In Psalm 15, David begins with a question in verse 1, which he answers in the verses that follow: "Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" The question which David poses has to do with living in the presence of God. "How may I as your child live daily in your presence?" David asks. The reason he asked this question was that he understood well the power that comes to one’s life when they live with a daily awareness of the presence of God.
David’s understanding of the power of God’s presence is illustrated by the way he phrases his question.
David understood that living with the realization of God’s presence in my life has the power to ...
A. Provide me with a sense of direction in life - v. la
The word for "sanctuary" literally means "tent," and refers to the tent that David pitched for the ark of the covenant to be placed in.
A tent is a symbol for something transient and temporary. A tent is easily struck, it is a moveable house, the very symbol of pilgrimage in the Old Testament. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents although they were wealthy men and could easily have built palaces to live in instead. They were content, however, to live in tents, so that they might be ready to move in a moment’s notice at the call of God.
Likewise, we must realize that our lives are transient and temporary. If we are going to make the most of the time we have in this life, we must pursue God’s presence, knowing that as we do, we will have His guidance and direction. Living daily with an awareness of the presence of God provides us with a sense of direction in our pilgrimage on earth.
B. Provide me with a sense of security in life - v. 1b
A hill is a symbol for something permanent. Indeed, David’s desire was not for the ark of the covenant to be kept forever in a tent. He wanted to eventually house the ark in a temple on mount Moriah.
In speaking of the "holy hill" of God, David was referring to the fact that living daily with an awareness of God’s presence in my life provides me with a sense of security concerning my one day being with the Lord in heaven.
Living my life with a daily awareness of God’s presence allows me to be directed in my pilgrimage today here on earth and to be secure in my expectation of being with God one day in heaven.
Well, how can I live with a daily awareness of God’s presence? Let’s note what David tells us here about the characteristics of one who persists in the presence of God.
1. His Walk - v. 2a
If one is going to daily dwell in the Lord’s presence, his walk must be "blameless." The background of the word used here for "blameless" is most interesting. If an Old Testament worshipper wanted to bring a special burnt offering to God, he would find a full-grown ram, one of his prize breeding stock, the very best in his flock, to offer. He would run his hand and eye over it to make sure that it had no hidden blemish. He would take it to the priest, who would also give it a careful examination. The ram would then be slain and the priest would expose all of its inward parts, sharply watching out for any imperfection. Only a perfect sacrifice was acceptable to be offered to God.
It is this process of examination to which this word "blameless" refers.
That which David tells us here then, is that if one is going to daily dwell in the reality of the Lord’s presence, he must daily examine himself to make sure there is nothing in his life that would cause him to be "unclean" in the sight of God (1 Corinthians 11:28a).
Taking things a step further, we must also insist that just as the sacrifice of the Old Testament worshipper was examined not only by the worshipper, but also by the priest, we must be careful to not only examine our lives daily, but to allow our Great High Priest, Jesus, to examine our lives daily (Psalm 139:23-24).
At this point, however, the analogy breaks down. The wonderful difference being that while the Old Testament animal would be rejected upon discovery of a blemish, you and I, upon discovery of any blemish of sin in our lives can submit to the cleansing of our Great High Priest (1 John 1:9).
A member of a major non-Christian religion said to a missionary to India, "Tell me one thing your religion can offer the people of India that mine can’t." The missionary thought for a moment and replied, "Forgive¬ness! Forgiveness!"
Unlike the followers of all other world religions, those who put their hope in Christ have full assurance that their sins are forgiven.
British Bible teacher David Pawson says, "I have talked to devout Muslims who pray five times a day, have journeyed to Mecca, have fasted during Ramadan, and are more devout than many Christians. But when I ask, ’Do you know if your sins are forgiven?’ they’ve said, ’We don’t. We just have to hope for the best.’
The Christian who daily enjoys the reality of God’s presence in his life is one who daily subjects himself to examination whereby he might make sure that his walk before the Lord is blameless.
2. His Work - v. 2b
If one is going to daily dwell in the Lord’s presence, his work must be "righteous." Righteous works are works that are "right." How can I know I am doing the "right" things? Through obedience to the revealed will of God for my life (Ephesians 2:10).
One who enjoys a daily awareness of God’s presence in his life is one who has made being right with God and doing right for God a daily priority (Matthew 6:33).
His desire is only to please God! He lives for an audience of One!
John McKay was, for many years, the worship leader for the James Robinson evangelistic association, until the ministry took a new direction. Afterwards, he and his ministry fell into relative obscurity.
