The Life In God Psalm 15

A Psalm of David

Some psalms are simply sermons. They can be short, or long, but they have a point that they are trying to bring. This psalm almost certainly was written by David because it speaks of God’s sanctuary as being on a hill, but in a tent. This was the situation all throughout David’s reign as king, but his son Solomon built the temple so the sanctuary would no longer need to be in a tent.

O Yahweh, who will abide in your tent?
Who may live on your holy mount?
The basic question of this psalm is who can live before God. This, we would think, is a question that is very much of concern to priests and pastors, but it is an important question for all of us. After all, we are all, in Jesus, to be priests, to be saints, to be people able at any time to go before God and ask Him according to our needs. But this psalm assumes that some people can go and pray and some people cannot. The rest of the psalm speaks of who can rightfully go before God and expect Him to listen to their request.

He who walks blamelessly
And does what is right
Often we hear that the one who is right before God is the one who prays a certain prayer or who worships a certain way. But the psalmist—in fact, the entire Bible—says that it is the person who lives a certain life that God welcomes into his presence. God hates people who think they are good because of the way they worship, but do not have justice in their lives. God despises people who think that the way they pray gives them the right to be heard. Rather, God is looking for people who will live the life that He requires. Christianity, the right religion, has to do with right living, not with one’s attitude or one’s words before God. To live before God is to live God’s life.
But what kind of life does God require? Keep reading…

And speaks truth from his heart.
Whose tongue does not slander
The God-pleaser is one who is careful about what he or she says. The person who is careless about their speech, who says evil things about others because it is what they were feeling at the time—they will not be right before God. The person who is always speaking evil of others is not right before God. But the one who always speaks the truth, and only the truth that is merciful and necessary—that is the holy, godly person. The person with merciful integrity is the one who walks with God.

Who has not done wrong to his fellow
Who has not lifted up reproach against his neighbor
The God-pleaser is the one who goes out of his or her way not to harm another person. The God-liver is the one who doesn’t bring up evil things about another person to get them in trouble. Also, when they act, they do what is good for another person, not causing harm from negligence or anger. The person with careful, loving actions is the one who walks with God.

In whose eyes a reprobate is despised
But he honors those who fear Yahweh
The God-pleaser is the one who discerns others correctly. They know who the people are who despise God and his ways, and rightfully stays away from those people. They don’t want to do the God-hater evil, but they don’t encourage them in their evil lifestyle. But these righteous do go out of their way to say positive things about those who seek God and want to please Him. The person who acts appropriately with others, according to their godliness, is the one who walks with God.

He swears to his own hurt
And is steadfast
The God-pleaser is the one who makes sure he or she keeps the promises they make. They make a promise that is painful for them to make, that is a sacrifice. They do it to help a friend, to be seen as someone who is willing to help another, no matter what it costs to themselves. But not only that, they don’t back out of the promise when it is just too inconvenient. They follow through on the difficult promise they made. The person who makes sacrifices and follows through is the one who walks with God.

He does not lend his money at interest
Nor take a bribe against the innocent.
The God pleaser doesn’t take advantage of another’s need. A person might need to borrow money or might need some help—the righteous one doesn’t seek to take advantage of them just because they need help. Nor do they allow someone else’s misfortune just because they could make a profit off of it. The person who isn’t a poverty pimp, that is the one who walks with God.

The one who does these things will never be shaken.
The God-pleaser, the one who walks with God, the one who lives the life that is pleasing to God—that person has the support of God. No matter what tragedies strike their lives, no matter how many difficulties they have to face, God is there for them and will help them. God will always listen to their cries and assist them. Blessed is the one who lives the life of God.