Living on God’s Mountain
Today we had a “snow day.” We had at least four inches of snow. Debbie was out on calls, but able to come home early. I was able to get some work done on the final manuscript of my book and look forward to its submission to the publisher.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?” PsalmĀ 15:1 HCB
David in Psalm 15 and 24 ask a similar question, “Who can live on Your holy mountain?” (Psa. 15:1 HCSB) “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?” (Psa. 24:3 HCBS)
In Israel’s history we see the Lord appearing to Moses on Mount Sinai in a cloud and fire. Moses and the elders travel up the mountain to meeting with God. The people are warned to stay away from the mountain or face God’s judgment. Later when the Temple would be built we find that the holiness of the Lord created a separation from the holiness of God and the people. The Temple curtain created a barrier to the presence of God.
The response to the question, “who can live on Your holy mountain?” reveals the need for clean hands, a clean heart, a mind not set on falsehood, and a list of character qualities that no one can consistently or completely possess.Ā The promise to those who “qualify” is they will receive, “…blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psa. 24:5 HCSB)
No one in themselves qualifies. But just as the Lord provided a path to righteousness through the law of Moses on Mount Sinai, the Lord established another covenant on “Mount Calvary.”Ā Through faith in Christ we are forgiven and declared righteous by God’s provision. As a result, we can know and experience blessing from the Lord and the righteousness that comes from God. So, instead of fear concerning the presence of the Lord, we can respond with the psalmist,
“How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord of Hosts. I long andĀ yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psa. 84:1,2 NIV)
We can also anticipate the day when the Lord brings His dwelling to us,
“I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.Ā Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! Godās dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:2,3 HCSB)