Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 15

Good morning everyone

warms our hearts when we see young people desire to be baptised and follow Christ doesn’t it?

It’s been an encouraging morning.

1. Introduction

Well we all know that there are things that we are welcomed into and there are things that we aren’t welcome into

There are times when the doors open come in, it’s great to have you.

And there are times when no you can’t come this is not for you.

It depends if certain conditions are met.

Don’t know if you caught the Queens platinum jubilee concert about a month ago. it was a huge celebration.

It was to celebrate The Queens Platinum Jubilee.

70 years of service as the Queen of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

70 years.

she’s 96.

it’s a long time.

The 2nd Longest reign of any monarch.

They put on a big weekend of activites.

it included a big platinum jubilee concert.

Joy and I caught some of the on the TV.

and, wow I wanted to be there.

I was there live in concert.

with royalty.

Listening to the beautiful voice of Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys - not sure why you’d sing New York at the Queen of Englands Jubilee.. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hans Zimmer, the cast of the Lion King... wouldn’t it have been great to be there? .

here’s the thing, only a select few could attend.

it was only 22,000 people and 10,000 available for the public.

if the Jubilee 50 year celebration had 1.2m applications for 10,000 tickets, the probably of being in the crowd - very very slim.

We know it’s true.

There are some things you are welcomed into and something things you’re not

· if you want to go to Fernwood fitness – it’s a gym, well you need to be a woman – they only let women in

· and as Najia and Naamah know, if you want to make it into orchestra, you better make sure you have practice A LOT, you better stand out and you got perform when it counts.

You need to meet specific conditions if you want to be welcomed into certain places.

What about entering into the kingdom of God? this is not just royalty.

this is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

How do we come into God’s presence?

What factors decided if are welcomed in or shut out?

It’s a big question isn’t it?

In fact, this is the most important question of your life.

Because this is the difference between life and death.

spiritual life and spiritual death.

Eternity with God the Creator of the world and eternity condemned in hell judged by God.

How can we be sure that God will welcome us into his presence?

We’re in Psalm 15

The King David asks this exact question.

2. Who can come before God? (15:1)

So who can come before God?

Now to get our bearings; David talks about coming to God’s tent?

He means the tabernacle.

This is very very important in David’s time.

It’s not an ordinary tent you get from Target for camping.

It’s the large tent in Israel that sat in Jerusalem – their capital.

It’s a tent that sat in top of the holy hill.

Or Mount Zion.

And this tent, often called the tent of meeting was the one place God met with his people, the Israelites 3000 years ago.

To fellowship.

To be in each other’s company.

Yes God is everywhere, but at that time, this was essentially entry into God’s presence.

So, David asks, who can be in your presence?

You can’t just rock up however you want.

This is God.

He is perfect, holy.

nadab and Abihu sons of Aaron found out in no uncertain terms.

It cost them their lives.

Have a read of Leviticus 10.

David wonders, who can enjoy friendship with you? who can come before God?

There’s the question.

3. The one who loves God (15:2-5)

Then David gives the answer in verses 2 to 5. That’s the rest of the Psalm.

And it all comes down to the way you walk.

It means your lifestyle, direction.

It’s the one who loves God.

Psalm 15:2 (ESV)

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

See there, his walk is blameless.

He loves God.

This means his lifestyle is righteous.

he does what is right and good in God’s eyes. he or she doesn’t just think it, they live it out.

That’s the person who can enter into God’s presence.

And it makes perfect sense.

In this holy tent, on this holy hill lives a holy God.

He is set apart.

God can’t be with sin, God does not dwell with sin.

Like oil and water he does not mix with sin.

Never has.

Never will.

So, who can enter God’s presence?

He who walks blamelessly and does right.

But what does it look like to live a blameless life?

What does it look like to love God in real concrete and practical ways?

Well, we are not left in the dark.

David gets into the nitty gritty.

you want to know?

Here it is.

Here’s the blameless and righteous person.

First, his speech is truthful.

Verse 2b

Psalm 15:2–3 (ESV)

and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;