Hello! This week, we’ll be discussing Psalm 15. Let’s dive right in.
Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?
A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
This is a good question. Since we are all sinners, who among us really deserves this? None. Not one of us.
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
This is a bit dated (it was a study conducted with a professor from Notre Dame in 2014). The Sincere group had to always be telling the truth with complete seriousness. “What was so amazing is that in the fifth and final week of the study, the Sincerity group reported significantly fewer physical health complaints than the Control group. Specifically, they had experienced an average of 7 fewer symptoms such as sore throats, headaches, nausea that week. Because the only difference between the two groups was the sincerity instructions, we can conclude that these instructions actually caused the health benefit.”
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
This can be difficult to follow through with, because in the USA, you have a right to defend yourself if you feel wronged – but consider the context of this verse. “Slander” is defined by Merriam Webster as, “the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation;” “a false and defamatory oral statement about a person.” We are called not to “get back at” the people who hurt us. Also, Romans 12:19 tells us, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” Leave it to the Almighty. 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12 says, “But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Psalm 15 continues with Verse 4:
in 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;
This verse refers to people who are vile in the Lord’s eyes, not the world’s. Often in today’s world, it can seem like anything goes, on matter what the Bible says (or doesn’t say) about it. In this verse, “fear” does not necessarily mean that we should be scared of God (although His power is intimidating and grander than we can imagine), Merriam-Webster also defines it as, “profound reverence and awe especially toward God,” (noun) or “to have a reverential awe of” (verb). He loves us and wants the best for us. John 16:23-24 says: “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
who 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.
Now, “put out his money at interest” may seem unclear by itself, but the next line clarifies – “does not take out a bribe against the innocent.” This could mean “don’t charge people money they don’t actually owe,” “don’t make the innocent pay for something they didn’t do,” or “
Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Dear Lord, thank you for dying for me and for Your presence in my life. Please protect and strengthen me. Help me to hold onto faith in You during my trial. Amen.
Have a blessed week!
If you would like to help with supporting the cost of the blog, please feel free to contribute at our page on BuyMeACoffee. This money will be used to help with the cost of the website. Books by Malinalli, Inc is not a nonprofit, but we do contribute to a few. You can see more information about them at the BuyMeACoffee page, or here.
Please Leave a Reply