PSALM 15:1-5
Introduction:
The word “LORD” is the name of God, JEHOVAH. The question to consider here is: “Thou high and holy One, who shall be permitted to have fellowship with thee?”
“A sense of the glory of the Lord and of the holiness which becomes his house, his service, and his attendants, excites the humble mind to ask the solemn question before us. Where angels bow with veiled faces, how shall man be able to worship at all?” —Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I. WHO SHALL DWELL IN THY HOLY HILL?
A. The Question: “Who will abide in God’s presence,” v. 1; Psalm 24:3, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?”
1. David had asked the question; he was a man who thought on the SPIRITUAL THINGS of God, Psalm 119:59, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”
a. His delight was in the LAW of God, Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
b. His thoughts were on the HOUSE of God, Psalms 23:6, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
c. He wanted to see the BEAUTY of the Lord, Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
d. He want to flourish in the courts of God, Psalm 92:13, “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
B. The Answer: “The Righteous may abide,” vv. 2-5; Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
1. Those whose walk is blameless, that is, a born again believer, John 3:3-5, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4- Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5- Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
2. Those who actions are RIGHTEOUS…
a. He that speaks the truth and is not double minded in his business, Psalm 12:2, “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”
b. A righteous person does not slander maliciously, Numbers 14:36, “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,” [an evil report]
c. One who does no harm or discredit his neighbor, Leviticus 19:16, “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.”
1) A neighbor (or friend) is anyone with whom he comes in contact, Luke 10:25-37.
d. One who can’t stand a vile person, Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
e. One who loves those who fear the Lord, who are living a life of faith and obedience, 2 Corinthians 7:14-15, “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15- And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him .”
f. One who keeps his word even when it hurts, Even if he took an oath rashly, Leviticus 5:4, “Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it , then he shall be guilty in one of these.”
3. David concluded that one who follows this pattern of life will never be shaken, Psalm 16:8, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
CONCLUSION:
David concluded that if he cast his burdens on the Lord God would take care of him, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”