The Ultimate Question Series

Summer in the Palms:

Psalm 15: The Ultimate Q and A

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

07-25-2021

Strongly Recommend?

As an adjunct professor at Moody Bible Institute, I have former students that ask me to do recommendations for them as they head off to seminary. I’ve filled out a lot of these forms and they all basically asked the same questions.

The questions focus not so much on what kind of student they were in undergrad but what kind of person they are now. There’s questions about their honesty, integrity, their ability to work with teams and under pressure. Their undergraduate GPA is important but their heart and the type of person they are more important.

The forms are trying to get at this question - is this the type of student that we want at this school and representing this institution? The last question on the form is always, “Based on what you know of this individual, would you recommend them be admitted to this program?” The choices are strongly recommend, recommend, recommend with qualifications, do not recommend. I’ve yet to say no to that question but I would if it was the truth.

If I had to write a recommendation for you to get into heaven, could I do it? Are you the kind of person that God allows to come into His presence? Is there a test that we have to take? And if so, could any of us pass it?

Background

Psalm 15 was written by David but that’s all we really know about it. It doesn’t give us any hint of a date or a circumstance that would have prompted its writing.

Some commentators believe it could have been written when David brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem, dancing in his underwear in all his might (proving he wasn’t a Baptist!) (see 2 Sam 6)

It is what is called an entrance liturgy psalm. It could very well be a kind of Q and A script that a priest would use as worshippers approached the Temple to worship.

This Psalm asks a rhetorical question (who may enter God’s presence?) and then gives eleven ethical qualifications for those who God welcomes.

Psalm 24 asks the same question and there David focuses more on the ritual than the moral:

"Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” (Psalm 24:3-4)

[Slide] David begins Psalm 15 with the most important question in the universe - who is qualified to come into God’s presence?

Turn to Psalm 15.

Prayer.

Who can Get In?

David begins with the question:

[Slide] “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?” (v. 1)

He begins the Psalm by addressing the covenant name of God - Yahweh. This the promise-keeping God who’s love endures forever.

David’s two questions are basically the same but with a slight twist.

First, he asked who may “dwell” in your “sacred tent?” The word “dwell” can be translated “sojourn.” This implies a temporary guest in God’s tent, the place of God’s presence among the Israelites before the temple was built.

There were no Holiday Inns at this time and to give refuge to a foreign traveler would be expected in that culture.

The second question is stronger. Who may “live” on your “holy mountain?” (See Psalm 2:6) This is more of a permanent residence than just a temporary visit.

A resident alien would have no right of residence but would be there as gracious guest of the host.

No one actually lived at the Temple, but there were priests that worked at the Temple and were allowed, at certain times, to enter into God’s presence in the “holy of holies.”

David doesn’t want to visit God’s presence every once in a while. He wants to live there permanently.

The Sons of Korah feel the same way in Psalm 84:

“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” (Psalm 84:1,4)

As lot of people want to try to keep as much distance between them and God as possible. David was the opposite. He wanted to be as close to God as he could be.

So the opening question is what kind of man or woman will be allowed to dwell in God’s presence?

David gives eleven qualifications in this short Psalm that tells us what type of person passes God’s entrance test.

Let’s take the test together. It’s will be good for us. For those who aren’t Christians yet, it will help you know what god requires. For those of you who are new Christians, it will help to know if we are on the right track. For us more seasoned believers, it will be a good check up for us.