CHRIST IN US

Psalm 15: 1-5

A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe

Our psalm today is simple in structure. It begins with a question and answer in the first two verses. Then the answer is expanded further in the last three verses. The key to the question here can be found in an older translation of the first verse. The word there for sanctuary can be translated as tent. Thus we would read: "who can be guest in Thy tent?"

This psalm of David may date from the same period as psalm twenty-four when the ark was first brought to Jerusalem. Since we know from 2 Sam 6: 17 that David did pitch a tent to receive the ark this description in verse one raises the specter of a new found relationship between God and His own people. David asks, "who may abide, ... who may dwell" in the divine presence? As we consider the question we should appreciate the nature of such a relationship in Israel, and indeed amongst the Near Eastern peoples to this day. There even a stranger may claim refuge from the Bedouin. However, the guest must meet the rules of the household.

A young man from Kuwait once spoke to one of my classes. He was asked questions about how his land was different from our own. He was asked about alcohol and drug problems and he answered that there were none since those items are just not allowed. He was asked about the divorce rate, and he again answered hat it was not allowed. Our military, who are and have been guests in that and other Arab countries must also abide by the rules of the Prince of Kuwait. Who may dwell in Kuwait? Only those who use no alcohol, no drugs and who remain faithfully married.

Well may David ask of God, "who may abide in Your tabernacle?" In the gracious hospitality of the ancient world, a guest was sheltered from all harm; his person was safe, his necessary wants were satisfied. If we like David would be guests of our Lord and God, we too must ask, "who may abide in Your tabernacle?" Those who think carelessly may consider the question to be an easy one. There are many who truly believe themselves completely worthy of entering into the presence of our Lord and our God. The thought that the Lord of the universe might have something to say about who may come into His presence is not even considered as a serious topic in our time.

In today's security conscious era we may rarely have opportunity to stand in the presence of our President without being screened! Once I made a trip to Lima when Ronald Reagan was campaigning for office. The crowd was carefully screened. First we had to go through a metal detector. An older farmer and I were questioned about why we carried pocket knife and a box opener. The Secret Service agents were finally satisfied that we indeed needed them to cut open bales of hay and straw and boxes of groceries! Second, as we waited for four hours the secret service agents among us observed the crowd and from time to time removed a few people who made them nervous. They definitely had a list of who might attend the speech of a President! I almost didn't qualify a second time when my Scottish Bonnet led a Secret Service agent to check me out before the President's train arrived.

In a like manner if a stranger would knock at your door late at night, you would think twice before making him your guest, would you not? "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?"

Verse two is of prime importance to our understanding of this psalm. If effect it limits access to Jesus Christ alone. The two verbs in the Hebrew here are in the participle form which emphasizes the notion of habitual action. We know that there is none righteous and blameless, not one; except for our Lord Jesus Christ. Truthfully we may know that Jesus is the only one who is blameless and who is completely righteous! Only He is wholly acceptable! However, the ideal Son of Man is imitated in our mind and heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus is some measure we can see mirrored here those who are called to serve our God and our King. This fact brings us to consider briefly the five couplets which follow after the one which so obviously describes Jesus Christ. To these we turn our attention now.

First we see that the person who would serve God must speak the truth from his heart and avoid telling slanderous lies with his tongue. Here there is a positive and a negative admonition. In our daily interactions in the world we participate in many discussions with friends, family and co-workers. In those interactions we should consider the tone of our words. Are we honest as we talk, do we share only stories that are completely true. Or like the many amongst us do we gossip and murmur? Those who would imitate Christ and reflect His greater glory must learn how to control their idle conversation. This takes discipline and time, but if the Holy Spirit is indeed at work in us we must see the results of a new heart given to us in Christ.

