God’s House
Have you noticed how looking at something from a different angle can give an entirely fresh perspective? I experience the same new and freshness when I read a familiar bible passage from a different translation.
Recently, for our morning readings, Leigh Anne and I have been reading from the Jerusalem Bible. My campus minister at Auburn gave me a copy of the Jerusalem Bible, Reader’s Edition, for Christmas in 1982.
This morning, we read the 23rd Psalm and I had a wow moment as I reflected on the last verse. I’m most familiar with the King James Version of this psalm which concludes,
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. - (Psalms 23:6)
I suppose I Christianized this text and always considered dwelling in the house of the Lord for ever as something that will happen after I pass from this life to the everlasting life.
Here’s the Jerusalem Bible’s reading of Psalm 23:6- “Ah, how goodness and kindness pursue me, every day of my life; my home, the house of Yahweh, as long as I live!”
After reading this translation, I was struck with the fact that I’m living today and every day in God’s house.
“My home, the house of Yahweh, as long as I live!”
I don’t know about you but when I’m staying at another person’s home, I treat if differently than my home. I tend to be neater and make sure I leave everything exactly as I found it. I respect what this homeowner has done to provide this place for me. I also look around the house to observe how the different pictures and other decorative items give me glimpses of understanding about the owner.
When I change my perspective to see every day as I’m living in God’s house, I look differently at all aspects of God’s creation discovering fresh insights into God’s character. I also become more focused on how I’m treating his house knowing that this concern shows my respect for God.
In the 16th century, protestant reformer, Martin Luther wrote, “God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars”. --Martin Luther (1483-1546)
His contemporary, John Calvin stated, “The creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite and the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells us of God.”
As you walk and move around in God’s house today, what does He show you? What do you learn about God? How are you showing respect to God for the way you care for his house, his creation?
At some point today, walk outside and say with the psalmist, “My home, the house of Yahweh, as long as I live!”