TBO Psalms: The Heart of Bethlehem's King

Have you ever been somewhere you didn’t belong? You walk in and immediately realize you shouldn’t be there? If you’ve ever accidentally walked into the wrong restroom or gone to the wrong class on your first day of school you know the feeling.

What about somewhere fancy? I like to look at historical landmarks and old churches and so when I go on vacation I typically try to find time to go and explore those kinds of places. This summer Tiff and I went down to San Antonio on vacation and we explored some of the old missions that were down there. They are really cool. They are essentially enclosed communities that people would live in, and one of the ones we visited had a really nice chapel cathedral type thing. I walk in to look at the different art that they had inside and as I walked in with my shorts and t-shirt I realized they were having a morning mass. Here I am sweaty and wearing a fanny pack in a place that was very formal and ornate.

David finds himself in this predicament as he writes Psalm 15. He asks the question that we should all ask, “How can mankind be in community with God? How do we live in His presence?

Psalm 15 CSB

A psalm of David. Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart— who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor, who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken.

Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?

Why do you think David talks about the Lord’s tent and mountain?

David is sparking some Old Testament imagery here with these two locations. The tent is a reference to the Tabernacle. This was Israel’s place of worship from the time they came to Mt. Sinai to the time Solomon built the Temple a little after 1000 BC. The Tabernacle was where the presence of God dwelt among the people of Israel. It was a holy place. Within the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies. It was a place where atonement would be made on behalf of the people and it would be a place that housed the Ark of the Covenant. The Holy of Holies was a place no one could enter. It would only be entered once a year by the High Priest and even he would only enter in on Yom Kippur in order to make a sacrifice on behalf of the people. People that walked into the Holy of Holies needed to take the honor seriously. Aaron was required to wear bells and later traditions talk of High Priests tying a rope around their waist in case they dropped dead the other priests could drag them out.

The mountain is reference to another holy place in Israel’s history: Mt. Sinai. This mountain was where Israel was brought to after they escaped Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. It was where Moses spoke to the Lord and recieved the Ten Commandments. Nobody traveled to the top of the mountain except Moses. On one of these occasions the presence of God passed by Moses while he was hiding in a cleft of the mountain and God’s presence was so powerful and magnificent in passing that it made Moses’ hair glow white.

Both of these terms, Tabernacle and Holy Mountain also tend to be used as metaphors for heaven. What does the presence of God look like in heaven?

Isaiah 6:1–5 NASB95

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Isaiah realized that he was not qualified to be in the presence of God. The question we should ask ourselves as we study the Psalms is what qualifies me to be in the presence of God?

What is worship?

Worship is an encounter with God. God’s people ushered into His presence through the elements of Scripture, praise, music, prayer, offering, sermon, and invitation.

Worship is living your life as living sacrifice to the Lord

If worship is an encounter with God and an ushering into His presence but is also a life lived in sacrifice that means our lives are lived in the presence of God. Take a step back. Have you lived today as if you were in the presence of God? Have you lived today as if you were in His Holy of Holies or at the top of Mt. Sinai. Have you lived as if you were standing before His throne like Isaiah was?

Jesus tells us in John chapter 4 that for us in the New Testament our worship is not limited to a specific place. Our worship will not be limited to a mountain or to a temple but will be wherever we go in Spirit and in truth

John 4:21–24 CSB

Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

Paul reinforces this idea that our lives are lived in the presence of God as an act of worship in 1 Corinthians chapter 6

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 CSB

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

Where the Holy spirit once lived on the mountain, or in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple, it now lives in us. What qualifies us to have the Holy of Holies inside of us?

Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—

After Saul was rejected as king, the Lord called Samuel to fill up his horn with oil and go to Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s new king. This one being a man after God’s own heart.

1 Samuel 16:1–7 CSB

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.” Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.” Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

God does not look at the outside but on the inside

I don’t think that it is a coincidence that we have come to this passage three days before we spend the entire weekend talking about identity. The world we live in spends a lot of time focused on the outward appearance. We want to look nice we want people to like us. We focus on physical appearance and feel the pressure to have people think we are attractive or good looking. We want people to see us as cool and funny. We carefully craft our social media appearance so that people find us worth following or liking. Maybe we want people to think we have it all together and we are super devout and religious. Whatever it is there is this pressure to maintain an outward appearance. We see the effects of this pressure, higher rates of depression, higher rates of suicide, feelings of isolation, stress, anxiety. Yet, here amidst the pressure to perform, to look worthy of affection, to appear in control, God looks beyond the outward appearance and looks at our heart.

Where does the Lord find your heart tonight? Broken? Hurting? Struggling with sin? The presence of God is not just a place for our hearts to worship, its also a place for our hearts to find healing and comfort. To have peace from all the anxiety and stress.

Philippians 4:6–7 CSB

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

So here is Samuel looking for a king amongst Jesse’s sons.

