King David wrote many song lyrics recorded in the book of Psalms. On a few occasions, in his pain and anguished state of mind, he wrote questions presented to God Almighty requesting answers for his desire to live in accordance to what was accepted by God. One question was, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?” For the honest heathen to identify those who can abide in God’s tabernacle, this is extremely difficult for them to know being there are so many differences in “Christian” (in quotes) proclaimed doctrines; doctrines of men.
Many people proclaim to live as a Christian. I am sure many attempt to live according to what they believe from Holy Scripture. However, when observed by others, there seems to be many discrepancies in their behaviors and what is perceived as true righteous Christian behavior.
Where are those who are abiding in God’s Tabernacle and how do we recognize them? What behaviors are true Christians to possess to be identified as abiding in God’s Tabernacle? Are they able to abide in the Kingdom of God according to The Father’s guidelines? Or, do they wear a false Christian facade, doing what seemeth right in their own eyes? Let us look at scripture for an answer.
The first answer which most people offer is that each true Christian will study the Holy Scripture and meditate upon it for the information by which they should behave. 2 Timothy 2:15. If they are doing this correctly, are all professed Christians on the same page? Are they translating the Word each the same having the same mind as Jesus Christ? From a world’s viewpoint, this seems to not be the case. Let us investigate all scripture to identify if we are correctly dividing the scriptures so we can abide in the Lord’s Tabernacle.
The prophet Micah says, [God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8. In all things, through the Spirit and in all of nature, God has disclosed His will for the actions of man. Through His Word, Jesus, we can find and confirm what actions are good and what are evil.
I hope you brought your lunch with you today; we may be here for a long while, especially if we look at ALL the scripture related. Really, we only need to meditate upon just a few passages to learn how we are to behave and thus abide in God’s Tabernacle. Turn to Psalms chapter 15 and let us read:
15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? We read David’s question and feel his dilemma. It appears to be ours also. There is too much confusion in the Christian religious arena to live by man’s various interpretations. Let us seek the answers. King David discloses some of them for us.
THE ANSWERS
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Walketh uprightly! Many believe they are walking uprightly yet behave as those in the world. What does it mean to walk uprightly? To walk is to describe our manner of living, life, and behavior. Uprightly in our manner of life is to be sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity: of God's way in accord with His guidelines for life. Therefore, walking uprightly is living in the sound doctrine of God’s Holy Word; having the same mind as Jesus Christ–The Word.
This seems normal and appears to ourselves as how we walk. But often we do not see what the world sees in our complete lifestyle and manner of life. We need more guidelines for comparison to determine who can abide in God’s Tabernacle.
Secondly David says, “worketh righteousness.” Worketh is to do. It implies to always do the same consistently. And what do we work–do? Righteousness. That is to do what is always right according to God’s plan. As a child we were always taught to do the ‘Golden Rule’; Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Does the world see us always doing this?
Thirdly David says, “speaketh the truth in his heart!” To answer this statement for evaluation of our behavior, let us turn to Ephesians 4:25. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. If we profess to walk uprightly then we should never allow others to believe we may not always tell the truth. We should never bear false witness of another nor allow such. Our lives should be identified as one always speaking the truth no matter if it brings harm or offends ourselves or another. Our motto should be; Right is right and wrong is wrong. There are no other ways.
Psalms 15:3. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Fourthly David lists: Backbitteth not! A backbitter is a slanderer, a tale-bearer or gossip. Speaking against another or seeking news to speak against another is not the behavior of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are to imitate him, who imitated his father God, then it is not a righteous behavior and one should never do such. Those people who do such are not able to abide in God’s Tabernacle.
Fifthly Davis says: Doeth evil to his neighbor! One who does evil, not an upright behavior of any form to his neighbor is not performing Godly behavior but worldly behavior. The world can readily recognize such. AND, they are quick to become a tale-bearer. This behavior is filling the news outlets regularly. A Christian who can abide in the Tabernacle of God abhors this news and does not participate in such. We should be known to live by the Golden Rule towards all people. We should be known to respect authority even if we do not agree with their rule. Jesus told Nicodemus the greatest commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself. Do you wish harm upon yourself? Why do we do it upon others?
Sixth David says: Taketh up a reproach against his neighbor! A child abiding in God’s Tabernacle does not taunt nor scorn their neighbor. Jesus says we should accept a loss or ill behavior where we are taken advantage of rather than to speak ill of our neighbor. We are not to plot evil against another. He says we are to love our enemies and do good to them that hate us or wrongly use us. This is a very difficult behavior to possess, but to abide in God’s Tabernacle we must.
Psalms 15:4. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
The ASV says, 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;
The NIV reads, 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
The NKJV says, 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
A righteous person who can abide in God’s Tabernacle despises evil and regards a vile person as one in contempt. To be contempt is to be in violation of a rule or guideline. Therefore, this person is in contempt with God’s laws and therefore a sinner. This individual can be a part of a righteous assembly as well. Not all heathens or infidels are the only persons who may be in contempt with God. Therefore we must evaluate ourselves regularly to know what the world recognizes about we who profess to abide in God’s Tabernacle and may not in truth abide therein. We must know if we still abide in God’s Tabernacle.
We see those things one should not do and the things a righteous member of God’s Tabernacle does. Therefore, on the flip side, a soul which does abide in the Tabernacle of God honors and fears not only God but all those who absolutely fear God and abide therein.
This soul which abides in God’s Tabernacle deals with all matters of life no matter the pain and suffering they face. It is by the same way the world despised Jesus Christ and perpetrated his punishment that we know we are in the fold of God. Apostle Paul spoke if we live a different lifestyle as the world we would be tormented and despised by the world. As a Christian we shall suffer at the hands of the world. We do not change from our convictions. We hold firmly to the truth and faith in Jesus Christ.
Lastly, Psalms 15:5. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
One who can abide in God’s Tabernacle does not take advantage of his fellow man. He does not take away anything from the innocent; one who cannot properly defend themselves. Greed is not found within him.
A righteous man who does these things and keeps his faith in God no matter the suffering we feel from this life cannot be moved. Peter confirms this in 2 Peter chapter 1. If the one abiding in God’s Tabernacle continues to meditate and do the things to add to their faith, developing brotherly kindness and love, they cannot be moved from abiding in God’s Tabernacle. God shall not remove their name from the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Are you walking uprightly? Are you blameless except for false accusers in all things? A true Christian shall find the evil ones of this world falsely accusing the righteous. Do you live in all honesty doing good to all men, especially those of the household of faith? Are you showing mercy and walking humbly in all things toward God?
Zechariah warned, 9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, [sic] Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. Zechariah 7:9-10. Are you showing mercy and compassion? The world is not finding these virtues readily. They each appear lost in society. Let us renew them unto our fellowman.
If you cannot confirm these things listed as behaviors of the upright, which abide in God’s Tabernacle, make your calling and election sure by repenting and asking for God’s forgiveness. Ask forgiveness from your fellowman, which you have harmed,so you may be made pure and may be found abiding in God’s Tabernacle. Do not let your name be removed from the Lamb’s Book of Life.
