And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever— i.e. "In return to thee for these thy favours and blessings, I will be as constantly in the tabernacle at the hours of divine service, as if it were my ordinary abode." Thus it is said of Anna the prophetess, that she departed not from the temple, Luke 2:37. Instead of for ever, many render it after the Hebrew ימים לארךֶ leorech yamim to length of days.
REFLECTIONS.—The design of God's word is, to encourage the faith, enliven the hope, and quicken the obedience of his people. In the psalm before us, he appears in a character most amiable and engaging, as feeding the flock of his pasture, whom he bought with his blood. The Lord is my shepherd, may every believer say; mine, because I am his, dearly purchased and tenderly beloved: I shall not want; how can I, when out of his fulness I receive, who is able to do exceeding abundantly for me, above all I can ask or think; and whose love inclines him to supply me according to the exceeding greatness of his power? My body he will feed with food convenient for me, and my soul he will supply according to the riches of his grace. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, where faith feeds upon the great and precious promises of Jesus, ever affording the sweetest repast; and, in his blessed ordinances, finds meat to eat that the world knoweth not of. There he maketh me to lie down,—me whom, when a wanderer on the world's barren mountains, he kindly led to these verdant fields, where now I find a quiet resting-place, lie down with pleasing composure, because of my shepherd's care, and fear no guilt to embitter my portion, no enemy to disturb my repose. He leadeth me beside the still waters, the waters of Shiloah, that go softly, flowing from the rock of Christ, cooling the thirst which the remembrance of past sin or present temptation causes, and filling the soul with consolations unspeakable and glorious, like the source from whence they flow. He restoreth my soul, when fierce disease or deep decay threatens my ruin; or, when, foolishly wandering from the shepherd's care, my erring footsteps turn aside, his watchful eye is over me, his tender hand stretched out to save me, to heal the sickness of my soul, to restore the joys that I once was wont to find, and with fresh vigour to refresh my fainting heart. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, points out my way, holds up my goings, and enables me to walk upright before him, in that highway of holiness which leads to eternal glory; for his name's sake, as an act of unmerited grace and favour, displaying in me a sinner the riches of his glory. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the deepest distresses of afflicting providences, or that unknown dark and dangerous road, at the prospect of which mortality shrinks back, and sense shudders, I will fear no evil; dark as the shadows are spread over it, deep as the valley lies, long and terrible as to nature's view the road appears, my faith from far discerns the beams of glorious light, my soul dares boldly step into the grave, assured there to find the golden gates of life and immortality. For thou art with me, thou who hast before passed the dreadful shade, shall guide me safely through. Thy rod, under which I have passed, and been sealed, and thy staff of promises; they comfort me, make me more than conqueror over all my fears. O, death, where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory? behold a worm of earth, a sinful worm of earth, braving thy stroke, and triumphing in my fall. Thou preparest a table before me; while here below I sojourn, I want no manner of thing that is good, either for my body or my soul; thy liberal hand opens and fills me with plenteousness, and this even in the presence of mine enemies, who in vain seek to distress or embitter the portion that thou dost bestow: thou anointest my head with oil, that oil of gladness and joy a stranger intermeddleth not with; a joy, the earnest of that bliss above; when, crowned with glory, I shall sit down at thy festal board in heaven; and my cup runneth over with mercies more than I can tell, flowing from the rivers of endless bliss at thy right hand for evermore. Surely goodness and mercy, such as I have already tasted, goodness so beyond all desert, and mercy so free and boundless, shall follow me all the days of my life; like those welcome streams which in the parched desart followed Israel's camp, so every morning shall new mercies surround me; to-morrow shall be as to-day; yea, much more abundant, deeper and sweeter shall be the stream, the farther on time's rapid wings I am borne, till, launching forth into the ocean of eternity, my blessedness shall be complete, and I shall be filled with all the fulness of God. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever; dwell there, where, without a vail, irradiation from the eternal Three shall dart unutterable joys into my glorified spirit, transformed into the image of the God whom I behold; and near his throne, high and lifted up, where bright angelic hosts, his train, fill the vast temple with his glory, my happy lot shall be to dwell, to dwell for ever; his love my all-sufficient portion, and my happy labour everlasting praise. Be this, Lord, my wished for rest for ever; here let me dwell, for I have a delight therein!