Who May Dwell With the Lord?

      We sing a song, “Abide With Me.” It is a powerful song, praying God to stay with us in times of darkness and fear. We know we cannot make it alone and need the Lord’s presence to guide and comfort us. However, this begs the question, with whom does the Lord abide? Or, in the reverse, who may abide with the Lord?

      Psalm 15 provides the answer.

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness.

And speaks truth in his heart.

He does not slander with his tongue,

Nor does evil to his neighbor,

Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,

But who honors those who fear the Lord;

He swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He does not put out his money at interest,

Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken.

      The person with whom the Lord will dwell is first personally righteous. He walks with integrity, works righteousness and speaks truth even in his heart. Hypocrites will not dwell with God. The Lord dwells with those who are striving to dwell with Him through holiness. We cannot live however we want and then beg the Lord to abide with and protect us.

      The person with whom the Lord will dwell also maintains holiness in his relationships with others. He will not slander others, do evil to his neighbor or take up a reproach against his friends. Rather, he treats others with kindness, respect and love. The second greatest command is indeed to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

      Further, the person with whom the Lord will dwell is the one who has a proper perspective on other people. The reprobate is despised but those who fear the Lord are honored. The Lord will dwell with those who look up to the holy and spiritually minded. If we are honoring the famous in our world instead of the godly, we have little hope of living with the Lord.

      Finally, the one with whom the Lord will dwell is one who keeps the proper perspective about his own personal interests. He keeps his word, even when his word comes back to hurt him. He refuses to take advantage of his brethren by charging them interest in their time of need. He does not seek his own welfare at the expense of others by accepting bribes. The Lord will dwell with those who view others as more important than himself (cf. Philippians 2:3-4).

      The Lord will dwell with this person and he, or she, will never be shaken. We will stand steadfast with the Lord to strengthen us, even in the darkness.

Edwin L. Crozier