dwell: to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.
I think of the way man and woman were originally in the garden of Eden. We know that God is a relational God—the Bible literally says he IS love—and we were created in his image. Therefore, we were created to be in relationship too. We were created to dwell with God. As in, reside, live with, walk, talk, with God. How cool is that?!
That’s how it was at first, but then sin got in the way. Sin is the biggest problem in this equation, because God is also perfect, and won’t sacrifice any part of his character. He can’t be in the presence of imperfection. Sin throws a wrench into our entire purpose and design, which is utterly heartbreaking. But the rest of the Bible is all about God gradually making a way back to himself, doing away with sin, while perfectly maintaining our free will and his standard of holiness.
When I think about the problem of sin, though it’s terrible, it’s even worse to think about God being “less than” Himself. It sounds terrifying, frankly, to exist in a world with an imperfect God. Whom could I trust? Whom would I follow?
PART ONE
So step one in this plan of redemption begins with Abraham. God makes some big promises to him—that he would become the father of a nation in a new land (Canaan). Abraham is also mentioned in the famous “hall of fame” Hebrews 11 passage. It’s interesting that in verse 10, it says
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
So Abraham was looking forward to a specific city, one created and built by God. It’s interesting because the story of God’s dwelling place takes place in the one city throughout the Bible: Jerusalem.
Jerusalem officially comes into play with King David, one millennium later. Abraham’s family has become the nation of Israel. David and his army have conquered the city of Jerusalem and David decides to make it the capital of Israel. (Often the name Zion is used instead; this is referring to the mountain on the southern part of Jerusalem.)
Psalm 132
In the first part of the Psalm, David is preoccupied with building a temple for God. Up until this point, the Israelites had been using a tabernacle (moveable tent) to house the ark of the covenant (God’s presence). God responds by making a promise to David that his line would be on the throne forever (v. 11-12)
Then, he says (v. 13-14):
For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
This is a big promise. God is making his home, his dwelling, with the people of Israel, specifically David’s line. This would eventually be represented by the temple built. But also, God is promising that Jerusalem/Zion would be his dwelling place “for ever and ever” because he desires it. He desires more than anything to dwell with his people eternally. Sound familiar?
So David made the plans for the temple, but Solomon his son is the one to build it in 959 BC. God reiterates this idea of living among the Israelites in Jerusalem. They won’t be abandoned. He makes a way through the temple.
How the temple worked: The Holy of Holies was a small room in the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. The high priest entered once a year to atone for the sins of Israel. An extremely thick, ornate curtain shielded the room. The high priest would have to through all these cleansing rituals ahead of time. They would tie a rope around the waist of the priest, just in case he dropped dead in the presence of God’s holiness. This was serious stuff.
So in this way, God has established a city for him to dwell, within the confines of temple. But he’s definitely not walking and talking with the Israelites. Sin is still presenting a problem.
BUT he also is reminding Solomon that a greater way is coming. In verse 12, God references his promise about the Messiah coming from David and Solomon’s line.
PART TWO
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14
Almost 1000 years later, God takes dwelling a step closer by putting on flesh and living in Israel with his people. Becoming human was the only way he could be in the presence of sin while maintaining his holy standard.
In John 2:19, Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders, and he says, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus is literally calling himself the temple (though the Jews didn’t understand at the time). He’s identifying himself as the new temple, the way God had come to dwell among us.
But, just like the temple, he’s limited.
He never used his power for himself– He’s fully man: he has to eat, sleep, travel. He can only be in one place at one time. He can only speak to one crowd at a time. He can only disciple a select few. If you look at a map of his ministry, Jesus doesn’t really travel very far.
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Matthew 27:50-51
At the moment he dies, that super-thick curtain tears, and God’s presence in the temple is opened up to all people. Jesus is destroying the old way.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body. Hebrews 10:19-20
We can confidently enter the presence of God without worrying about sin getting in the way. Jesus dealt with the problem of sin in us, when we put our faith in him. We receive his righteousness and can now have a relationship with him.
PART THREE
Jesus introduces part three of God’s dwelling before he ascends to heaven.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
He specifically tells them to wait in Jerusalem! He wants his disciples to understand the significance of the Holy Spirit—God has come to dwell within believers. Sin no longer stands in his way when it comes to our hearts. With the Spirit, we receive gifts and revelations, we can pray and commune with God, we can understand his Word. God isn’t limited to one place anymore—he dwells with the body of the church.
Our purpose (of dwelling with God) is fulfilled when we can commune through the Spirit.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19
We are called temples. We are indwelt with his presence. But why wasn’t this the design in the first place? We still live in a fallen world. God can’t dwell in a place tainted with sin, even though he’s dealt with the sin in believer’s hearts.
PART FOUR
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, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be 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
God has come to dwell with his people in New Jerusalem. Verse 3 is quoting Leviticus 26, the book that describes all the rules and regulations of being a priest in the tabernacle. This is God’s plan from the beginning!
Jerusalem is made totally new—equated to a bride uniting with a groom. God and his people: a perfect, eternal union.
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. Revelation 21:22
God IS the temple! There isn’t any need for priests or sacrifices or temples. Jerusalem is the restored Eden—this is how we were designed to live.
This is the ending God has been working towards since the beginning of time.
This is the city that Abraham looked forward to, one with its foundations and architect is God.
This is where David’s line sits on the throne forever.
This is Zion that Isaiah talked about. Sin is done away with forever, and nothing can separate us from dwelling with God for eternity.
