Dwelling – Psalms 23 Part 29 – 2025.04.26 – Mission Communities Network

Psalms 23:6 (KJV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

What is it to dwell?

The free dictionary defines it as:

1. to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.

2. to exist or continue in a given condition or state.

3. (of a moving tool or machine part) to be motionless for a certain interval during operation.

4. dwell on or upon, to think, speak, or write about at length or with persistence; linger over.

Strong defines their word used here in the Psalm as:

H3427 (Strong)

יָשַׁב

yâshab

yaw-shab’

A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry: – (make to) abide (-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit (-ant), make to keep [house], lurking, X marry (-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set (-tle), (down-) sit (-down, still, -ting down, -ting [place] -uate), take, tarry.

Have a read of Psalms 91. It starts of with:

“Psalms 91:1 (KJV) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Dwelling is closely related to abiding. When we dwell somewhere it is our main residence, like a permanent address.

Imagine the LORD GOD Almighty wants us to dwell in His presence continually.

When we are born again by the Spirit of GOD we have GOD dwelling in us. His presence is there all the time. “John 14:16-18 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”.

Therefore let us be encouraged always to set our mind on the things above and be aware that we are dwelling in Him and He is us.

“John 15:4-5 (KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Have a look at this devotion for more on dwelling:

https://missioncommunities.network/2024/10/27/where-do-we-dwell-2024-10-27/

Here are the previous devotions on Psalms 23:

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/22/my-shepherd-psalms-23-part-1-2025-03-22/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/24/green-pastures-psalms-23-part-2-2025-03-23/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/25/green-pastures-psalms-23-part-3-2025-03-25/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/26/green-pastures-psalms-23-part-4-2025-03-26/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/27/lie-down-psalms-23-part-5-2025-03-27/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/28/leading-2025-03-28/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/29/lie-down-in-green-pastures-psalms-23-part-7-2025-03-29/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/03/31/beside-still-waters-psalms-23-part-8-2025-03-30/

https://missioncommunities.network/2025/04/01/soul-restoration-psalms-23-part-9-2025-04-01/