Psalms 15: Who? & How?
Reading: Psalms 15
Quote: John J. Plomp
“You know that children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers”.
Ill:
• A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi,
• A Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist.
• The Rabi replied that every day after school;
• His mother would talk to him about his school day.
• She wasn’t so much interested in what he had learned that day,
• But she always inquired, “Did you ask a good question today?”
• Isidor I. Rabi said:
• “Asking good questions made me become a scientist.”
This Psalm starts off by God asking a good question:
(A). The Question Asked (verse 1)
“LORD , who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?”
Many commentators believe:
• This Psalm was written when David had been meditating on the events;
• Depicted in 2 Samuel chapter 6 verses 12-19 and 1 Chronicles chapter 13 verses 1-13.
Ill:
• That was the occasion when David brought the Ark of the Covenant:
• From the house of Obed-Edom to the 'City of David';
• The Ark of the Covenant was a rectangle box.
• Made out of a special type of wood and overlaid with gold and carried on two poles.
• It contained the two stone tablets (10 Commandments);
• And Aarons rod which had budded.
• It was kept in the most holy place in the tabernacle or temple.
• Symbolically – it represented the presence of God.
• Unfortunately during the journey from the house of Obed-Edom to the 'City of David';
• It was placed on a cart and the oxen which were pulling the cart stumbled;
• This caused the Ark to topple. To save it from falling to the ground,
• Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark & he was immediately struck down dead!
The writer of 2 Samuel explains why this took place:
• It was 'because of his irreverent act' (2 Samuel 6:7).
• God had given very clear and specific guidelines regarding the moving of the ark.
• David knew that the Ark was to be carried by priests and Levites;
• And should not have been on the back of a cart.
• To some extent his negligence had brought about this tragedy;
• It was a lesson he would not quickly forget (e.g. 1 Chronicles 15 verse 2).
• Now this incident made a lasting impression on David.
• It was something that he would never forget!
This experience may well be the background to the writing of both Psalm 15 and 24.
• In the light of the awesome holiness of God;
• “Who can approach him, let alone live close to him?”
Ill:
• A leading newspaper that carries a daily column designed to answer readers’ queries,
• Listed the top ten unanswerable questions. Here’s one:
“I am nine years of age and have a cat that eats regularly and needs to go on a diet. He also eats mice when he is out. How many calories in a mouse?”
Unlike that 9 year olds question this one is not unanswerable:
• In fact throughout the rest of this Psalm;
• David goes on to give us an answer!
(B). The Question Answered (verse 2-5)
• David describes for us in verses 2-5;
• Qualities required of people wishing to live close to God.
Note:
• These qualities do not make a person a Christian!
• Remember this is an Old Testament (before Jesus came) Psalm.
• New Testament makes it quite clear that we are saved by faith, not by works;
• Quote: The old hymn.
“I cannot save my soul by works, for that my Lord has done!
But I will work like any slave for love of God’s dear son”
I would suggest:
• The purpose of the Psalm is not how to get right with God;
• But rather principles on how to stay close to God once you are right.
Ill:
Marriage – Tell the husband.
• Pay your wife a compliment.
• Spoil her with gifts and presents.
• Tell her to put her feet up, while you do some of her many tasks;
• Now; here is the point I an trying to make:
• Those things will not make you married, but they will strengthen your relationship.
(1). Right Conduct (verse 2a).
“He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous”.
A 'blameless' life here does not mean an absolutely perfect life.
• Only the Lord Jesus Christ is the only human ever to achieve that;
• He alone walked through the pages of human history without ever sinning (Heb 4:15).
Question: What it does seem to mean is this:
Answer:
• That these people (in verse 2a) have a desire and a determination to please God.
• They not only to know what is right but also try do what is right.
Ill:
A man in the Army of Alexander the Great;
• Who was also named Alexander, was accused of cowardly actions.
• He was brought before Alexander, who asked what his name was.
• He replied softly, “Alexander.”
• “I can’t hear you,” the ruler stated.
• The man again said, a little louder, “Alexander.”
• The process was repeated one more time,
• After which Alexander the Great commented,
• “Either change your name or change your conduct.”
Christian’s are called to be ‘righteous’( ill: Cut it in half – to live right):
• In other words to practice what they preach.
• Walk the talk. To put their theology into shoe-leather.
ill:
• C.T. Studd the 19th Centaury England cricket captain;
• Who gave up wealth, comfort & cricket to serve God in Inland China once said:
"If Jesus Christ be God and he died for me, nothing is to hard for me to do for him".
• When F.B. Meyer was a student he looked out early one morning;
• And noticed the light on in another students room. The student was C.T. Studd:
• Later that day Meyer spoke to C.T. Studd and said:
• "You were up early this morning, what were you doing?"
C.T. Studd replied:
"Last night I read the words of Jesus, 'if you love me, keep my commandments.! Since do I love Jesus, I got up to go through the gospels to make sure I was keeping them".
• Some of us might think C.T. Studd was a bit extreme;
• Principle he was following is worth applying.
Ill: A4 piece of paper.
(2). Right speaking (verse 2b-3).
“Who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbour no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
The tongue, that muscle in our bodies that receives more exercise and less control than any other:
• Medically they say it's only:
• A two-ounce slab of muscle,
• Mucous membrane, and nerves that enables us to;
• Chew, taste, swallow food and articulate words.
Redefined it is:
• A beast,
• A mighty midget:
Quote: The Bible says it:
• Psalm 50 verse 59 tells us it ‘frames deceit’.
• Psalm 52 verse 2 tells us it ‘devises destruction’.
