Psalms 15
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Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 15:1-5
Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?
A Psalm of David.
1O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4in 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;
5who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 15:1-5
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
I thought, “Would God accept me in His home?” This ultimate destination of peace and wholeness is worthy of seeking. It’s held up as a motivator: “don’t sin,” “be good,” “say your prayers.” But is this introspection God’s priority for us? Instead, might we water gardens rather than burn down briers?
Step outside, walk a block or a few, and you will find someone who can’t begin to imagine their Edenic home, their custom mansion. Currently, their lives are full of blood and dirt and darkness, a fact that haunts them. The smallest hope of escape or even the simplest act of kindness would be to them a heaven on earth, a garden of rest. Dry ground needs only a drop to be softened.
Might you be the watering pot that God will bring to that lonely soul, that dry ground? To King David, this heavenly home is inhabited by those who “do what is righteous.” Why is that the standard? Why must we “do” anything? Well, I ask, how could a Christian, whose Savior was a “friend of sinners” do otherwise? Can we swim in the river of life and refuse to share a drop?
Joshua Hester
Pastor, Waterloo, Iowa USA (as of this writing)
