Psalm 15

Text: Psalm 15

Introduction: This is an interesting Psalm and the principles still hold true today.

Body:
   I. The question: Verse 1
      A. “Who shall abide (sojourn) in the tabernacle?  Who 
         shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
      B. The meaning.
         1. “Tabernacle” and “holy hill” are figurative 
            repressions pointing to the Divine presence and 
            favour, and the blessedness of abiding in them. 
            Pulpit Commentary
         2. Who has such a character as to be entitled to hope 
            for the favour and friendship of God. Barnes
         3. Who do you (God) approve of?
         4. How can we dwell truly and in the most intimate 
            abiding fellowship with God? Pulpit Commentary

 II. The answer:
     A. Verse 2
        1. “Walketh uprightly” (walks with integrity – NAS).
           a. “Walketh” – it signifies completeness of moral 
              conduct, that is to say, a many-sided, well-
              rounded-out pattern of living which leaves no 
              important area uncultivated.
           b. “uprightly” – to be complete; to be whole-mind, 
              upright, blameless, to show oneself upright, to 
              deal uprightly with anyone. Wilson
           c. His entire life and bearing will be of unswerving 
              integrity.
        2. “Worketh righteousness.”
           a. Psalms 119:172
           b. Acts 10:34-35
           c. 1 John 2:3-5
           d. James 2:14-26
        3. “Speaketh the truth in his hearts.”
           a. This expression looks at the root of the 
              utterances heard: they emanate from the heart and 
              do not lie superficially on the tongue.
           b. Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15
           c. Colossians 3:9
           d. Ephesians 4:25
      B. Verse 3.
         1. “Backbiteth not with his tongue.” (slander – NAS)
            a. 2 Corinthians 12:20
            b. James 3:5-10
            c. 1 Timothy 5:13
            d. Matthew 12:36
         2. “nor doeth evil to his neighbor.” (by word or deed)
            a. the opposite of “love your neighbor”
            b. Scriptures:
               1) Proverbs 3:29; 25:18; 26:18-19
               2) Matthew 19:19; Luke 10:27
               3) Romans 13:10
         3. “nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor” 
            (friend – NAS).
            a. taking up for the sake of gossip anything that 
               may be uttered by way of defaming another’s 
               character.
            b. slow to believe evil. 1 Corinthians 13:5
      C. Verse 4
         1. “In whose eyes a vile person (a reprobate – NAS) is 
            contemned (despised – NAS).
         2. “honoureth them that fear the Lord.”
         3. “sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.”
            a. Judges 11:29-36
            b. Psalms 61:5,8
            c. Deuteronomy 23:21
            d. Proverbs 20:25
            e. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
            f. Principle with becoming a Christian and Marriage.
      D. Verse 5
         1. “doesn’t put his money out at usury. (interest – 
            NAS)
            a. If I enrich myself at my poor neighbors expense, 
               when he is in financial straits, I certainly have 
               the wrong attitude on the matter.
            b. True charity repudiates the idea of personal gain 
               as the result of usury.
            c. The taking of interest in such a way as would be 
               oppressive and hard.
            d. The thing forbidden is a harsh, grasping, griping 
               disposition; a disposition to take advantage of 
               the embarrassments of others to increase our own 
               gains.
         2. “nor taketh reward (bribe) against the innocent.”

III. The result. Verse 5
     A. “He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
     B. Matthew 7:24-27 (foolish man vs. wise man).
     C. 2 Peter 1:10
     D. 1 John 5:13