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It has been remarked that we have Moses presented to us in three aspects - as poet (see his song at the Red Sea); as preacher (see Deuteronomy and elsewhere); and as a man of prayer (see the closing verses of this psalm). These three characters are not often combined, but when they are they make the subject of them very powerful with God for man, and with man for God. And the secret of his eminence in each character was that his spirit's home was in God. Note -

I. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? How can the Lord be our Dwelling place?

1. It is evident that a spiritual dwelling place is meant. It is not a material habitation, such as the body needs, but one for the spirit of man.

2. And the Lord is such a Dwelling place for our spirits. For if we be such as Moses was, men of God, then God will be our spirits' home, because there they continually abide. Christ said, "Abide in me," and this they do, as a man's home is his dwelling place. And chiefly because it is there he not only dwells, but loves to dwell. Home is not a mere place: it is only home when love dwells there. A man's habitation may be a hell for him, and it will be if it be without love. But it is his home when his affections centre there, when it contains those whom he dearly loves, and who in like manner love him. Then, whether rich or poor, great or small, a palace or a pauper's hut, it is yet his home. Now, God is the home of his people, not alone because they do dwell there, but because they love to dwell there (cf. Psalm 63; Psalm 43:3, 5).

3. For in God there is rest for our intellects. Even unbelievers have recognized this. A French philosopher in the days of the Revolution said, "If it could be shown that there was no God, we should have to invent one." They felt that for the satisfaction of the understanding God was a necessity. In him we can see the adequate Cause and Creator of all things, and in his wisdom and power and goodness the mind finds rest.

4. And in him also there is met the cravings of our affections. Even the contemplation of God in his spiritual attributes, in his exalted character, has been found to be full of delight to God's servants; but how much more when he is revealed to us in Christ! Then the heart goes out to him in a great rush of affection, as it beholds his infinite purity and goodness and love as these are seen in Christ our blessed Redeemer. The heart of the believer gazes upon him until it grows toward him as the flowers grow toward the sun.

5. And the will - that lordliest faculty of our nature - finds in him its Inspiration, Strength, and Guide, and loves to lose itself in the will of God. Thus is the Lord our Dwelling place, our spirit's Home, where it dwells, and loves to dwell.

II. WHO ARE THEY THAT DWELL IN GOD? St. John, in his First Epistle, lays down the marks of these blessed ones.

1. They are they who dwell in love. (1 John 4:16.) He who loveth not his brother cannot dwell in God, nor God in him.

2. They who possess the Spirit of God. (1 John 4:13.)

3. They who openly confess him. (1 John 4:15.)

4. They who keep his commandments. (1 John 3:24.) Thus may we test our right to say, "Lord, thou hast been our Dwelling place."

III. WHAT COMES OF THIS DWELLING IN HIM?

1. The unity of God's people.

2. The world's conversion, when it sees all God's people thus united (John 17:21).

IV. HOW CAN WE ENTER INTO AND ABIDE IN THIS BLESSED HOME? (John 14:6.) Christ is the Way. Give yourselves up to him. - S.C.

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KJV: {A Prayer of Moses the man of God.} Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

WEB: Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.