• Psalm 52 verse 4 informs us it ‘devours’.
• Psalm 57 verse 4: Is ‘a sharp sword’.
• Proverbs chapter 25 verse 15: ‘Breaks bones.’
• Proverbs chapter 25 verse 23: ‘Backbites’.
• Proverbs chapter 28 verse 23: ‘Flatters’.
• Romans chapter 3 verse 13: ‘Poisons’
Question: Don’t you think that is pretty destructive for a piece of protein!
Notice:
• That verse 2b reminds us that the tongue is not the real problem?
• The real culprit that controls the tongue is the heart
• The tongue is neither friend nor foe:
• It is merely a messenger that delivers the dictates of a desperately sick heart.
This psalm is reminding us:
• That one of the big differences that non-Christians should see in God’s people;
• Is in this area of the tongue.
Ill:
• The classic movie, A Christmas Story,
• Is a nostalgic look at growing up in the town of ‘Gary’ in Indiana,
• The film is viewed through the eyes of a boy named Ralphy.
• One classic scene takes place during school playtime in the middle of winter.
• Two boys surrounded by their classmates;
• Argue whether a person’s tongue will stick to a metal pole in below-freezing weather.
• Eventually one of the boys succumbs to the infamous “triple-dog dare.”
• Hesitantly he sticks his tongue out and touches it to the school flagpole.
• Sure enough, it gets stuck.
• Then the bell rings for the end of break.
• Everyone runs into the school building, everyone except the hapless victim.
• When the teacher finally looks out the window,
• She sees the boy writhing in pain, his tongue frozen to the flagpole.
While few of us have been in that predicament:
• I guess we all know what it’s like to have our tongues get us in trouble.
• When we suffer the consequences of an uncontrolled tongue!
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT GOD’S PEOPLE:
• Get a grip on their tongues;
• Something constantly repeated throughout the New Testament letters.
• It should be one of the big differences that non-Christians see;
• Or rather hear in God’s people;
Three ways to control that tongue and be different:
(a). Be wholesome.
• Be self-controlled in their use of language;
• Therefore Christians should avoid swearing and cursing & dirty jokes.
(b). Be constructive:
• God’s people should be those who avoid gossiping and malicious talk & spreading rumours etc;
• They are only negative and destructive traits that cause harm not healing.
(c). Be honest:
• It is important that God’s people can be trusted to say what they mean;
• And mean what they say!
• In other words to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
• (ill: Matthew chapter 5 verses 33-37).
(3). Right relationships with others (vs 4):
4 “Who despises a vile man
but honours those who fear the LORD ,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts”.
(N.L.T.):
“Those who despise persistent sinners,
and honour the faithful followers of the LORD
and keep their promises even when it hurts.”
We are called to live godly lives not gullible lives:
• Therefore we have the opportunity to speak out against sin;
• Ill: Jerry Springer opera is a recent example.
• Ill: Salt & Light;
• We are to slow down corruption and darkness in our world.
This verse also encourages us to ‘Honour God’s people’:
• And if we make promises to people;
• Then we should keep them!
• These are simple principles that will lead to happy and healthy relationships;
• Which is what this verse is teaching.
Ill:
Ten Commandments of Human Relations
1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at people. It takes seventy-two muscles to frown, only fourteen to smile.
3. Call people by name. Music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his/her own name.
4. Be friendly and helpful.
5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is genuinely a pleasure,
• And if it isn’t, learn to make it so.
6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can like almost everybody if you try.
7. Be generous with praise, cautious with criticism.
8. Be considerate with the feelings of others. There are usually three sides to a controversy:
• Yours, the other fellow’s, and the right one.
9. Be alert to serve.
• What counts most in life is what we do for others.
10. Add to this a good sense of humour, a big dose of patience, and a dash of humility,
• And you will be rewarded manifold through life.
(4). Right use of wealth (verse 5).
“Who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken”.
Ill:
• Remember after asking my father-in-law if I could marry his daughter;
• He replied: “Can you support her, how much money do you have in the bank?”
• I replied;
• “I don’t know. I haven’t shaken it lately!”
ill:
• John D. Rockefeller’s three simple rules for anyone who wants to become rich:
• 1. Go to work early.
• 2. Stay at work late.
• 3. Find oil.
God’s people are to use their money wisely:
Ill: Baptism & wallet story.
• It was forbidden for an Israelite to lend with interest to a fellow Israelite
• (Lev. 25:36-37; Deut. 23: 19).
• It was, however,
• Permissible to lend with interest to a foreigner (Deut. 23:20).
• Also, no bribe could be taken to ensure the conviction of the innocent
• (Exodus. 23: 8; Deut. 16: 19).
Notice:
• That there is a promise (verse 5b);
• To the person who fulfils these conditions,
• “They will not be moved”,
• i.e. be removed from the house of the Lord and from the Lord’s presence.
• The answer to the opening question in effect is:
• 'Whoever does these things shall dwell in his sanctuary for ever. '
The Problem:
• But we have a problem.
• Perfectly illustrated by verse one of the previous Psalm (Psalm 14):
“They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.”
Ill:
• KFC story;
• “Don’t call the papers, the woman I am with is not my wife!”
• We all have double standards;
• The Bible puts it clear; “For all have sinned”.
If that is true, then none of us could ever fulfil verse 1 f Psalm 15:
• Enjoy God’s presence;
• That is, to know God as a reality in our lives.
Solution:
Ill:
Credit & debt
“When the last trumpet’s voice shall sound
O may I then in Him be found!
clothed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before His throne!”
ill:
Dickens: ‘A Tale of Two Cities’