He says that in a moment when he was feeling sorry for himself, he walked to the back part of his property in Texas. He sat down on the side of a hill and saw below him a beautiful field of bluebonnets in full bloom.
He said to the Lord, “Lord, why have you put these bluebonnets on the back side of my property, where I have never seen them? Why not put them out in the front of our property, where we and others passing by might enjoy them?” And he said he heard God speak to his heart and say, “I didn’t put them there for your enjoyment or anyone else’s. I put them there for me.”
3. His Words - vs. 2c-4
If one is going to daily dwell in the Lord’s presence, his words must be "fitting" (Proverbs 25:11; James 1:26)
The reality of the Lord’s presence in our lives will have a "double-edged" effect upon our speech. To maintain an awareness of God’s presence, one will be careful not to sin in what they say, and because of their awareness of God’s presence, they will want to be careful not to sin in what they say!
Note what we are told about the kind of speech that will characterize the life of one who lives with an awareness of God’s presence:
A. What he says will be constructive - v. 2c-3a
He will think of how he can encourage rather than discourage others (Ephesians 4:29).
A young boy coerced his dad into the bedroom to play a game of darts. The father was tired and reluctant, yet forced himself, plopped down on the bed, and watched as his son took careful aim and let fly, dart after dart.
After several minutes, the dad inquired, "Son, when do I get to throw the darts?" The young guy shot back, "Oh, dad, that’s not how I like to do it. I’m suppose to throw the darts and you’re supposed to say ’Wonderful!’
B. What he says will be considerate - v. 3b
He will refuse to participate in gossip.
There was a person in a church who was spreading gossip about other believers in the church. Being convicted by the Holy Spirit of this sin, the person came and confessed to the pastor.
The wise pastor asked this person to perform a particular task. He asked this member to take a down-filled pillow, and slit one end, and go to every house where the gossip had been told, and then empty a portion of the pillow on each front porch.
It took a week for him to complete this request. On Sunday he reported the finished project to the pastor, to which he replied: "Now, I want you to go back to every house and put all the feathers back in the pillow." The believer in shock responded: "But that’s impossible." The pastor then said: "Yes, that is true. The same is true once a rumor is told. You can’t go back and reclaim it."
Many think the sin of gossip is telling false information. Not true. The sin of gossip also involves true information that does not need to be known, because it disrupts fellowship, wounds others, and leads to incorrect conclusions.
Before we pass on any information, we should ask the following three questions: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it needful? 3. Is it kind?
C. What he says will be convicting - Vs. 4a
His words will be used of God to identify that which should be condemned and that which should be commended. Allowing the Lord to guide his speech will lead him at times to sit down and be silent, but at other times he will be led to stand up and speak out.
D. What he says can be counted on - v. 4b
He is a person who can be counted on to do what he says! He will back up his promises with action, even when it hurts to do so!
He does not shy away from making a promise and when he makes one, he also doesn’t shy away from keeping his promise (Matthew 5:33-37)!
4. His Ways - v. 5
If one is going to daily dwell in the Lord’s presence, his ways must be "pure."
A. His motives will be pure - v. 5a
He will not be out to get ahead at the expense of others. Instead, he will be sincerely concerned about helping others in whatever way the Lord would enable him to do so.
B. His methods will be pure - v. 5b
He will not be the kind of person who do anything to get ahead in life. Instead, he will seek to be a person of integrity who draws the line when it comes to conducting their business in life.
When it comes to the way in which he conducts himself, the person who is preoccupied with God’s presence in his life will be more concerned with integrity than with image! He will be more concerned about how he is viewed by the God above him than he is in how he is viewed by the world around him.
Conclusion: David concludes this Psalm by saying of the person who persists in the presence of God that he will never be shaken. Why? Because he will live his life with a sense of direction from God and with a sense of security in God!
After sixteen years as a mis¬sionary on the continent of Africa. David Livingstone returned Scotland to address the students at Glasgow University. His body had been ravaged by some 27 fevers that had overtaken him during his years of service. One arm hung useless at his side, the result of being mangled by a lion. The core of his message was: ’Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the toil, the hardship, and loneliness of my exile? lt was Christ’s promise, "Lo. I am with you always, even unto the end.” Christ’s promise isn’t just for David Livingstone, it also is for you. He is with the missionary, hut He also is with the Christian living out his or her faith in the business world, in the schoolroom, and in the home. Christ is with every Christian at all times, in all places. So take courage and remain faithful.