1 Samuel 16:1–13 NASB95

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ “You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Here is David, the youngest of his brothers, from the smallest town in Judah, working in the field as a shepherd. In a single moment he is brought from the lowest of social statuses and is made the king of Israel. David did nothing to accomplish or achieve his kingship. This is a demonstration of God’s grace and favor. David is before Samuel and Samuel pours out his horn of oil over David’s head as a symbol of what God was doing in David. As a confirmation of David as king of Israel.

When I was in college I had a professor that would say history doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme. And with Scripture especially there are these narrative moments that rhyme with each other.

In Matthew 3 we see Jesus come before John the Baptist to be baptized. Here is Jesus, carpenter from a backwoods town in Galilee, emptied of His glory, fully God yet fully man. Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, born in the same town as king David, has come to John the Baptist, his cousin from the tribe of Levi and descendent of Samuel. So just as Samuel anointed David as king, his descendant is anointing Jesus as king through baptism.

Matthew 3:16–17 NASB95

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Just as God established David, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit confirm Jesus as God the Son come to make right the broken hearts of mankind. You see God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, He looks at the heart. And He has looked at the hearts of mankind and found them broken and suffering from the effects of sin. Our hearts were not blameless, our hearts were not righteous, our hearts did not seek the truth. Who can dwell in His tent? Who can live on His holy mountain? This is where David’s story rhymes with ours. When we were at our most ungodly Christ died for our sins. He takes the punishment for our sins upon Himself and offers us this gift of grace through faith. This act of forgiveness is marked by God serving as our High Priest and anointing us with the oil of His Holy Spirit as a confidence that we might know we are in His kingdom. We respond by being obedient in baptism as an outward expression of what Christ has accomplished in our hearts. We are buried with Christ in death and raised to walk in newness of life. Just as Christ was crucified I was crucified to my old self. Just as Jesus rose on the third day I was resurrected to new life and relationship with God. Who can dwell in His tent? Who can live on His holy mountain? We can. Who can live and worship in the presence of God? We can. Not because of anything we have done but because of what Christ has done in us. Our hearts were not blameless, our hearts were not righteous, our hearts did not seek truth, but with Jesus He gives us a new heart that does all those things. Our new hearts are blameless, righteous, and seek after truth, because Jesus is the truth and his righteousness is our righteousness and His forgiveness covers every sin.

Where once we did not belong He has made us to belong.

How do we live as those in the King’s presence?

What does a life of worship look like?

Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—who does not slander with his tongue,

As Christians the way we speak to and about others is very important. Our words are tools to build others up not to tear others down.

Psalm 19:14 NASB95

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 39:1 NASB95

I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”

Ephesians 4:29–30 NASB95

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Colossians 3:8 NASB95

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

James 1:26 NASB95

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Our words are crucial to how we represent Christ, build others up, and minister to others. We need to be mindful of our words especially if we are living in the presence of God. When people hear us talk it should sound like a worship service.

Colossians 3:16–17 NASB95

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,

Caring for our friends and neighbors that sounds easy. Who are our friends and neighbors?

Luke 10:25–37 CSB

Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

Jesus calls us to love not just those who do good to you but love your enemy as well. Samaritans and Israelites did not like each other. Yet it was the Samaritan that responded mercifully to the man in need. He showed sacrificial love and gave without expecting anything in return. Living in the presence of God means loving like He loved. Jesus loved His enemies and died on the cross for them and He calls us to love our enemies in the same way.

who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord,

Living in the presence of God means seeing the world the way He does. For David who was writing this Psalm, his enemies were very physical. He represented God’s physical kingdom and fought to defend it against physical enemies like the Philistines. Our enemy is not of flesh and blood but Spiritual forces. Our enemy is sin. God calls us to love our enemies while also being called to hate sin.

Romans 12:9 CSB

Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.

We love who God loves and hate what He hates.

This goes for our own lives as well. If we are a temple we need to care for what kind of content comes in. You wouldn’t allow an altar to Baal inside the Holy of Holies. In the same way we shouldn’t allow idols to make their homes in our heart. Despise the things that are rejected by the Lord but put good works and right behavior in a place of honor.

who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent—the one who does these things will never be shaken.

As Christians we are dedicated to the truth and to justice. Dedicated to the truth in our faithfulness. When we say we will do something we do it. Our word is bond even if it is to our detriment. We don’t make promises we can’t keep. We are dedicated to truth and justice in our finances not taking advantage of people but giving generously. Giving not for interest but giving expecting nothing in return. We are dedicated to truth in justice in that we don’t bear false testimony about the innocent. This isn’t only applicable in the court system. We shouldn’t tell lies to cover for other people or be dishonest about others. Not as worshippers in the presence of God.

Chapter 16 ends with David in Saul’s palace serving as an instrumentalist. The Spirit of God left Saul and an evil spirit began to torment Saul. Only David’s playing could make Saul feel better. From the shepherds field to the presence of the king. Where do you find yourself tonight? In the presence of the King? Is your heart made new? Are you living a life of worship in His presence?