Psalm 15

⁰²             He who:           walks in perfection,

does always what is right

speaks truth from his heart;

⁰³                                  does not slander with his tongue

                        does no evil to his fellowman,

                        takes up  no reproach against his friend.

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Whose Integrity?

For the Lord’s Day:  the 21^st of December 2003

Introduction:  Today, we come to the beginning of the bulk of this little psalm, wherein we find the answer to the question posed in verse one:  “Who may visit” and “who can remain” in the presence of the Triune Creator God of heaven and earth.

 

Having just seen the final film in the great and wondrous series based on Tolkien’s fantasy tale of wickedness run amok, only to be restrained at great cost, I can carefully observe that generally – the enemies of men, dwarves and elves in that epic: were to use an old movie phrase: “the living dead.”  Perhaps it was providential as well as slightly ironic for the producer of this magnificent series to have worked in that “living dead” genre before coming to do this fascinating and popular morality tale for our time?

 

All through the epic, an underlying theme was the unholy means by which the orcs, goblins and their kin were mass produced and only kept from killing each other by worse and more powerful creatures even than themselves.  Devils there were in abundance and if we trace the imaginary landscape of Tolkien’s mind, there is almost a prophetic bent to the presumed ongoing global conflict in our twenty-first century!  There are also heaven and hell in the final manuscript, the Tolkienesque King returns to take possession of his kingdom by enlisting those who are restless beneath the altar awaiting a final conflict and its glorious outcome.

 

But, there – with those limited hints at grandeur things than the general population will sense and understand, we must limit our commentary and go on to more important issues.  :  “Who may visit” and “who can remain” in the presence of the Triune Creator God of heaven and earth and by inference: worship in His presence?

 

Development:  Calvin catches the tone of the powerful poetry before us as he analyses the difference between those who belong to Christ and those who, while certainly spiritually dead in sin: do imitate as best they are able the apparent godliness necessary to be welcome in the public courts of the church.  There is here in this psalm, he tells us - a description of those “who are only the people of God in name, or who make only a bare profession of being so, which consists in outward observances, and this indubitable and genuine evidence of true godliness which David commends.”

 

“The Psalmist,” he continues, “for the purpose of discovering and drawing forth into the light all who are of such a character, takes the marks and evidences of true and sincere faith from the second table of the law.  According to the care which every man takes to practice righteousness and equity towards his neighbors, so does he actually show that he fears God.”

 

In the first line of our translation we read who may come in to the Lord’s presence this idea:  “He who:  walks in perfection.”  Your translation may read “integrity” or “blamelessly.”  My Translator’s Handbook observes that “the word translated “blamelessly” is related to the word “perfection” … and from other passages in the scriptures where the original covenant given to Adam is carefully understood: “To be ‘blameless’ is to obey the commands of God in everything.”

 

This is why I translate the concept of “perfection” here – as a tactful and gentle reminder that the ultimate answer to the answer implored in this grand Psalm is none other than Jesus Christ alone!  Yet, while we are gentle and tactful as we may be with the bulk of the church that teaches and believes in a kind of secondary work’s righteousness – even the prophetic and poetic Psalmist here, will have none of that Pelagianism (whether, semi or full blown)!

 

The actions required are beyond the pale of performance for any merely mortal acumen.  There are three absolute requirements according to Calvin in the descriptive expectations of verse two. 

 

1^st God requires total sincerity with singleness of heart

2^nd God requires justice in every ongoing behavior and relationship

3^rd God requires absolute truth continually and always

 

Calvin’s descriptive prose of those pints rises to the occasion:  “’To speak in the heart’ is a strong figurative expression, but it expresses more forcibly David’s meaning than if he had said from the heart.  It denotes such agreement and harmony between the heart and tongue, as that the speech is, as it were, a vivid representation of the hidden affection or feeling within.”

 

Thus, we have already moved to phrases two and three in our ordering of this Psalm – since they do truly modify and explain the first and foremost “perfection” so wonderfully and carefully defined in the laws of our God and King.  Who may demonstrate this perfection – those alone who are enabled to partake of the mind of Christ:  “He who: … does always what is right and “speaks truth from his heart.”

