Psalms 68:6

United States
November 2, 2012 5:16pm CST
I came across this verse in my daily Bible study and would like to know how others might interpret its meaning: '...God makes a home for the lonely....' In context, the verse seems to imply that it is the 'mansion' He has gone to prepare for us. The verse above (Psalms 68:5) says '...a father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation....' That would be great. However, I happen to be praying right now for a physical house in which to live, a place to work (I work in a nursing home), and restoration of estranged family members. I would love to use the scripture to believe that it is a promise that I can believe that God will fulfill for me here on earth. Any ideas?
5 people like this
12 responses
@pecito (303)
• Bulgaria
3 Nov 12
God knows better than you if he should fulfill than for you here on earth or not. Sometimes we long for something and when we get it we realize that it's not what we wanted. As Mother Theresa says, we shed tears for our fulfilled dreams instead for the dreams that never came true. So if you do not have a house, or a place to work maybe that's the way it should be-it's a test of courage and faith that you need to go through. Everything in life happens for a reason.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Nov 12
Perhaps that is true. I am not ungrateful for where I am in life...I am just longing for other fulfillment. I have a place to stay, I am not homeless so I am already better off than many in the world. I have a place to work, but it is temporary and I desire stability. I know, many have no job or are considered the working poor. I think I like your advice, and I will be content and wait to see what God will do.
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
3 Nov 12
I usually don't read other comments (for lack of time), but I did scroll down on this one and saw pecito's response. I agree with it. I would like to add to things though. Finding a place for the lonely can also be understood in that when some surrender to Christ, their own family sometimes turns their backs on them. However, the disciple in Christ has a new family, spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ. My parents only had two children. I have a sister but no brother. However, when I surrendered to Christ I realized I had millions of brothers! The other thing is from what I have experience for situations like this a verse becomes "ours" so to speak for a given situation only if God by the Holy Spirit tells us so.
• United States
3 Nov 12
Thank you PastorP for your taking the time to repond. I seem to be going through that proverbial 'valley' in my life right now where I think of the scripture every day '....joy comes in the morning...' and keep wondering which morning it will be that joy will come. I guess it's the same as the need for a home, a stable income, and a 'family' for my home. Since the work God has provided for me so far involves about 99% travel and I've been in the career since 1999, it seems that everything in my life is transient. I felt the verse did become mine as I read that verse...and I'm sure I've read it many, many times since my new birth in 1984. So I thing I'll just claim it as God speaking to me and that He will provide that home, in all its definitions, for me and soon.
@jdalaqui (1073)
• Philippines
5 Nov 12
If you are a believer in the Lord having a personal relationship with Him in Christ Jesus alone then you are His son and you can call Him your Father. That's the only time you can call Him a Father.
@jdalaqui (1073)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
HI house mate, it's been a long time since I did not visited my lot. You have differentiated wants and needs here and you made it clear that God really gives what we need.
• United States
10 Nov 12
I certainly do believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He does provide for me. I may not get all my wants, but I know that I will get all my needs.
@livewyre (2450)
4 Nov 12
I don't think the meaning is quite as you have interpreted it. I took a look at the New International Version of the Bible and it says 'God sets the lonely in families', and as you can see it follows the verse that says that God is a Father to the fatherless, defender of widows... Basically this verse is saying that God will provide for those that need his protection - but that doesn't mean he will grant our desires, he will however meet our NEEDS. When you read the whole passage in context, it is clear that it is talking about God as a protector - that is better than a God who just provides four walls and a door. Now this should not discourage you from continuing in your prayer requests, as long as you are listening to God as well as petitioning - God promises us what we ask for in his will, but we need to understand God's will in order to ask for the right things. I would encourage you to keep praying for what you need, and also to pray for the needs of others around you.
@livewyre (2450)
5 Nov 12
'Waiting upon the Lord' is a great response - I think it is also important to regularly give thanks for what God does for us on a daily basis. I have had my needs met and exceeded time after time. It is only when we become truly helpless that we really begin to appreciate the protection that God gives us. We tend to get 'comfortable' and begin to rely on ourselves too much - God wants us to rely on Him and trust Him for protection.
• United States
4 Nov 12
I will look on line for the other versions of the Bible to study verses. That's a great idea and I think will help my understanding. I like the different interpretation that you suggested. I know that God gives good gifts and I believe that He cares for us. Since part of my desire was to have family, then I'm very excited that you also interpreted to verse to mean that He is a protector and it can be more than just the four walls and a door. Very exciting to wait upon the Lord to see what He will do on my behalf and the behalf of others.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
4 Nov 12
That is referring to a spiritual home. However, God does make a way for people to find a place to live and a way to make money in order to avoid the place to live. HE will not give it to you by using magic. But HE will give you opportunities. You may find a job (there is a proverb -God helps those who help themselves (not referring to stealing , of course) and that means that God will impact in your heart a desire to look more earnestly and to perhaps cause your feet to go to a place where you will find a job. HE will then make you desire to save money to get that new place. You just have to trust HIM.
