Psalm 15 English Standard Version Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill? A Psalm of David. 15 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. When David talks about the LORD's tent, he's talking about the Tabernacle. During the time of David, there was not yet a Temple. It was David's desire to build one for the LORD, but the LORD told David that David's son Solomon would get to fulfill that request/desire, because David was a man of war who had shed much blood and could not build the Temple, so David was content to make all the preparation for it and make significant contributions to it. The LORD had commanded the people build Him a Tabernacle in the book of Exodus, and it was to let the nations know that the LORD encamped among His people (at the very center of the camp) and that He was with them wherever they would go, and that they would move and camp at the LORD's command. They literally looked to the LORD's presence for instruction on every step they were to take. The "holy hill" that David refers to is Jerusalem, but I think David is is using that metaphorically to talk about heaven--the actual place where God's presence dwells and where His throne is. King David's throne is on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, but the LORD's throne is high and lifted up above all the earth.
Who is the man who can enter the presence of the LORD, His Holy Place (that is heaven)? David tells us what the LORD requires and notice how all of us fall short. Such a man who wants to enter heaven on his own merits must be blameless--that is perfect, upright--that is a man who is both righteous and a man of integrity both known and doing what is right all the time. He must only speak the truth and must be full of the truth. There can be no lie or deceit found in him, even in the words that he speaks to himself and to God in his heart. He will obey the greatest commandment to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Such a man must guard his tongue so that is speaks no malice or slander. He does no evil to his neighbor and loves them perfectly and will never disgrace his friends (try to put them to shame). For he will obey the second greatest commandment to "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." He will abhor what the LORD calls evil, but he honors and fears the name of the LORD. We know that to fear the LORD is to obey His commandments and to show honor for God and His Law by how we live. So, this man that is acceptable and able to enter God's presence must say what the LORD says about both sin and righteousness. He must not join with the wicked in their rebellion against God and he must walk by the Spirit in a way where his words of faith and his conduct work in concert to proclaim that his faith is true and that God is above all other gods and worthy not only of our praise, but of our obedience. Such a man must keep his promises, oaths and vows, even if he only swears by himself. Who is it that can even swear by themselves and be trusted though? Are you starting to see the picture that is forming that there is only one Man who meets all these qualifications? The God-Man, Christ Jesus? Notice that David says such a man will keep His promises even to His own pain and peril. Doesn't that sound like what Jesus did on the cross for all the Elect? Such a person would be generous and would freely give, not charging interest for the blessings that are "loaned" to us. Notice these passages how Jesus is the only one who meets these qualifications, but that through His blood He has made a way for the Father to see His Son when the Father sees us so that we too may be seen as acceptable and able to enter His presence. Colossians 1:15-23 English Standard Version The Preeminence of Christ 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Hebrews 4:14-16 English Standard Version Jesus the Great High Priest 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Coming back to the David's list of requirements. This perfect man would show no partiality. He would not take a bribe against the innocent (that would be an unjust judge). David ends by saying such a man would never be moved (or shaken). As we said, there is only one Man who fits these qualifications, and He is the one who came from heaven to do all these things for us that we could never do and make atonement and intercession by His own flesh and blood so that: 2 Corinthians 5:21 English Standard Version 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Romans 8:34 English Standard Version 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Hebrews 7:25 English Standard Version 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Comments are closed.
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Daniel WestfallI will mostly use this space for recording my "journal" from my daily devotions as I hope to encourage others to read the Bible along with me and to leave a legacy for others. Archives
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