And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
God pledged to dwell continually among the children of Israel and be their God, expressing His covenant presence with them. The promise was given through Moses while Israel was encamped before Mount Sinai, and it was tied to the Exodus, so that they would know He had brought them out of Egypt in order to dwell among them. His dwelling presence made the tabernacle holy by His glory, making the sanctuary the visible center of the nation's worship.
By this dwelling He lifted Israel from slavery to be His peculiar treasure above all peoples, set apart from the world and entrusted with His law to preserve the knowledge of Himself among men. If true to that trust, they would become a power in the world under His wise and holy rule, defended and exalted above all other nations. Through them His light and truth would shine into a dark world, calling all peoples from idolatry to serve the living God and showing by example the superiority of His worship over every form of idolatry.
He fulfilled the promise throughout the wilderness wandering with great goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness as their Saviour, afflicted in all their affliction, saving them by the Angel of His presence, redeeming them in love and pity, and bearing and carrying them all the days of old. Though Israel repeatedly rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit, He in infinite mercy renewed the promise to keep His Spirit among them, to save and restore them, giving them reason not to fear. The same promise was renewed to the builders in Haggai's day and continues to His children today as assurance and incentive to faithful service, urging them to be strong and work because He is with them. The chapter containing the verse teaches His covenant with the people He seeks to save, showing the terms of salvation, the instruction He gives His people, and the education of greatest value.
God pledged to dwell continually among the children of Israel and be their God, expressing His covenant presence with them. The promise was given through Moses while Israel was encamped before Mount Sinai, and it was tied to the Exodus, so that they would know He had brought them out of Egypt in order to dwell among them. His dwelling presence made the tabernacle holy by His glory, making the sanctuary the visible center of the nation's worship.
By this dwelling He lifted Israel from slavery to be His peculiar treasure above all peoples, set apart from the world and entrusted with His law to preserve the knowledge of Himself among men. If true to that trust, they would become a power in the world under His wise and holy rule, defended and exalted above all other nations. Through them His light and truth would shine into a dark world, calling all peoples from idolatry to serve the living God and showing by example the superiority of His worship over every form of idolatry.
He fulfilled the promise throughout the wilderness wandering with great goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness as their Saviour, afflicted in all their affliction, saving them by the Angel of His presence, redeeming them in love and pity, and bearing and carrying them all the days of old. Though Israel repeatedly rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit, He in infinite mercy renewed the promise to keep His Spirit among them, to save and restore them, giving them reason not to fear. The same promise was renewed to the builders in Haggai's day and continues to His children today as assurance and incentive to faithful service, urging them to be strong and work because He is with them. The chapter containing the verse teaches His covenant with the people He seeks to save, showing the terms of salvation, the instruction He gives His people, and the education of greatest value.