Dwell, Like a Guest in the Home of a Stereotypical Italian Mother

The end of the ancient poem titled Psalm 23 is unbelievably hopeful.

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Practically speaking, no, David wasn't blanketed with goodness and love alone from that moment on. And no, he didn't succeed at singularly living it out for the sake of others either. But I've been meditating on this passage lately and it's the second half that really got me.

"I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Dwell in the Lord's dwelling place with the Lord who dwells there.

To dwell, the word yasab in Hebrew, means to sit down, to remain, to abide for a time.

At the begining of the poem, the shepherd-king author paints the picture of being forced into a restful position beside a babbling brook and lush green grass.

"He makes me lie down...he leads me..."

Rabats is the word describing the process of crouching down for rest. Not so much forcing, but simply taking the opportunity. It's rooted in the Assyrian word rabasu, which simply means to dwell. Interesting.

It's a strange thought, though I think we all get it in real-time, the idea of being "made" to rest for a bit. While it's easy to read this poem through the lens of the modern era, you know, where we're so busy we don't even know it - I don't think "makes me lie down" is the best way to phrase it. Sorry NIV.

Check out the line after that, "he leads me beside quiet waters..."

The idea built into "leading" here is not just someone who is up front and in charge, but one who is guiding in order to care for. As if toward water for rest and refreshment.

So, when this shepherd leads, it's for the sole purpose of creating a safe enough space that genuine rest and genuine refreshment would be found. That followers would be safe at ease in the fetal position on a warm lawn with a cool glass of iced coffee and without fear.

You get it, right? The whole picture is one of dwelling in the strength and tenderness of the Lord's power. And the Lord's dwelling is both a spiritual-physical place out there in the heavens, but also right here in the body of believers now called the Church. The people of God are the living, breathing temple, or house of the Lord. We can find rest and refreshment right where we're at because Shepherd-King Jesus is guiding us toward refreshing emotional, mental, physical, and ultimately spiritual waters.

This has been a challenging and peace-fostering reality to reflect on lately.

He's guiding in such a way that by faith I'm inclined, encouraged, almost forced to lie down - the way a stereotypical Italian mom in every movie with a stereotypical Italian mom "gently" invites a guest to sit down and eat, right? She creates the space for the guest, gently guides them to the seat, passes the main dish, and all the while motioning to eat, saying, "Eat up! You're so thin. You're wasting away and of course you'll be hungry later. We have plenty. Mangia! Mangia!"

Isn't this where that "love" and "goodness" abound that we're all searching for this side of the eternal heavens?

I don't know about you, but not only do I not seek out this rest enough, I'll often feel undeserving of it when I do. I'll make excuses to stay busy. I'll feel guilty about those who aren't finding rest in Creator Jesus amid their chaos and pain and struggles. And sometimes I simply don't notice or remember the offer to rest...so I try to create a soft bed and a cool drink of my own. You? How's that working out?

To dwell.

To abide with the Son of God in his abode here and now with a love and goodness that surpasses understanding...though isn't always felt or understood.

All the more reason to attempt to lie down and rest in HIM more often, right?