READ: Ps. 15:1–5: LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; … He who does these things shall never be moved.
In the preceding psalms, David directs himself to the evil of those who do not wish to know and acknowledge God, the wicked. Now David directs himself to those who do know and acknowledge God, with the question: who may dwell in God’s house? Who may appear before God’s face and live in His fellowship?
The background of this question is that among religious people there are also hypocrites, even among God’s people, the church of Jesus Christ. They present themselves as believers, but what is in their heart, their speech, their life?
In this it is important to realize that God is holy, that in Him there is no sin at all, no darkness, and that He tolerates no sin (1 John 1:5–10). Every human being is in Adam a sinner, conceived and born in sin. No one is worthy to dwell with God. But forgiveness is possible. In the Old Testament, this was accomplished through the sin offerings that pointed to the blood of Christ, and in the New Testament, through the shed blood of Christ (1 John 2:1,2). But then one must also live out of that forgiveness. One must strive against sin.
That is also true in the Old Testament, the dispensation in which the Spirit had not yet been poured out. The people are taught by the priests to keep God’s law; also in the rest of God’s Word this law is further explained (see, e.g., Deut., Lev., Num., Prov.).
The LORD requires of His people that they live uprightly before His face, also in their conduct toward their neighbor. Otherwise discipline is necessary. This remains the case in the time of the New Testament. One is not allowed to come to the Lord’s Supper with unconfessed public sins. But neither with secret sins. One must examine oneself.
In this Psalm the holiness of God is emphasized and therefore also the holiness of our life. For to us applies the Word of God: “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:16).
Is what God requires of us easy?
Singing: Ps. 15:1,2,3