PSALM 15
The question and God's answer -- Who is able to enter into God's presence?
"Holiness is not something to be received in a meeting; it is a life to be lived in detail." D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Verse 1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Psalm 14 introduced atheism, the belief of ones who would deny God’s existence. This one who denies God is called a “fool.” They are corrupt, and God steps up to judge them as sinners. They have chosen their own way. They cannot come into the presence of God.
So
The spiritual qualifications -- Do I qualify?
How do I prepare to meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
Verse 1 Q=Question Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord?
A=Answer Those who have been invited
Q Who has been invited?
A Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Q Will all invited come?
A When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! Matthew 22:3
We can refuse the invitation.
Q Who may enter your presence on your holy hill or who can spend time with a holy God?
Q Can I, Lord? Can I have a living worship experience with You?
Q How can I “seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
“… Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 18:18
“The jailer called … and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:29-30
The Answer
1st you must look to God:
·
His word·
His direction·
Ask Him to lead you into His presence.·
Answered in couplets – (Another way to say a is b.)
Verse 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Verse 2 a
Daily pattern of life is blameless.
Life is focused in a direction.
Those around you see the pattern of your life.
Verse 2 b
Does what is righteous
Obedient life-style
Consistent conformity to God’s Word
2nd couplet found in verse 2-3a.
Speaking the truth from sincere hearts…
This is the first time truth is mentioned in the psalms (a look inside).
Focus on the tongue:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your
sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NKJV
God knows the truth of our words. He looks at our hearts – not just our words.
“And as the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human lives learned by rote.’” Isaiah 29:13 NLT
Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-8
Verse 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
Verse 3 a They will refuse to slander others. Slander – character assassination, gossip, mudslinging, bad mouthing, speaking ill/evil of, maligning, trashing.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11;13
Not
Devil
So to enter the presence of God, your life will not resemble the actions of Satan – but obedience to God’s Word.
Verse 3 b Don’t harm your neighbor.
“Do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all of this,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 8:17
Your attitude towards others –
Your neighbor is anyone you associate with – do not devise evil against anyone.
Verse 3 c And don’t speak evil of their friends.
Be a builder, not in demolition.
Pray for those who stand in the need of prayer. Don’t take the attitude of judgment into the presence of God.
It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. Proverbs 11:12
The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. Proverbs 11:20
Verse 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Verse 4 a Despise persistent sinners. Don’t let them make you untrue.
Verse 4 b Honors faithful followers of the Lord
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do…..
For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1:1-3,6
Which is your comfort zone?
Are you as comfortable with those living in open sin as you are with faithful followers of God’s Word?
Does sin still break your heart?
Does it drive you to your knees?
Do you conform or have you been transformed?
Verse 4 b Respect those who are obedient to God’s Word.
Verse 4 c Keep promises even when it hurts.
We grow best under pressure.
God reveals His ability.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is He who calls and He will do it.
Even when it appears impossible.
What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with yearling calves? ......... Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? Micah 6:6-7
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Verse 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Verse 5 a How does the use of your money honor God?
Does personal gain sway the way you give, share, help? Even your tithe – who gets the glory?
Verse 5 c Such people will stand firm.
They will not be shaken.
Their refuge is in God.
“Now who is he? Say, if you can, who so shall gain the firm abode? Pilate shall say, ‘Behold the man?,’ and John, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’” John Barclay
(diabolas) – prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely. You oppose the cause of God when you side with the devil. edifying or administering grace. Be willing to ask and listen intimately with a Holy God!
: Not by name but by description – who can? Am I worthy? Who is worthy? A person seeking to worship God asks the question.
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