Second we see that the person who would serve God must go beyond words and do no wrong against neighbors nor look down on other men. While very many people can learn the good manners of fulfilling the moral implications of the law, the second phrase here is one of particular difficulty! How often we become conscience of our class, our upbringing, our supposed position before the throne of God! Whenever we think to much of ourselves we begin to look down on other fellow humans. This should not be! In all our relationships we must not give the impression that there is any just reason for having been saved by grace. We may meet people who have yet to be saved, we may meet people who are willing to respect our religion because of our action.

Third we see that by our associations we are to witness to our allegiance to our Lord. Those who belong to Christ cannot regularly be engaged with the worldly of this generation. I know that this cuts against the grain, especially for young people who like to be seen with the most popular boys and girls. When I was much younger one neighbor lady told my parents off because she thought they were keeping me from the party circuit where the beautiful people of my school hung out together to celebrate their youth! Little did she realize that that particular group would have nothing to do with me, because we were farmers! So there wasn't even a ghost of a chance that I could have gotten in trouble with the fast crowd!

Of much greater value was the shared wisdom of an uncle now long departed who told me about the pains of his youth at the turn of the century. He was not very popular and had not been invited to many parties because he did not share popular fascination with emptying bottles! We were removing the paint from the old horse drawn buggy which had been the pride of his youth. One day as we were scrapping the Maroon paint from the wheels he showed me the color that had been underneath. It had been bright yellow! He admitted that this was one of the more foolish things he had done in his youth! Now in 1903 which was the year the buggy had been built, yellow wheels were the faddish equivalent of driving a sports car! Wanting to be well thought of he had taken the plunge! His buggy must have been thought very sporty.

When he was able to get his first date with my Aunt. Her father remarked that he wasn't certain if he wanted his daughter to be seen in such a fast vehicle! So my uncle had to decide what sort of image he wanted! Since he enjoyed the company of my aunt, he decided to repaint the fast wheels. He chose a more demur maroon but dressed it up with a fancy gold trim. Not only did he marry a lovely girl, but he was blessed with a fine reputation throughout his long life in the better company of the Saints.

Fourth we see that we are to keep our word even when it hurts. Here we see that we must give the world a life to be respected. Now the world has changed much. My grandfather transacted thousands of dollars in his life with the shake of the hand. When we bought our house from an older farmer we were able to begin repairs and improvements immediately because we had shook hands on the deal. The paperwork came through three weeks later and the house was ready to move into. Today, the same transaction could probably take three months or more because it is becoming more and more rare for anyone to keep their promise.

Fifth and last we see that we need to learn something about our financial dealings in the world. Just as our words and works should give account of our loyalty to Christ, so too should our use of money witness to that fact as well. Here we are encouraged not to engage in usury and bribery! Now, we have much to relearn about the uses and abuses of our worldly wealth. In fact this area is so shrouded in abuse in our day that we must be just as careful where our money hangs out as we are about with whom we associate! If you have invested money you ought to know how it is being used. The PCA offices in Atlanta hired people to invest denominational funds carefully from the very beginning. Some years later, one of the investors apologized because he belatedly discovered that one investment was found to be hanging out with the wrong business crowd. One company had been bought by another and into the investment portfolio came a movie production company which spent very little on clothing!

Finally we come to our last couplet. Here is a divine promise for all those who show forth the fruits of the spirit described in this psalm. "He who does these things shall never be moved." No storm or quake shall tear the Christian from his foundation in Christ. And like our own Lord Jesus, whose dominion is everlasting, the true Christian shall never lose his crown. If in the process of looking at these teachings you find yourself beyond their keeping, you are admonished to pray and seek the power of God to bring your life into some sense of compliance. Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle? We know that the correct answer is those who are covered with Jesus' blood and righteousness. We also need to know that we witness to that covering by our words and deeds. May God give us the blessings that are eternal in His Son! Amen.

	Resources Used:
Kidner, Derek.	Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms.
MacLaren, Alexander.	The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms.
Spurgeon, C.H.	The Treasury of David.
Foundation for Reformation. New Geneva Study Bible . (1995) Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version. (1982)
Psm 15c	22 October 89 & 02 March 97

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