David’s desire to build a house for God may have been a result of his awareness that worshipping the LORD required an intentional effort to enter into his presence. If you think about going to visit a friend at his house, you realize that a visit to his home makes the connection more personal. You can see what he is like when you see his home and know a little bit more about his lifestyle.

I have heard it said that the house or temple that Solomon built was a replica of God’s home in heaven. Although God lives in heaven, his presence can be felt on earth, indicating some kind of connection between these two realms. Some people believe that heaven is just another dimension that is invisible to the human eye. Jacob discovered a ladder or staircase “set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven'” (Genesis 28:12). When Jacob awoke from his dream, he said, “How dreadful is this place! this is none but the house of God” (Genesis 28:17).

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

David said in Psalm 30, “O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave. Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit” (Psalm 30:3). The word translated alive, châyâh (khaw – yaw´) causatively means to revive. “The intensive form of chayah means ‘to preserve alive'” (2421). It is possible that David was referring to being resurrected from the dead.

A familiar passage found in Psalm 30 is often quoted at funerals. “For his anger endureth for a moment; in his favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). The resurrection of Jesus as it is told in Matthew 28:1-8 depicts this perfectly:

In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepuchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the LORD descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.