It’s amazing! It’s too much to comprehend. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; and Colossians 17 and many other Scriptures that God has chosen us to be the dwelling place of His presence.
When the children of Israel wandered through the desert, God lived and walked with them, dwelling in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. Later when the temple was built, God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple. But there came a day when the thick curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. God was no longer hidden. Because of the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross to atone for our sins, He now dwells in His personally by the power of His Holy Spirit.
When God tells us that our bodies are now “the temple of the Holy Spirit” the word used for “temple” is the Greek word “naos.” That’s the word that was used for the Holy of Holies where God dwelt in His Shekinah glory. God now uses that word for us! Can you take it in? Surely this changes the way we live and act! And every moment in our homes.
But there’s even more. Psalm 74:7 calls the tabernacle of God’s presence “the dwelling place of thy name.” God is His name and all His name represents. His name is powerful, mighty, and awesome. His name is “goodness, merciful, gracious, longsuffering, truth, and forgiveness” (Exodus 33:19; 34:6,7) and the continuing revelation of His name all throughout the Scriptures. The more we understand of His name, the more we are awed at who He is. And yet this is the One who wants to dwell in us.
We read in Psalm 74:7 that the enemies of God defiled the “dwelling place of thy name” (by burning it with fire and casting it down to the ground). The word “defiled” means “to profane, to defile (originally referring to sexual defilement), to desecrate something which is holy.” The enemy of our souls tries to tempt us to defile our bodies in order to defame the name of God, but because we are bearers of His glory and His name, we seek after purity and righteousness.
Our God is a dwelling God. He not only wants to indwell our bodies, but our homes. He wants to fill them with His presence and all that His name represents. May our bodies and our homes be worthy of His presence.
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell