Psalm 23:6?

[Van]

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NASB95)

According to Hebrews 11:39 the Old Testament "saints" did NOT receive the "promise" but had to wait to be made perfect. I believe Psalm 23:6 presents the promise in view, I (David) will dwell in the house of the Lord.

Once individually chosen to be saved, a person under the Old Covenant, was certain God's blessings and protection would be in close proximity. And they understood that in the future, they would be with God.

Some translations of this verse (Psalm 23:6) translate will dwell as will remain suggesting the promise had been fulfilled, but I believe such translations are mistranslations. See NOG or RGT or YLT for example.

Another passage that also indicates the Old Covenant promise of being with God is Psalm 73:24-25.

Therefore the following is one view of how this promise has been fulfilled:

1) When a chosen individual under the Old Covenant physically died, their human spirit was taken to Abraham's bosom, and NOT to the abode of God, the third Heaven. Luke 16:22

2) The saints held "captive" in this place of comfort had to wait until Christ died. Hebrews 11:39-40 They were still "captives" because their sin had been "covered" but not yet "removed" by the washing of regeneration.

3) When Christ physically died on the cross, providing the means of reconciliation for humanity, including the "saints" in Abraham's bosom, He descended into the lower regions of the earth to Abraham's bosom. 1 John 2:2, Ephesians 4:8-9.

4) There, at Abraham's bosom, He preached to the spirits held there as captives, in prison. These were the Old Covenant saints, such as Noah. 1 Peter 3:18-20.

5) Once all of the captives put their trust in Christ, He took captive the captives, and brought them to Heaven. Ephesians 4:8.

6) Thus God's Old Covenant promise of Psalm 23:6 has been fulfilled.​

 

[Ascetic X]

I do not disagree, but here is another viewpoint.

Psalm 23:6 Literal Standard Version

Surely goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, And my dwelling [is] in the house of YHWH, For [the] length of [my] days!

Sometimes “forever” can be translated “for a long time” or “for my entire life”.

Some scholars question if Old Testament people grasped the idea of eternal life after death.

“Dwell" implies a permanent residence, suggesting a deep, ongoing relationship with God. The "house of the LORD" refers to the temple, the central place of worship and God's dwelling among His people. It can stand as a metaphor for being conscious of God’s presence.

In David's time, this immediate divine presence would have physically been the tabernacle, and later the temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing God's personal activity and the place where His glory resided.

The concept of dwelling in God's house forever points to an eternal communion with God, transcending the temporal limitations of earthly life.

This is further illuminated in the New Testament, where believers are described as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and Jesus speaks of preparing a place for His followers in His Father's house (John 14:2-3). The eternal aspect of this promise aligns with the hope of eternal life and the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom, as prophesied in passages like Isaiah 25:6-8 and Revelation 21:3-4, where God dwells with His people in a renewed creation.

 

[37818]

Ephesians 4:8, Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

2 Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.