The occasion for Psalm 15 was probably written when the ark was removed from the home of Obededom’ and brought to Mt. Zion. This is the second time: when David did it RIGHT. Spiritually Mr. Spurgeon writes “we have here a description of the man who is a child at home in the Church of God on earth, and who will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever above. He is primarily Jesus, the perfect man, and in Him all who through grace are conformed to His image.” It opens with a question “WHO SHALL?”, “Lord who shall abide in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Your holy hill? David is asking Jehovah the High and Holy One: Jehovah is asking you and me the low and unholy ones, “Who shall be permitted into my presence, who shall be allowed into divine fellowship with me?” Heaven is a place of purity, God is a pure Spirit, “Behold, He putteth no trust (even) in His angels; yea the heavens are not clean in His sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?” (Job 15:15). How are any of us going to make it? How are we going to get into a place where angels veil their faces, and cry constantly “Holy, Holy, Holy”? What warped concepts this poor world has of God, of heaven and of eternity. The questionnaire hits an infinite height, “Who shall abide in Thy tabernacle?” That is “Who shall be admitted into the household of God, and sojourn under heaven’s roof to enjoy communion with God Almighty?” “Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” that is “who shall be a citizen of Heaven?” It certainly is not a privilege given to all, and to none who fail to understand the language. There are three things here that are imperative in practice if we are to come into the presence of the Holy God. One is a right conduct, he that walketh uprightly; grace is consistent (Tit.2:11-12 and Rom.6:1-2); “uprightness” here is straight: “that worketh righteousness,” righteous” is positive not positional: then right conversation, “speaks the truth in his heart,” speaks from a changed heart, an honest conviction. Right with his fellowman (Rom.12:17-18), has a right relation with his neighbor, has a controlled tongue (v3) (James 1:19-27). “The tale-bearer carries the devil in his tongue; the tale-hearer carries the devil in his ear.” He has a considerate attitude, not careless, but careful (Phil.2); not harmful, but helpful. He has conviction without compromise (v4) and concern for his brother’s need (v5). The language of this Psalm demands unblemished holiness. Who has it? V’s 4-5 answers, “He who walked uprightly, who always worked righteousness, who always spoke the truth, because He is the embodiment of truth, who never used His tongue maliciously, nor did evil against His neighbor, but always did His neighbor good, who never had anything but contempt for vileness, but always loved and honored them that honored the LORD and Who never profited from any man” was none other than Jesus of Nazareth. Is there a practical application of this to believers? Yes, if we are grafted into the Lord Jesus, the stock of all perfection we shall. Without Christ we have none of this, and without Him we can produce none of this. Heaven is born in a child of God. ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
Older
Top
