Psalm 15

A Psalm of David.

⁰¹          O LORD, who may [visit] in Your tabernacle?

                        Who can remain on Your holy hill?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Who May Come?

For the Lord’s Day:  the 7^th of December 2003

Introduction:  Organizationally, this psalm is, according to my Translator’s Handbook, a neatly balanced arrangement of plusses and minuses.  There are positive verbs and negative verbs carefully arranged in contrast, all to answer the supposed liturgical use when the pilgrim visitors came to the city and temple grounds in later years.  It is presumed in verse one that “the pilgrims ask the question about who is allowed to enter the Temple, and the answer, given probably by priests, lists the necessary moral qualifications (which seem to be ten in all) in the following verses.”  Those comments are only a small part of the widespread speculation concerning the liturgical aspects of this psalm being used by the pilgrim visitors for centuries to come.  Certainly, this use, along with a similar Psalm Twenty-Four is very probable – but to get at the meaning we must cut through the Jewish traditions and focus upon the essential elements that join the psalm here with the similar one in Psalm 24.

 

We would do well to also include the descriptive text of Delitzsch as when he writes:  “The preceding psalm distinguished a righteous generation, from the mass of the universal corruption and closed with a longing for the salvation out of Zion.  Psalm Fifteen answers the question: who belongs … and whom shall the future salvation avail?”  In seeking out the revealed wisdom in that regard, we begin our proper study with Spurgeon’s general observation on this delicious little psalm:  “This Psalm of David bears no dedicatory title at all indicative of the occasion upon which it was written, but it is exceedingly probable that, together with the twenty-fourth Psalm, to which it bears a striking resemblance, its composition was in some way connected with the removal of the ark to the holy hill of Zion.”

 

As we remember the history of David’s establishment of the Ark of the Covenant in Zion’s holy precincts, we are reminded of the first attempt to remove the Ark from its temporary residence towards the new capital city and the ground being dedicated to its permanent housing.  In that first abortive attempt in 2 Samuel 6: 1-11 we hear of the death of one Uzzah who merely sought to steady the Ark of the Covenant in the bed of an ox cart drafted from more mundane duties.  Of course, three months later, given the proper biblical research and the recruitment of suitable Levites to carry it – the Ark is brought into the City of David amidst a huge crowd and a great celebration – there to reside in a specially erected and dedicated tent where a future temple would eventually be built by David’s son Solomon.

 

Development:  Now there are several issues in this little psalm.  Let us begin our study on the first line of this first verse: “O LORD, who may [visit] in Your tabernacle?”  Please notice the temporary nature of the verb that I have used to highlight the subtle differences between line one and line two.  Commentator Michael Dahood suggests this line of thought in his awkward translation:  “Who can be guest in Thy tent?”  As we consider that opening 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 understand and obey the rules of the household.

 

A young man from Kuwait once spoke to my history class during the first Desert War.  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, period!  Our own military who were and still are guests in that and other Arab countries must also abide by the rules of the Prince of Kuwait.  Who may dwell in Kuwait: those who abstain from at least the public consumption of alcohol.  In some of the stricter places, our military Chaplains must even wear their crosses and stars under the lapel of their uniforms when they go off base.

 

Well may David ask of God, “who may [visit] 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 [visit] in Your tabernacle?” 

Those who think carelessly may consider the question 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 day and time.

 

However, when it comes to our own human leaders, access is taken more seriously.  Twenty-three years ago, I took a day off from school to Lima, Ohio – where Ronald Reagan was to speak from the back of a train.  The crowd was carefully screened.  First we had to go through a metal detector.  An older farmer and I were questioned about his pocked knife and my box cutter.  Our common answer was to cut the string on bales of hay.  In fact there was a wisp of hay caught in my cutter from that very morning.  The Secret Service was satisfied and let us in, since we both graciously offered to let them keep our weapons.  Second, as we waited for 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 Presidential candidate!  I almost didn’t qualify a second time, when my Scots Bonnet led a retired military officer to check me out.  Once he recognized my former battalion crest on my bonnet, he relaxed and we had a good conversation about how many former officers and senior non-coms in northern Ohio had been called out of retirement for the day’s security.  The area farmers had had to cut their corn within thirty feet of the rail line and some of the officer’s friends were stationed in every field and crossing all along the path.  Snipers could be seen on every roof top and choppers with more men riding shotgun swarmed over the train itself.  Who may visit in the presence of a president – not many, believe me!

