Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah Psalm 84:4 (ESV)
The Amplified Bible renders Psalms 84:4 this way: “Blessed—happy, fortunate [to be envied]—are those who dwell in your house and your presence; they will be singing your praises all day long. Selah [pause; and calmly think of that].”
When a bride and groom become newlyweds they are bursting with excitement and expectation of how great things are going to be now that they are married. Much time has been spent preparing and moving into their new home and they are now settled in “till death do they part.” And then comes the time when they find out that a baby is on the way. They can’t wait to share the good news with family and friends; their family is growing. This house, this family that has been created by marriage has become a place of happiness, safety and provision.
Maybe the sons of Korah captured this excitement when they wrote, “How happy are those who dwell in your (God’s) house.” To dwell in God’s house means to sit down, to remain, to settle or to marry. God’s house is not a place of mere visitation it is a place of habitation. It is not a place that is visited occasionally but is dwelt in. God’s house is his family.
The Apostle Peter wrote, You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 ESV) The writer of Hebrews concurs by writing, But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:6 ESV)
Those who live in God’s house never want to leave (Psalm 23:6, 27:4). They are married to him (2 Corinthians 11:2), have taken on his name (Ephesians 3:14-15), and he lives with and in them; they dwell in his presence. Those who dwell in God’s house are continually, repeatedly praising him.
The Hebrew word for praising used in Psalms 84:4 is halal. Halal means to shine, to make a show, to boast; and thus be clamorously foolish; to rave and to celebrate. Why such extravagant praise from those dwelling in God’s house? They are satisfied with the fullness and goodness that being in God’s house provides (Psalm 36:8, 65:4). They are satisfied in being with God.
Are you living in God’s house? Are you always praising him?
Scriptures for meditation:
1 Corinthians 12:27
2 Corinthians 11:2
Ephesians 1:23; 5:23, 30
Colossians 1:18