Psalm 15 is a Psalm of David.
David asks this very profound question in the first verse.
The answer is given in a poem based on parallelism. Each of the five points consists of two lines or two phrases which complement, explain or show opposite points. The focus of this list of righteous behaviors and attitudes is that this list is person-to-person. It talks about how a person treats a friend and a neighbor. For the ancient Hebrew, this would be seen as how Jews should treat each other. If Jews treat each other honestly and fairly, God will like them.
We are in a different covenant and therefore a different group. For us, the church, the saved people of the world, are the inner circle. Christians love all people, however, there is a special love for one another, which are the brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to love fellow Christians like Christ loves us. Follow this list will not save anyone. We are saved by grace. However, truly saved people can use this list as a point of self-examination.
Psalm 15 talks about Christian Character. Christians are to be blameless and do right things. Especially in a church setting no one should be able to bring an honest charge against a brother or sister in Christ. The world can accuse Christians of all manner of ridiculous evil, but no honest charge can be brought because Christians try and do what is right. When we fail and sin, we confess and are forgiven by God and our fellow believers.
David then talks about Christian Speech. Christians need to speak truth from their heart. They do not say one thing and believe another. Christians are not two-hearted. Christian speech needs to be honest, transparent and trustworthy. There is also, absolutely no case where a Christian slanders another. A Christian’s speech should be so enjoyed that people will look forward to speaking with them again.
Christian Conduct is seen in how Christians treat their neighbors. Christians do not treat their neighbors with planned evil. A christian should never wake up with evil intentions on their mind. Christians do not take up offenses from friends. We do not look for things to be offended with.
Christian Values are based on who we value and who we look up to. It has been said that people today would rather be envied than admired. We do not envy people’s wealth or fame or looks. We seek out true God fearing people and honor them.
Christian Integrity means that when we commit and when we promise to do something or be somewhere, we follow through and keep our promises, even if it hurts. Our yes is yes and our no is no.
Lastly, David talks about the Christian view of Money. There are two simple points here. Do not lend money to another Christian and charge interest, usury or even a "vig". Christians lend freely to other Christians and do not use money to put someone into bondage. Christians also never, ever, under any circumstances, take a bribe. A bribe is payment to change a moral stance or a righteous decision. That is never in the live of a Christian.
If you do these things, the Psalm ends, you will never be moved.
David asks this very profound question in the first verse.
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?David is asking the great I AM who can and who shall enter the Tabernacle on God’s Holy hill. At the time David wrote this, there was no temple. Worship for God took place in the Tabernacle which was a huge tent where God lives. Mount Zion was the traditional location of where God lived. So, David asks God, who can come up there and fellowship with you. Who does God want to hang out with?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
The answer is given in a poem based on parallelism. Each of the five points consists of two lines or two phrases which complement, explain or show opposite points. The focus of this list of righteous behaviors and attitudes is that this list is person-to-person. It talks about how a person treats a friend and a neighbor. For the ancient Hebrew, this would be seen as how Jews should treat each other. If Jews treat each other honestly and fairly, God will like them.
We are in a different covenant and therefore a different group. For us, the church, the saved people of the world, are the inner circle. Christians love all people, however, there is a special love for one another, which are the brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to love fellow Christians like Christ loves us. Follow this list will not save anyone. We are saved by grace. However, truly saved people can use this list as a point of self-examination.
Psalm 15 talks about Christian Character. Christians are to be blameless and do right things. Especially in a church setting no one should be able to bring an honest charge against a brother or sister in Christ. The world can accuse Christians of all manner of ridiculous evil, but no honest charge can be brought because Christians try and do what is right. When we fail and sin, we confess and are forgiven by God and our fellow believers.
David then talks about Christian Speech. Christians need to speak truth from their heart. They do not say one thing and believe another. Christians are not two-hearted. Christian speech needs to be honest, transparent and trustworthy. There is also, absolutely no case where a Christian slanders another. A Christian’s speech should be so enjoyed that people will look forward to speaking with them again.Christian Conduct is seen in how Christians treat their neighbors. Christians do not treat their neighbors with planned evil. A christian should never wake up with evil intentions on their mind. Christians do not take up offenses from friends. We do not look for things to be offended with.
Christian Values are based on who we value and who we look up to. It has been said that people today would rather be envied than admired. We do not envy people’s wealth or fame or looks. We seek out true God fearing people and honor them.
Christian Integrity means that when we commit and when we promise to do something or be somewhere, we follow through and keep our promises, even if it hurts. Our yes is yes and our no is no.
Lastly, David talks about the Christian view of Money. There are two simple points here. Do not lend money to another Christian and charge interest, usury or even a "vig". Christians lend freely to other Christians and do not use money to put someone into bondage. Christians also never, ever, under any circumstances, take a bribe. A bribe is payment to change a moral stance or a righteous decision. That is never in the live of a Christian.
If you do these things, the Psalm ends, you will never be moved.
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