PSALM 15 - Weighty Manhood

“A Peter Pan if ever there was one. Hopeless at school. Incapable either of competing or co-operating. Envying all the normally successful boys—and, because he envied, hating them and, to make himself feel better, despising them as inferior beings. Then came the time for puberty... Other boys made advances to girls, and the girls responded. But he was too shy, too uncertain of his manhood. And all the time incapable of steady work, at home only in the compensatory Other World of his fancy. There, at the very least, he was Michelangelo. Here, unfortunately, he couldn't draw. His only gifts were hatred, low cunning, a set of indefatigable vocal cords and a talent for nonstop talking at the top of his voice from the depths of his Peter-Panic paranoia. Thirty or forty million deaths and heaven knows how many billions of dollars—that was the price the world had to pay for little Adolf Hitler’s retarded maturation.” (Aldous Huxley, Island, 1962).

By the grace of God, not every immature, childish man becomes a monster like Adolf Hitler—but our culture is positively flooded with men who have never grown up. Even 40 years ago, the epidemic of childish, immature men was so pronounced that Dr. Dan Kiley wrote a book titled The Peter Pan Syndrome: Men Who Have Never Grown Up. And since 1983 when that book was written, if anything the problem has gotten worse. Men who are afraid to grow up, who don’t want to take responsibility (and yet who want to be taken seriously), whose shallow immaturity leaves them with the most fragile imitation of real manhood.

God did not create men to be shallow, insignificant “Peter Pan”-types who avoid responsibility and retreat into childishness throughout their lives. God made men—as we have been affirming throughout this series—to be significant, to matter, to be a substantial presence in this world. God made men to carry out His representative rulership in this world, and that means that God has made men to image His glory. Peter Pan little boys can’t do that.

Shallow immaturity is the mark of fragile manhood, but

Masculine GLORY is manifested in the GRAVITAS of a man’s CHARACTER

“Gravitas” was one of the virtues of manhood idealized in places like ancient Rome. It is a word that describes

GRAVITAS: A WEIGHTINESS and SERIOUSNESS of manner, causing feelings of RESPECT and TRUST in others

This is a fitting way to speak of masculine glory, since the Old Testament word for glory, kavodh, also expresses the idea of weightiness, heaviness, significance. In Psalm 19:1, The heavens are telling the kavodh of God; in Genesis 12:10, the famine was kavodh (heavy) in the land.

Brother, you are created in the image of God—you are created to be His representative ruler on this earth; you are created to image His kavodh, His weighty, significant, substantive glory in your masculinity. In our text this morning there is a hint of this idea of the weightiness of God-honoring masculine glory—at the end of Psalm 15:5, David says, “He who does these things shall never be moved.” King David is describing masculine glory in these verses—he is describing the substantive character—the weightiness, if you will—of a righteous man.

As we make our way through this psalm, we see that

I. Masculine glory is manifested in...

A walk of INTEGRITY (v. 2)

Psalm 15:1–2 (ESV)

1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly...

Godly masculinity shows up in a man’s life when he is the same person when he is alone as when he is being watched. The word “blameless” here in verse 2 is usually used in the Old Testament to describe someone who has not violated one of God’s laws (the way the Apostle Paul says in Philippians that his life was, “as to righteousness under the Law, blameless” - Philippians 3:6).

Peter Pan little boys will toe the line when they think someone is watching, but when they think they can get away with something, they will do it. But the glory of godly masculinity—a life fit to be lived on God’s holy hill—means that you live your life always reckoning that you are in the presence of God. You walk in integrity—whether or not anyone else ever knows about your deeds—because you know that you are always walking before the face of God.

Masculine glory is manifested in

Works of JUSTICE (v. 2; cp. Prov. 18:17; Deut. 17:6)

Psalm 15:2 (ESV)

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right...

Peter Pan syndrome men are, as we observed a few weeks back, “nice guys” who just want to get along with everyone. They are “white knights” who especially want to accommodate the feelings and sensibilities of women. And so this is one of the reasons why you see the foundations for Biblical justice perverted so thoroughly in our day and age—things like the “Me Too” movement (which is part of the wider “cancel culture” in our society) would have you believe that accusations alone are enough to pronounce guilt in a matter. All that is necessary to take away someone’s job or have them sued today is they are accused of an inappropriate or immoral or illegal behavior. Because “we have to believe all women!” and “Racism is evil!” and “Transphobia kills people!”

But a man with the gravitas of masculine glory that is obedient to God is not moved by that perversion of justice. Masculine glory remembers the biblical foundations of justice of cross examination:

Proverbs 18:17 (ESV)

17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

and multiple witnesses

Deuteronomy 17:6 (ESV)

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

And an upright man who does what is right does not care what names he gets called as a result of calling for true justice to be done.

Masculine Glory is manifested in

Words of TRUTH (v. 2)

Psalm 15:2 (ESV)

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

Peter Pan little boys will lie their fool heads off in order to please others or maintain their fragile appearance of masculinity. But a man who has the gravitas of true masculine glory will be known as a man who speaks the truth—he has a reputation for being a straight shooter. And not only does he speak truth to others, he speaks truth to himself as well. He does not fool himself that he is more mature than he really is; he does not excuse his own sinful habits or tendencies; he is truthful before others and before his own heart because he knows that he is always living before the presence of God.

