Psalm 15 Who will dwell with the LORD God

Who Will Live With the LORD God?

Chair Bible pg. 453

Main Idea: Only the righteous will dwell with the LORD God in His presence.

A Psalm of David.

Contrast to

Sinner and the Saint.

Who will dwell with the LORD God?

Asking the ultimate question...not a subject to be lackadaisical about...

1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

Who is being addressed? The LORD...the covenant keeping, one true God.

What does it mean to sojourn in your tent? Tent of meeting or tabernacle, the dwelling place of God. Sojourn means to inhabit as alien or dependent…

What does it mean to dwell on your hill? Settle down and remain in the sacred place.

Now and the not yet…

Revelation 21:22–27 ESV

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Characteristics of the righteous

Characteristics of the righteous

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

As the pilgrims approached Jerusalem -- the city of God, where his “sanctuary” was located on the “holy hill” -- they had to examine themselves before entering the courts of God’s sanctuary. (Longman/Garland, pg. 181) This psalm and parallel passages furnish an excellent standard by which to examine ourselves. (Plumer, pg. 208)

Crucial that we notice that these things are not tied to Sunday, church, or a religious practice.

The carnal and careless gospeller is deceiver... placing all his religion in the formal observation of outward service, for a mere verbal Christian is a real atheist. () (Spurgeon quoting John Boys, pg. 180)

The characteristics are about everyday life. Should not be treated as exhaustive.

Right Living

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

Does not mean sinless perfection but wholeness, integrity. Genuine...the real thing.

Does what is right…

Illus: Pastoring at the same place for a long period of time...getting to know the people and the community. One of my greatest joys is for people to say…”She is the real deal.” “You can trust him to do the right thing.

Right Speaking

and speaks truth in his heart;

As opposed to

Trans. The following are stated in the negative...Why? Clarity.

3 who does not slander with his tongue does not spread gossip. One of the places that we are ruining our credibility by being caught up in rampant gossip slander.

and does no evil to his neighbor, Positive implied. Loves and cares for neighbor. Illus: Does your neighbor know you well enough to trust you with a key to their house when they are out of town.

nor takes up a reproach against his friend; loyal friend. Does not betray.

Right Honor

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

Despise and honor are a contrast.

A genuine worshiper rejects the sinner, in the sense of rejecting his defiling influence, associations, and partnership. “Bad company corrupts good character” (). (Lawson, pg. 81)

Optional: When indeed we find wicked men in power, we must honor them in their office, submit cheerfully to all their lawful requirements, and pray for them; but we cannot be expected to love or revere those persons, who are odious and vile.” (Plumer quoting Morison, pg. 206)

Who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He maintains the integrity of his word, standing for what he has promised to do, resisting the urge to bend or buckle under pressure. He keeps his word, meaning he holds fast to his commitments, no matter what the cost. This he does, even when it hurts, meaning he keeps his word when it can or does result in personal loss and pain. (Lawson, pg. 81)

Right Dealings

5 who does not put out his money at interest

People are more important than things. People before money.

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

Review where we started? Examine yourself…

Should cause us to see our sin...see the evidence of our salvation.

But some readers will not find these verses confirming but unnerving, for as they read through verses 2-5b they feel a cumulative weight building up and crushing them. (Davis, pg. 49)

So What?

Am I trusting in Christ alone for my salvation?

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

,

2 Corinthians 5:21, 7:1

Christ fulfilled this Psalm on our behalf. So that we might live the Psalm.

Charles Wesley and a poor believer who continually showed integrity and gratitude... Wesley asked him, ‘You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon. What else do you thank Him for?” ‘I thank Him,’ the porter replied, ‘that He has given me my life and being, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him’ (The Inextinguishable Blaze, 100). (Davis, pg. 48)

Does my life reflect what my lips declare?

“No man can be a true member of the church of God who is a stranger to moral righteousness.” (Plumer quoting Cobbin, pg. 205)

“...He who does these things shall never be moved.” Moved from where? return to v.1

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