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O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Psalm 15:1
Abide – David isn’t confused about being in the Lord’s presence, but we certainly will be if we follow this English translation. We will draw the conclusion that the follower who lives blamelessly has a permanent residence with God. That’s what we usually mean by “abide.” But that’s not what the Hebrew word gur means. Unless we shift our thinking, we will miss David’s insight – and we will never understand Jesus’ use of the same idea in John 15.
Gur actually means “to sojourn.” Of course, we aren’t very familiar with this idea today, so we need a little help. What it means is to dwell as a foreigner. The foreigner did not have permanent residence status. Technically, he was an illegal alien, camping on someone else’s land. Nevertheless, provisions were made for these travelers. They were allowed in the country as short- and long-term guests. That’s why the same verb used reflexively is about seeking hospitality. A foreigner needed the hospitality of the owner in order to remain in the land.
Now we see what David is really asking. His question is not about establishing a permanent residence in God’s presence. It is about the conditions needed for God (the host) to offer me (the foreigner) hospitality and a place to stay along my journey. I am an alien in God’s house. I come without the requisite holiness necessary to take up permanent residence. I have no claim on the land where I dwell. Unless God grants me access, I cannot remain in His company. This verse is not about settling down. It is about seeking shelter as an outsider.
In the next few verses, David tells us who qualifies for hospitality from God. We will want to pay close attention to these qualifications for, without them, we are not welcome guests. But even with the necessary qualifications, we are still only resident aliens. God’s hospitality may allow us to spend time in His presence, but that comes only as a result of His generosity, not because I have any intrinsic standing or worth. Do you see how powerful this little Hebrew verb really is? It subtly underlines the fact that it is all grace – God’s grace. In the midst of the Old Testament, we find another proclamation that God practices loving-kindness simply because He is compassionate and full of grace.
Now think about the way that Jesus uses this same word. John 15:4 begins His discussion of abiding with the thought that unless I abide in Him and He abides in me, I cannot bear fruit. Apply this Hebrew insight and you discover that Jesus is talking about a relationship of mutual hospitality. I must make room for Jesus to occupy my place, just as He makes room for me to occupy His place. Jesus’ commentary on the biblical use of gur shows me that the relationship of hospitality works in both directions. God’s allowance for me must be mirrored by my allowance for Him. Abiding takes on an additional element. It’s not simply that I occupy a place in God’s tent because of God’s graciousness toward me. I must do the same thing, allowing Jesus to become the resident foreigner in my life. Only then will I be productive because only then can we work together.
Start with David’s insight. See yourself for what you are. Then reciprocate with the Messiah. The results are guaranteed.
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