the beauty of God’s dwelling

“A Psalm of David.
  1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
            Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
             and speaks truth in his heart;
 3 who a does not slander with his tongue
              and does no evil to his neighbor,
       nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
 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;
 5 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.” - Psalm 15

This short Psalm really turned my attention this week to the beauty of God’s dwelling.  The Psalm is built around the description of the person’s character that is able to be a guest of God.  The Psalm is beautifully put together with a question in verse 1, followed by an eleven point description of that man.  These wonderful qualities are not something that man conjured up on his own power, but on the gracious, imparting hand of God Almighty.

Verse 1 raises the question of who is able to abide in the tent of the Lord.  The holy hill mentioned in this verse can resemble His temple in Jerusalem.  What a powerful question!  Think about that for a moment.  Who is able to step into the Holy presence of God Almighty?  According to the entire counsel of Scripture, we know that thru the blood of His Son, we have been washed in His righteousness and given entrance in His Holy Hill! (Read Hebrews 7:24-28).  I say it often; what a Savior!

Verses 2-5  gives us the eleven points of the qualifications of this man.  Each point is wonderfully ties into other passages of Scripture (such as Matthew 5:3-12, Galatians 5:22, and James; to name some…there are more!) The answer to the question in verse 1 is found in the man whose life and actions show true obedience to God.  Take a moment and read Matthew 6:33.  I believe the most basic answer I can give to this amazing question is found in this simple verse; “Seek First His kingdom and His righteousness!” 

Do you do that?  Can you dwell in His presence, enter into His most Holy dwelling?  To quote the old hymn, “Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?” Do you live your life in such radical obedience that you can truly identify with what Christ said in Matthew 5:48 (about being perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect)?  Do you walk with integrity?  Do you live in His righteousness?  Do you speak truth from your heart?  Do you guard your tongue against slander? Do you reject the temptation to do evil to another?  Do you stop back biting your friends? Continue with the other questions in verses 4-5… you’ll get the idea.

Repent.  Confess your sins to the only One that is mighty to save.  May His grace shine upon you today as you receive the joy of abiding in Him.  Take a final moment and read John 15.  May His dwelling lead you to genuine and amazing worship today.  Soli Deo Gloria!

-From one who is joyful to abide in His dwelling.