• United States
4 Nov 12
I think that what God has uncovered in my heart for me to see in searching the meaning of this verse was what I had hidden from myself. I have found that I need to trust God to supply the funds for the home to live in. I found that I have fear left because of being homeless before. I'm going to go in faith and take a chance and see what God will do.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
5 Nov 12
I find it hard to trust and wait patiently. I have always believed that the worse would happen and also that someone by his words said negatively can cause God to birng disaster on me - for instance, someone saying that I should not have bought the ipad and then God listening to him even though I intended to use the Ipad for good and not for silly things. It is like I have to get rid of that fear, either of the powr of superstition and realize that God is more powerful then all the forces of evi and that HE does listen to my prayers.
@luanakent (794)
• Brazil
3 Nov 12
Prosperity is God's gift. sometimes we confuse ourselves with what is prosperity but have faith. God does not abandon His children. I never saw a child of God begging bread. Life is strange... sometimes we are well and ( admittedly) we want more. We shoud also be careful with the desires that can be easyly ground into traps of the devil. A person who receives an offer of a better job, for example, before accepting Must pray and ask for guidance. as in ancient times when the king prayed for guidance about what to do, so we do. maybe a better job can take more of our time and finally have no more time to go the house of God. pray and have faith.God knows all the things. the gifts of God not away the children of the Word.
• United States
4 Nov 12
Yes, I believe the scripture that says that God gives good gifts to His children. I guess I should examine the motive to determine why I think I am entitled to, or why I would pray to God to ask for these things. I agree that I would not want to change anything if it were not God's will for my life. I can think of nothing worse than to not have peace that I was centered in God.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
3 Nov 12
Yeah with faith as little as mustard seed can move mountains. what you want god will bless you with it if you have pure heart. he is there and is watching us. he wants us to open out mouth and ask him. good one..Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
• United States
3 Nov 12
Thanks for the response. It is true that He wants us to ask. I think of one of the scriptures that says that ...He will withhold no good thing from those who love Him... I don't think this makes God a genie in a lamp and that He just spouts out whatever you ask. But I do think that our asking is humbling ourselves and acknowledging that there are some things that only He can do for us and that we make that our expectation.
@MandaLee (3756)
• United States
3 Nov 12
Hi, God will provide for you in His time according to His purpose for your life. I will keep you in my prayers. Have a great day!
• United States
3 Nov 12
Thanks for the prayers. It is almost too much to wrap my mind around that there is someone who doesn't even know me, but read my post and is praying for me. Thank you for that encouragement.
• United States
3 Nov 12
This question may very well be one of the age-old unanswered variety. I think when David wrote the Psalm he was thinking very literal real fathers, fatherlessness and judges etc...And sure there are some eternal implications as well. As for me - if every promise is for the "hereafter" why bother here? You know? I think I get frustrated having to wait on God. (not that we should not wait on Him...) but if He is not a God for us here... what good does He do us in eternity?
• United States
3 Nov 12
Yeah! Since God is not a respected of persons, then perhaps it is a verse that I can put hope in for a home to live in, a permanent home to work in, and a 'family' in both those locations! If he literally did it for David, I will believe for myself. You are right...I won't need a home to live in nor a home to work in nor family in eternity.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
3 Nov 12
I believe that God prepares for all of us. It is his promise to us that is something to hold onto throughall the trials and joys of life.
• United States
3 Nov 12
Thank you. I really hoped that I could claim that Word and hold onto it and look for God's fulfillment. I didn't want to twist the Word just for selfish purposes and because it was something I desired. I realize that the Word says God gives us the desires of our heart...but that leaves me wondering if He plants those desires into our heart and we become aware of them or if we conceive of the desire and then He gives them to us if they are in line with His Word.
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
3 Nov 12
its good to hear i have not heard about psalms,but it was very informative for sure
• United States
3 Nov 12
Thank you for responding. The Psalms is in the Christian Bible and it is often compared to a Book of Songs or Poetry. I would be curious if you have such a book in your religion?
@edvc77 (2140)
• Philippines
3 Nov 12
I think that verse implies that "God has prepared a mansion for us and that is the home in heaven,"the Holy habitation." I think God is comforting you that you have a home is HIs heart and someday be with Him in heaven above. God is good. It is written, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you." God Bless!
• United States
3 Nov 12
yep...I think I'd much rather be in His heart than in any home here on earth. It would be just a little attitude adjustment to change my focus from that which is temporary to that which is eternal. I'll certainly look forward to that home with Him in eternity.
@jona777 (78)
• China
3 Nov 12
“If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do,but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit. That is why whenever Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF– you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself,” let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions,but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One Who uttered them. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God.
• United States
3 Nov 12
I'm not so sure that God doesn't require obedience...What about the scripture in the Old Testament that says '...prefer obedience to sacrifice...' and He was speaking of the children obeying Him and His Word as preferable to their sacrificing of bulls, goats, etc.? Do you mean in your discussion that it would be better to deny my desire for a home, family, and a place to work that wouldn't require such extensive travel?