Grant Avenue Baptist Church
2215 Grant Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 376-7890
Pastor David Wilson Cell Phone: 310-213-4586
Email: abimilech@ca.rr.com
COMFORTABLE IN GOD’S PRESENCE
TEXT: Psalm 15
We’ve been dealing with godly character traits for some time now. In our series on the Sermon on the Mount we discovered that the Beatitudes describe the character of godly people and the practices that Jesus taught in the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount were to grow out of those character traits. God is greatly concerned with the attitudes of the heart.
While attending a conference on Saturday I heard a great sermon illustration from Dr. Calvin Wittman, who pastors a growing church in Colorado. He described his wife and daughter viewing a classic film on Television. The film was one of those musicals that he termed a “chick flick.” He told how they came to a scene where the classic “Puttin’ on the Ritz” was performed. He said for a few minutes he was shaking his head in disbelief because in his memory it was Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle doing this routine and Peter Boyle was made up like Frankenstein. He was, of course, referring to a Young Frankenstein, a film by Mel Brooks that was a total parody of classic horror films, but included this one musical number. Of course, to those seeing the real thing after seeing the parody version was very, very strange. The point he quickly made was that in America today—more people have seen a parody of Christianity than the real thing.
Psalm 15 describes part of the real thing. It describes what God’s people are really supposed to be like.
VERSE ONE:
First, the Psalmist asks a question.
“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?”
I’d like to paraphrase the question—“Lord, who gets to live in your presence? Lord, who is comfortable being with you?”
Now, that paraphrase may miss the mark a bit because it puts my own interpretation on it! The Psalmist may be asking instead, “Who is good enough to live with you?” Of course, the Biblical answer would be nobody, outside of Christ.
I don’t think this is so much a question of qualification for dwelling with God as the character of those who get to dwell with God. In other words, since the Psalmist is going to take the time to describe the character of God’s people- I believe he is saying that it is important to develop this type of character.
VERSE TWO:
“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart”
To have a blameless walk is not to be perfect. It is to live a life where no charges of wrong can be properly attributed to you. For example, Daniel lived a life of such integrity and lack of compromise that when the king’s other officials started their investigation they could find nothing. He was blameless. So they had to create a new law that they knew would get him because it was related to his spiritual walk.
The second part of this verse is about doing that which is right. I wish that I could honestly declare that I always do that which is right, but the truth is that I don’t. The principle that I find in my life is that when I do what is right my fellowship with God is wonderful. When I don’t do the right thing fellowship with God is impaired. Doing what is righteous doesn’t mean walking around with a holier-than-thou attitude. It means dealing with life’s circumstances in a right response. It means choosing right living over evil. While it sounds easy in principle, in practice it is really quite difficult. It means choosing a non-wrathful response towards those who drive like idiots around you. It means being kind when others are cruel. It means being honest even when the truth is embarrassing. It means choosing that which is right. Please note- it is indeed a choice.
The third part of verse two is about speaking truth. God’s people must be honest. Honesty is hard sometimes. I’m talking about not protecting yourself with some story. Not inflating your importance in a story. Not exaggerating your accomplishments. I’m talking about being open and honest. I wish more pastors were honest from the pulpit about their shortcomings. Honesty means admitting where we are struggling or falling short. But note that we are not talking about being forced to be honest—but we are speaking of an honesty that comes from the heart. It comes naturally.
I am grateful that God has allowed me to earn a reputation for honesty and integrity. I wholeheartedly appreciated the pastor friend (and former employer) who called me and told me of a conversation he had with a worker’s compensation insurance adjustor regarding me. The adjustor was working on a final settlement to offer to me. However, he knew I was scheduled to testify in another case where another employee had created a fraudulent claim. He expressed concern to my pastor friend about how I would testify if I was dissatisfied with the settlement the company was offering to me. My pastor friend tempted me to pride when he told me what he had told the adjustor, “Even if you never give Mr. Wilson one cent, he will come in and tell the truth, no matter what.” He went on to express his pleasure in being able to tell the adjustor and further expressed his appreciation that I was always honest in every situation, even when it hurt.
I could say that honesty stems from my parents’ discipline, but that would not be 100% true. Nor does it stem from my wonderful moral values. I believe that my ability to be open and honest stems from a walk with Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be “the Way, the TRUTH, and the life.” I know the Truth, His name is Jesus Christ. My knowledge of Christ sets me free to be honest.
VERSE THREE:
“and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,”
To slander someone is to dirty their reputation with that which is not true. One of my pet peeves is forwarded email. I get all sorts of email about things that are not even true. In our recent presidential election we saw a ton of slanderous email about Barack Obama, and well-intentioned Christians just forwarded it on and on and on, never stopping to see if it is true.