Masculine glory is manifested in the gravitas, the weightiness, of a man’s character. In verse 3 we see that

II. A man with gravitas...

Does not treat his WORDS as WEAPONS (v. 3; cp. James 3:2, 5)

Psalm 15:3 (ESV)

3 who does not slander with his tongue...

Little Peter Pan boys who are faking their gravitas will always lash out to attack those who threaten them. It used to be that you had to be in the same room with someone to lash out like this, but ever since Al Gore invented the Internet, we can safely hurl our vitriol and insults and slander hundreds of miles away, from the safety Mom’s basement. But masculine glory tames the tongue—a man who will never be moved is a man who understands what James wrote in the New Testament:

James 3:2 (ESV)

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

James 3:5 (ESV)

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

A man with gravitas

Does not treat his NEIGHBOR as an ENEMY (v. 3; Matt. 22:39)

Psalm 15:3 (ESV)

3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor...

Fragile, ego-driven men with Peter Pan complexes won’t hesitate to throw their co-worker under the bus in order to get credit they don’t deserve (or, more commonly) prevent themselves from taking responsibility or blame. A man with godly gravitas will look out for his neighbor, his co-worker, his fellow citizen, because he lives the way Christ commanded us:

Matthew 22:39 (ESV)

39 …You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

In the same way, a man with gravitas

Does not treat his FRIENDSHIPS as DISPOSABLE (v. 3; cp. 2 Tim. 1:15)

Psalm 15:3 (ESV)

3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend

Speaking of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie’s original story actually portrays Peter as shockingly self-absorbed and capricious—at the end of the novel, Wendy (who has grown up) asks about Tinker Bell and whether she would be glad to see her, Peter answered,

“Who is Tinker Bell?” “O Peter,” she said, shocked; but even when she explained he could not remember. “There are such a lot of them,” he said. “I expect she is no more.” (Chapter XVII, When Wendy Grew Up)

The childish immaturity of Peter Pan meant that he could easily abandon and forget his friends—David says that a man that shall never be moved—a man with gravitas—will not forget his friends, especially when they are in need.

Fragile, immature men will abandon a friend who comes under reproach or who is suffering. The Apostle Paul experienced that from the immature, childish men who abandoned him while he was in prison:

2 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

But a man with gravitas is a loyal man—a man who will stand with his friend, bearing reproach with him, suffering scorn or ridicule together with him. Like Paul’s friend Onesiphorus

2 Timothy 1:16 (ESV)

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,

Masculine glory is manifested in the gravitas, the weightiness, of a man’s character. As we go on in verse 4, we see

III. Godly masculinity...

DESPISES those who HATE God (v. 4)

Psalm 15:4 (ESV)

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised...

The original Hebrew text is much more symmetrical here, saying something like “despises the despicable”. Here again we see the difference between weighty, godly masculinity and fragile, insubstantial Peter Pan manhood—fragile men who fear man more than they fear God want the approval of the reprobate. They take their blasphemies in stride because they are desperate to be liked. (In some cases, this takes the form of some kind of white-knight sentiment that says, “We don’t want to damage our testimony by being harsh or unloving...”)

But the godly masculinity of weighty manhood cannot bring itself to tolerate the person who hates God. There is nothing attractive, nothing interesting or entertaining about them, nothing that would draw a godly man to make any compromise or brook any truce. Oscar Wilde once quipped that “a gentleman is one who will never give offense unintentionally”. David says here that a man with gravitas will not frivolously or selfishly lash out with his words, but when offense must be given he is not afraid to give it.

Godly masculinity

DELIGHTS in those who FEAR God (v. 4)

Psalm 15:4 (ESV)

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord...

There is a tendency among immature, fragile men to speak and write dismissively and judgmentally of their fellow Christians, piling up accusations and complaints against their ministries or their teachings. Back in the good old days such missives would arrive anonymously through the mail (or slid underneath the door of the pastor’s study)—pages and pages of single-spaced, mimeographed typewritten text with handwritten notes crammed sideways along the margins (looking, as one recipient noted, as though the sender typed it with their fists…) Nowadays that important office in the church is filled by the so-called “discernment bloggers” who pour out page after page of their hot takes on all of the failings and inconsistencies and doctrinal untidiness of whatever church or Christian leader has become the target of their tender ministrations.

But a man with gravitas, if such correction needs to take place, does it with a cheerful and loving heart that is, at the end of the day, delighted with his fellow Christian for their common fear of God. Fragile ego, false gravitas is immensely self-serious. Guys like that can’t take a joke because everything is too serious (especially their own seriousness!) But a man with godly masculinity is driven by delight and joy and peace in who he is in God, and who his brother is.

Godly masculinity

Is DEPENDABLE because it REVERES God (v. 4)

Psalm 15:4 (ESV)

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;

A man with gravitas, a man with weight and substance is a man who keeps his word. Peter Pan syndrome men will make promises all day long but only worry about keeping them if they aren’t too inconvenienced by their word. They may commit to something, but whether or not they will actually follow through with it is another matter.

