“Who Can Abide with God?”

Sunday, September 08, 2024

A Psalm of David.

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

        Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

        and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

        and does no evil to his neighbor,

        nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

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;

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)

The superscript of this Psalm identifies it as one of David’s works. It became fashionable in liberal scholarship circles of the 1800s to dispute the validity of these titles—at the same time these scholars were sowing doubt about literally everything else in the Bible, it’s worth noting. As a result, some Christians to this day maintain that the superscripts in the book of Psalms are not inspired. This is a mistake. It’s worth discussing the evidence presented by these scholarly skeptics and using it to better understand the Psalms and their purpose. However, we should keep in mind that Jesus and his Apostles took these titles seriously (e.g. Mt 22.43-44, Ac 2.25, Ro 4.6-7); are we in any position to correct them on this point?

All of this being the case, we should read Psalm 15 as if it originates from, and pertains to, David. That’s a lot of work before the first line of the Psalm, but it helps us establish the context. Verse 1 asks what sort of person can sojourn with God, in his tent, on his hill. That hill is, of course, Zion (cf. Ps 2.6), but the temple had not yet been built there, when David wrote! The ark of the covenant still stood in a temporary structure, after the pattern of the tabernacle—hence David’s choice of words. Between the tent and the sojourning, we are reminded that, on this earth, we are not truly at home. Yet, as we go through life, our goal should be to dwell as near to God as we can, and to seek an eternal home with him. As God’s chosen hill Zion is holy, so is God himself. He does not allow what is unholy to abide in his presence, and so David ponders what sort of person God will permit to live with him.

“He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart” (v2) can dwell with God. The idea of blamelessness is that no one can bring an unresolved charge against this person. But in addition to good behavior that cannot be condemned by the public, he who would dwell with God must also maintain internal discipline, speaking “truth in his heart.” This is harder, requiring humility and constant self-examination.

He “who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend” (v3) can dwell with God. Our tongues are usually the first offenders, but speech is often followed by action. Be careful not to speak treacherously.

He “in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the Lord” (v4a) can dwell with God. It’s not that we should make ourselves out to be each other’s judges; but who are your friends? Whom do you allow to influence you?

He “who swears to his own hurt and does not change” (v4b) can dwell with God. Do you honor your commitments? What kind of excuses suffice, for you to rationalize away the guilt of breaking promises? Is your word reliable?

He “who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent” (v5a) can dwell with God. Greed is common. It’s not a sin to have wealth; but gain it honestly and justly, and use it the same way! God also possesses great wealth, and he lavishes it upon the undeserving.

“He who does these things shall never be moved” (v5b). Moved from where? Why, from, God’s tent, on his holy hill, of course! This Psalm’s final observation is a more primitive version of what Paul later wrote,

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 (Romans 8.38-39)

No one and nothing has the power to take us away from God’s presence—if we are righteous and holy, as God is righteous and holy. Therein lies the problem. The picture of a righteous man, which Psalm 15 built for us, is a lovely summary of the ideal; but while it’s tool of great value in helping us mold and direct our behaviors and attitudes day by day, it also serves to convict us. Even if men find no fault in you, can you really claim to be blameless before God? As David’s wise son Solomon wrote, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ec 7.20). Yet Paul, who well knew both this fact and his own massive weight of guilt before God, gave us that statement of eternal security!  How can this be?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2.20)

This is the point. You don’t deserve to dwell with God. Try as you might—as you ought—you don’t live up to God’s standard. The one who can sojourn in God’s tent is the one who acts like God. If you have been crucified with Christ and allow him to replace you, then you will act like God, and abide with him.

Jeremy Nettles

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