified risen Lord Jesus.
Jesus has gone to heaven, preparing a place for us (John 14:1-4). In the imagery of the psalm, Fall has come, and the sheep have left the tablelands to return to the home ranch. As the sheep look back over the entire year cycle, they realize how good the Shepherd has been to them. They have no desire to leave this pleasant place and the tender care of the Good Shepherd. And the Shepherd is totally satisfied with the sheep.
Jesus is the only way into that sheepfold. I am the door of the sheep. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9).
As David looked back over his life, despite his sins and failures, the Lord had showered him with goodness and mercy.
Dwelling in the house of the Lord has three applications. The first is eternal security. Once you are His sheep, you are always His sheep. (John 10:27-29) Second, in eternity, his sheep will always be in His presence. This is what heaven is all about: the presence of the Lord without end. And third, heaven will be the eternal home of all who know Him. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelati 7:17).
Bless His name! Come to the Savior today if you have not done so. It is the only way to “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”