“This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.” Psalm 68:16
a. The dwelling place of God can be anywhere
b. Jerusalem is affirmed as God’s choice of His dwelling place
2. A place that was a symbol
a. God chose a mountain as His dwelling place
“A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;” Psalm 68:15
b. The mountain is symbolic
i. Strength
ii. Majesty
3. A place that belongs to God
a. It is His mountain
b. The mountain is possessed by the Lord
4. A place that is blessed and prosperous
a. The mountain of Bashan
“A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks?” Psalm 68:15,16
b. Jerusalem may be compared with the mountain of Bashan
5. A place that is holy and secure as Sinai
“The LORD is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place” Psalm 68:17
a. The protection of the Lord’s Holy Place
b. Same protection given to Jerusalem
A DEEP APPRECIATION OF GOD IN HIS DWELLING PLACE (Psalm 48)
1. The greatness of God (Psalm 48:1-2)
a. Focus first on the greatness of God
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.”
b. He is our great King
“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”
2. The presence of God
“God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.” Psalm 48:3
a. The focus is not on the physical but the invisible…the presence of God.
b. God dwells in the palaces
3. The establishing of the city by God (Psalm 48:8)
a. The city is called by different names
b. It is God who will establish the city forever
4. The lovingkindness of God
“We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple.” Psalm 48:9
a. Dwelling on thoughts of God
b. Focusing on the lovingkindness of God
5. The righteousness of God
“According to Your name, O God; so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.” Psalm 48:10
a. The Lord’s right hand is a reference to His rule
b. He is full of righteousness in His rule
APPLICATION TO ALL FATHERS ON FATHER’S DAY
1. Inspired by the dwelling place of God
2. Inspired as fathers to pass on to the next generation
“Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following.” Psalm 48:12-13
a. As fathers to our children
b. Sharing of our personal understanding of Bethany as the dwelling place of
God
c. Inspire them to respond to the dwelling place of God
i. A personal declaration of God for the family
“For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.” Psalm 48:14