“Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart” Psalms 15:1-2 (ESV). What is the “holy hill”? The Psalmist, David, is referring to Mt. Zion where the tabernacle (forerunner of the temple) was situated. Inside the tabernacle was the holy of holies where God’s presence was more powerful than anywhere else on earth. So to dwell on the “holy hill” meant one was dwelling close to God; they would experience his presence. This was the most blessed state a person could hope for.
So who had the privilege of dwelling close to God? Those who live without patterns of damaging others, who do the right thing and embrace honesty in their heart. Isn’t this what God wants from us? In this way we are lights of the world, for the majority do not live this way. But isn’t this some form of earning God’s approval? Isn’t this righteousness through works? No. It is a promise to believers that they will find blessing if they live righteously. Jesus himself said that the pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8). James says “draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8, ESV). God’s Spirit dwells in us, but only those who pursue purity will experience the nearness of God.
Yet this is all encouraging. The promise is that those who live upright lives will have the privilege of dwelling close to God. Whether or not we see external blessings in this life, we have interior wealth that others only long for. In eternity God will reward us individually based on our lives (2 Cor. 5:10), magnify our interior blessings and place us in a new Garden of Eden to live with him forever.
How much do you desire to be someone who is dwelling close to God?