 

Delitzsch catches the import of the words here in his description of who may come.? “We have three characteristics here:  a spotless walk, conduct ordered according to God’s will, and a truth-loving mode of thought.”  Spurgeon encourages us in our daily walk to reflect the greater glories of the only “God-man” who is so minutely and carefully described in this Psalm.  “In perfection this holiness is found only in the Man of Sorrows, but in a measure it is wrought in all his people by the Holy Ghost.  Faith and the graces of the Spirit are not mentioned, because this is a description of outward character, and where fruits are found the root may not be seen, but it is surely there.”

 

It is this profound aspect that is so encouraging from the literature of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.  In all their works, deeds and witness their love for and understanding of Jesus Christ is the foundation for the characters whose great love and lives have been brought forth in their manuscripts and in many ways onto the grand screen of the Media as well.  Why is it that so many people are fascinated with their characters?  Isn’t it because they live and act like Christians always should?  David’s careful description of the saints, possessed by Christ is nothing more or less!  We “live and move and have our being” as Christians only in and through and because of the saving graces showered upon us by the Lord of life.

 

Application:  Following the virtues outlined in verse two, we turn to a short list of specific vices from which the man of God must be free.  “Who may come?” the psalmist began, and then continues in verse three:  “He who … does not slander with his tongue, does no evil to his fellowman, [and] takes up no reproach against his friend.”

 

Now, speaking the truth in love for God is not excepted here.  But a continuous and constant carping about honest and sincere efforts to do what is good and proper is the sin here in mind.  How much the ongoing political campaign illustrates every day - the vices condemned here.  Calvin even mentions “mischievous” along with “injurious” statements, when it comes to the good name and reputation of our neighbors.

 

Of course, as we all must realize – there are biblical implications to the ongoing political conflicts of our time.  And when honesty and integrity become more associated with one party – rather than the other, we should by all accounts honor the most biblical principles wherever we find them.  Yes, this political reality is almost Tolkeinesque in its fiction and fact.  And while it is still somewhat practical to tell the “living” from the “dead” in The Lord of the Rings, there from - we may draw similar themes to allow us to judge the ongoing problem of wickedness rampant in our society, media and culture.

 

Humor and comedy is only one area where the restrained hilarity of Red Skelton, Bob Hope and others now gone – is so profoundly different from the filthy talk, slander and degradation of the great majority of the modern crowd who would inherit their far greater calling.  By the same token, there are similarly so few movies today that even realize, let alone demonstrate the faith and life of men and women now gone and no longer able to speak for themselves.  Of Gods and Generals is an excellent example of a movie that almost appears to have been made on a foreign planet by people who lived a life different from our own!

 

In a similar fashion, we have only to seek for truth and correct doctrine in the contemporary church to realize how profound indeed is the fall of man and how corrupt every human institution may become unless they are empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Now church politics in every denomination is an ongoing and difficult to justify and deal with.  However, we always have to remember that we are still on this side of glory and our calling in this life is to listen carefully to the teachings of scripture and inform our work and witness thereby day by day.

 

One of my roles in the church today is to act as the Stated Clerk for my Presbytery.  This is not an easy, nor cushy job to be taken lightly.  The responsibilities and challenges are spiritually deep and difficult indeed.  And sometimes, I must oppose the views and convictions of my closest friends because they would and might, if allowed – and could would force them upon the conscience and mind of my other friends who may think differently within the restrictions of our doctrinal standards.

 

In many and different places the phrases in our Psalm for today, are taken more literally than spiritually.  By that I mean, they take these to be descriptive job objectives that they must imitate rather than to internalize spiritually and thereby bring them up naturally from a redeemed behavior.  I am reminded of certain chemicals which may be taken to change their skin and hair to reflect a different persona.  There also all manner of “professional” manuals to put on a better vocabulary, philosophy and so on to move on up in their chosen career.  These are all absolutely false in their foundation, specifications, implications and practice.  Real people – those who are honest in their person, morality and character are those who may be best used by the Almighty in every calling and work worthy of being done well.  This is nothing more than the Psalmist is here rehearsing before our eyes.  “Who may come?” the psalmist well asks!  We would answer, only those who reflect the greater glory of our God and King who alone meets the rule of law and the covenant of works demanded from those who know not grace and mercy.  May we give our sincere gratitude and thanks to Him who has called us and empowered us by His Holy Spirit to do His will and show forth His greater kindness, obedience and grace before the world.  And may we thereby come into the Kingdom of the Spirit and give our wholehearted worship to the God of David and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

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

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

The Westminster Confession & Catechisms.

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