To this day, I still run into the rumor that Proctor and Gamble is headed by a Satan Worshipper. P & G spent millions of dollars fighting this rumor that was spread by Christians. This company finally even changed their corporate logo in an effort to dispel this terrible, mean-spirited, and false rumor. Believers who spread this rumor were guilty of slander.
If we are busy telling things that are NOT true about people- how will people believe us when we tell things that ARE true. If we are wrong about Pepsi printing the pledge of allegiance on a soda can that omits the words “under God” then when people hear us sharing the TRUTH of Jesus Christ we have lost credibility.
This past week I heard a rumor about a circumstance that one of our members is in. The rumor has a credible source (a family member) and from other indications that I had personally seen and conversations with that member—it probably is true. Though I believe we need to pray for this member—I do not know for certain that it is true and therefore cannot really share it. I did approach Brother Mike and let Mike know what I had heard and that I was not certain of it, but would he choose just to pray with me about it. Believers must not be the sort of people that choose to damage other people’s reputations and they must be cautious not to do so.
Another important character trait is that we don’t do wrong to our others. While this applies to those around us, for just a moment I want emphasize the importance of treating those who live around us properly. For example, if you have a loud party that disturbs the peace of your neighbors then you have wronged your neighbors. If you allow your dog to bark all night and disturb your neighbor, then you have wronged him. If you allow your plants to overgrow your neighbor’s yard, you have wronged your neighbor. Does your attitude towards those who live around you make you a good neighbor? Does your presence bring peace or conflict into your neighborhood?
Of course, this is speaking to more than just those who live around you. It means all those you come in contact with. Do you treat others right?
The third thing in this verse seems to be the same as the first. The concept of casting no slur on your fellowman is a bit deeper than this particular translation references. The concept is seeking to lift up and expose the shame of another person.
There are places in the New Testament where a principle that I call “marking the unruly” comes into play. The apostles were not afraid to name names and point out specific wrongs. John speaks of how he will face Diotrephes (see III John) and publicly rebuke him when he comes to visit the church. Paul names some who have shipwrecked their faith or have done him harm. However, the goal of such “marking” is not to bring shame upon these people. First, its major purpose is to bring these unruly folks to repentance and second it is to prevent others from following in the same misguided path.
We live in a society that thoroughly enjoys revealing nasty truth. The media literally chases celebrities in order to expose them in some sort of compromising position. People seem to enjoy reading the latest about Tiger Woods sexual failures, or how Jon and Kate separate, the latest drunken escapade of Dennis Rodman, or others. If you enjoy the dirty details you are one of those who “lift up” and “carry about” a neighbor’s shame.
VERSE FOUR:
“who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,”
Who is your hero? Who your heroes are says something about your character? God’s people don’t have a lot of respect for evil people, but are excited about those who fear God.
Do you remember how Ahab, the evil and vile king of Israel, came and cultivated a relationship with King Jehoshophat? Jehoshophat went out and assisted Ahab in battle and Ahab painted a bullseye on Jehoshophat, who almost died. Barely, escaping with his life, he returned to Judah and was met by Jehu the prophet who said to him,
“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD ?”
Who is your hero? It needs to be those who honor God.
The second part of this verse is where this sermon really began. In speaking of commitment—Do you keep your Word, even when it is hard?
Looking around at a number of empty seats, I can see missing people who promised me that they would attend faithfully who have not done so. Do they keep their word? In Ecclesiastes 5 a special warning is issued to those who make commitments to the house of God that they don’t keep.
One pastor got up one Sunday morning and declared that there had been a theft of church operating funds. Someone was stealing from the church and the next Sunday morning he planned to reveal who it was. The church was crowded the next Sunday morning as the minister took his place at the podium. He reminded the people that he had promised to reveal the thief. He then pointed out at the congregation and declared that they were the thieves because they had robbed God by not keeping their commitment to tithing and then went on to preach from Malachi 3.
Have you kept your commitment to give the tithe to God even when it got hard to do so?
VERSE FIVE:
“who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.”
God’s people must be concerned about the poor. He isn’t looking for a way to profit from them and he wants to be certain that justice is done.
There were three things that God judged both Judah and Israel over. The list is pretty simple, but each of these factors caused both the nations to be judged by God and placed into exile.
1) Idolatry
2) Oppression of the Poor
3) Injustice
It isn’t enough to avoid idolatry but to ignore the poor.
Do you, as a believer, work to see justice done in your nation? While you may have little impact on justice, do you do whatever you can?
The character traits discussed in this chapter brings about a certain stability to a person’s life. They also make the believer comfortable in the presence of God.