But a man with gravitas will keep his word even if he finds later that it will work against him. His “yes” means “yes” and his “no” means “no” (Matt. 5:37), because he knows that he lives in the presence of God. A man of substance who calls God to witness of a promise he makes would rather suffer loss by carrying out his promise than have the Name of God suffer loss by breaking his oath. Godly masculinity is dependable because it reveres God.

Masculine glory is manifested in the gravitas of a man’s character.

IV. A godly man...

Is OPEN-HANDED with his RESOURCES (v. 5; cp. Luke 6:35)

Psalm 15:5 (ESV)

5 who does not put out his money at interest...

A man with gravitas is not a stingy man—he is not always thinking, “What’s in this for me? What’s my cut of this?” Stingy, grasping little men are always looking for the main chance; always watching for a way to get something out of someone else or make a deal that will give them something they want. But a man of substance, a man to be reckoned with? He fits Jesus’ description in Luke 6:35:

Luke 6:35 (ESV)

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

A godly man

Is HONEST in his DEALINGS (v. 5)

Psalm 15:5 (ESV)

5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent...

A real man won’t “look the other way” to benefit from cheating or unfair dealing or insider trading if the money is good. He can’t be bought with favors or bribes or back-door deals. It doesn’t matter if “everybody’s doing it” or “they have it coming” or “they’ll never miss it”—this man is honest in his dealings because—once again—he knows that he lives in the sight of God, Who sees and remembers all of it.

This is what a man of substance, a man of godly gravitas, a man who shall never be moved looks like. Brother, this is what you are called to be. Integrity, truth, honesty, loyalty, courage, generosity—these are the marks of godly manhood, and these are the qualities that our society so desperately needs today.

And so where do you start? How do you build that gravitas, that “immoveable masculinity” into your life? By looking to the greatest Man ever to walk this earth:

The BEGINNING of weighty manhood is to put on CHRIST (v. 1; cp. Psalm 2:6)

As Foster and Tennant put it in their book, It’s Good To Be A Man,

“Gravitas is the result of having settled in to your Christian identity as a man” (Foster, M., & Tennant, D. B. (2022). It’s Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity. Canon Press. p. 129)

Notice again how King David frames this psalm in verse 1—he asks the question, “Who shall dwell on God’s holy hill?” That exact phrase is used elsewhere in the Psalms to describe the one who has been set on God’s holy hill:

Psalm 2:6 (ESV)

6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Jesus Christ, the subject of Psalm 2, is the only Man Who may dwell on the Holy Hill, the only truly immoveable Man, the Man with ultimate, perfect gravitas. Jesus was a Man of substance, and the people recognized it:

Mark 1:22 (ESV)

22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

The scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the Law all saw that Jesus had the authority that they tried to muster up (with their long tassels and broad phylacteries and standing on the street corners praying in full view of everyone)—and they hated Him for it:

John 11:48 (ESV)

48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

And so, brother, if you would grow into this kind of substance, if you would have gravitas as a man, then you must begin by putting on Christ.

Galatians 3:26–27 (ESV)

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

In Christ you have been made a new creation—whatever the failures and abdications and Peter Pan tendencies of your past are done and gone:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

So put on Christ, brother—He died on that Cross and rose again three days later to free you from the Peter Pan syndrome of fragile, fake masculinity, to deliver you from the power of sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice slander, obscene talk

Colossians 3:3 (ESV)

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Put to death every day the desire to retreat into childishness, to avoid responsibility, to find a way around your duties. God has so ordered the world that authority flows—gravitas flows—towards those who take responsibility. Step up, brother, to your identity in Christ. Be the same man in private that you are in public, know and defend the difference between biblical justice and mob “justice”, cultivate loyalty and honor in your relationships, seek out honorable men of integrity, be generous and open-handed with your time, your money, your resources. Watch your mouth. Stand up for God’s people. Worship in God’s sanctuary. Sing psalms, laugh loud, feast often.

And don’t do any of this with the glaring, thin-skinned self-importance of a little boy pretending to be a man. Step into this weighty manhood with the joyful confidence that the Man Himself is in your corner. Jesus Christ swore to His own hurt in the Garden of Gethsemane and did not change, and because He was a faithful Man of integrity and honor even to death on the Cross you have been given His Name and His glory by your confession of faith in Him.

He is a Man Who walks in integrity, He is not just a Man of truth, He is Truth. He is a Man of loyalty who has sworn never to leave you nor forsake you, but to be with you to the end of the age. He is a Man who delights in you because you fear the LORD. He is a Man who is more open-handed and generous than any other, promising to spend all of eternity pouring out the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward you. And He is the Man who promises that He will instill that same masculinity in you as you follow Him day by day. The man who lives in Him will never be moved—nothing in this fallen, failing world will budge you when you ground your manhood in the gravitas of your Savior, Jesus Christ!

BENEDICTION:

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

Read through the description of a man with gravitas in Psalm 15. What characteristics of godly masculinity described there are the greatest challenge for you? Spend time this week in prayer for God to develop you more into the image of His Son!

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