 

”O LORD, who may [visit] in Your tabernacle?”  While the common crowd certainly did make their pilgrimages to Jerusalem, David well knew that not all of them were who visited were in fact members of the elect.  Calvin observes that “a distinction is made between those who are permanent citizens of the Church, and strangers who are mingled among them only for a time.  This is undoubtedly a warning highly necessary, in order that when the temple of God happens to be tainted by many impurities, we may not contract such disgust and chagrin as will make us withdraw from it.”  We have only to consider the forgiven sins of the Old Covenant saints to give us pause in judging too harshly those who visit and seek admission to the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Everyone may of course come into the outer courts of the church.  A California Reformed congregation went through almost a decade of legal complexities because they fired a Sodomite organist.  For years they had to put up with protestors outside, and even a few who sat in the back of their sanctuary.  However, one of the Sodomite leaders who sat in the back of the church for months on end finally began to question the appropriateness of his life style and even began serious conversations with the church leaders concerning the fact of sin in his life.

 

Once we had a couple who were living together attend church for a few weeks.  The first week, they asked if that was alright for them to be with us?  Of course, we assured them – it is only if you seek to join in a few months that we must discuss the situation.  They were satisfied and stayed a while before moving out of the city.

 

Do you begin to sense the important nuance between the first and second line of our verse for today?  Even as we read further into this psalm we see that the moral requirements listed may easily be attained by even careful pagans.  Calvin would remind us, that even when it comes to full membership, it is Jesus Christ who “justly claims it as his own peculiar office to separate the sheep from the goats; and thereby admonishes us, that we must bear with the evils which it is not in our power to correct, until all things become ripe, and the proper season of purging the Church arrive.  At the same time, the faithful are here enjoined, each in his own sphere, to use their endeavors that the Church of God may be purified from the corruptions which still exist within her.”

 

Application: 

Our final point is derived from the second line of our verse today:  “Who can remain on Your holy hill?”  Here, we may understand that citizenship is the spiritual concern for those who would be more than transitory house guests.  Spurgeon tells us that it must be “a sense of the glory of the Lord and of the holiness which becomes his house, his service, and his attendants, [which] excites the humble mind to ask the solemn question before us.”

 

It is in the context of the former, fourteenth psalm and the outward appearances listed here that David seeks confirmation that God indeed knows the ultimate fortunes of those who come into His divine presence.  How may we tell, Lord – he seems to be asking: if we are but temporary in our affections or permanent within the saving graces of His affection for us?  Spurgeon again gives us encouragement:  “We must know from the Lord of the tabernacle what are the qualifications for his service, and when we have been taught of him, we shall clearly see that only our spotless Lord Jesus, and those who are conformed unto his image, can ever stand with acceptance before the Majesty on high.”

 

After all in the context of this psalm and the probable mishap in the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant – David must have truly searched his own soul in order to gain a sense of persuasion that his motives in bringing the Ark into his city was within the Lord’s will and purpose.  And so must we all “examine ourselves” as the Apostle would encourage us to sense the inward impulses and the attitudes we have before the Lord of all the earth.  After all, if we measure this psalm aright we must be firmly convinced that it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who fulfills the exactness of the requirements to remain in the heavenly presence for all eternity.  And the more convinced we are of our own frailties and inabilities – the better evidence we have that we too are counted amongst the blessed in Christ.

 

Spurgeon reminds us of this spiritual order of things:  “Spiritually we have here a description of the man who is a child at home in the Church of God on earth, and who will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever above.  He is primarily Jesus, the perfect man, and in him all who through grace are conformed to his image.”

 

I am reminded of many businesses and organizations that want to hire or promote a person of their own choosing, but must abide by the many governmental rules and regulations as well as internal politics and the voices of union powers.  They must write the job description and necessary skills so that only their own candidate can comply and prove to be the best investment for the future good of their office.  So are we to realize that herein the requirements to be studied – there is only one true Son who can enter into the presence of the Almighty Creator God of all the earth.  And that is Jesus Christ, whose body was broken for us and whose blood covers our sin – all in order that we too may qualify for admission into the heavenly realms. 

 

Again, I am reminded of an old shepherd’s trick to get a reluctant ewe to adopt an orphaned lamb.  Sometimes it is necessary to skin her own dead offspring and wrap it around the wayward orphan.  Now, let us be absolutely certain to put away any notions about the temperament of such an old ewe – but still there is the necessary cloaking of new robes for the elect which reflect the greater glory of God the Son on our part – in order that when we read this amazing psalm – that we humble sinners may have a hope of being ushered in not only as visitors but to be invited to remain for all eternity.  May this ever be your own blessed hope today and always.  Amen.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.

http://www.tulip.org/Selah/Sel015a.htm

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe go to:

http://www.four.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/ccrlist/