Psalm 15 begins with these very direct questions addressed to God: “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” Then the Psalmist proceeds to state the qualifications of one who visits and then takes up residence with God.
The first qualification of one who desires to be in God’s presence is integrity, which means doing what is right and speaking the truth because it is in one’s heart to do so.
The second qualification is to be careful in what you say and how you treat your neighbor.
The third is to manifest a godly perspective in relating to all people.
The fourth is to keep your word regardless of the changing circumstances in which you may find yourself.
The fifth and final qualification involves the use of money. You must not be covetous in the use of money; you must not prey on others for your own greedy gain; and you must never accept a bribe against another person.
These qualifications, which represent high ethical standards, were set forth by the Psalmist in terms of everyday life and intended to be consistent and continuing habits of anyone who desired to be in God’s presence.
I believe Psalm 15 is as relevant today as it was when it was first used long ago in an assembly of God’s people for worship. It is relevant because it reveals what God expects of us. These simple, yet demanding qualifications of fellowship with God set forth by the Psalmist are very similar to Jesus’ qualifications and expectations of his disciples. In the words of John Durham from his commentary on Psalms, these qualifications are “… stark reminders of what the faithful are asked to be, and an embarrassing description of what we somehow seldom are.”
Let us pray for God’s strength and guidance as we seek to live our lives in ways that qualify us to claim the promise as stated by the Psalmist in the final verse of Psalm 15: “He who does these things will never be shaken.”
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The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.
The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.
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