They say dynamite comes in small packets. This proves to be true because Ps 15 is only 5 verses long. It refers to a single subject, but the most significant which can address the human mind!
The Question
“LORD, WHO shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill”? Tell me Lord, WHO shall go to heaven? Not who by name (in this way the Lord only knows those that are His), but who by description. What kind of people are those who You will own and crown with distinguishing and everlasting favours? {Verse 1}
The Answer
“He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart”. The man who really is what he professes to be. Sound at heart and who can approve himself to God in his integrity and in all that he does.
The man who treats his neighbor properly. Who does not slander or accuse him. Who does not listen to false accusation or enter into gossip regarding him. He who “worketh righteousness”. He walks in all the commandments of the Lord. He is just to both God and man. When speaking to both, he speaks that which is “the truth in his heart”. His prayers and promises to God do not come from insincere lips. He dares not tell a lie, or beat around the bush in his communication or business with men. He walks by the rules of righteousness and truth, and scorns and abhors the gains of injustice and fraud. He realizes that corruption which is made up with a lie cannot be a good bargain. He, who wrongs his neighbour will prove in the end, to have done the greatest injury to himself. {Verse 2}
“He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach (accusation) against his neighbor”. Who looks with proper disapproval on all who are “vile” in their character and with true respect on all who fear the Lord. He is especially careful not to injure his neighbour’s good name. If any man bridles not his tongue his religion is in vain. He knows the worth of a good name, and therefore he backbites not, speaks evil of no man, does not make others faults the subject of his common talk, much less of his sport and ridicule, or speaks of them with pleasure, but only for edification. He does not “take up a reproach”, that is, he neither raises it nor receives it. {Verse 3}
“In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he who honors those who fear the Lord (who revere and worship Him); who swears to his own hurt and does not change”. The man who values men by their high caliber and goodness and not by the “figure” they make in the world. He does not deny them their civil honour and respect as men in authority perhaps, but in their judgment of them, agreeing with the word of God. He acknowledges those that fear the Lord. He honours such, esteems them very highly in love, and desires their friendship and their conversation. He uses the opportunity to show them respect and to be of service to them. He pleads their cause and speaks of them with respect, rejoices when they prosper, grieves when they are removed. Their memory when they are gone is precious to him. This should be a measure to us by what rules do we go by in judging others? {Verse 4}
“He who does not put out his money for interest to one of his own people and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved”. The man that “putteth not out his money to usury”, that he may live at ease upon the labours of others. He will freely lend to the poor according to his ability and not be rigorous and severe in recovering his right from those that are in difficulty. He will not take a reward against the innocent if he is employed in the administration of public justice. He will not for any gain do any thing to the prejudice of a righteous cause. {Verse 5}
Every true living member of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. “He that does these things shall never be moved”. The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him, to preserve him safe and blameless for the heavenly kingdom. Temptations shall not overcome him, troubles shall not overwhelm him, and nothing shall rob him of neither his present peace nor his future bliss.
THE WARNING
“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?
And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly disregarding My commands” !! Matt 7:21-23
Lorraine Lyon
