Daily Devotion in Psalm 15

 Daily Nugget:
“A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” Psalm 15:1

Psalm 15:1 starts with a question David asked the Lord. He asked who should live (“abide”) in the tabernacle?

At that time, there was no temple. It had not been constructed yet. Worship to the Lord was done at the tent tabernacle. Although it was portable and carried during their wilderness journey, it was then permanently raised on Mount Zion (“the holy hill), which today is called the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was on this mount where worship was done.

However, no one lived in the tabernacle. Levite priests and members of the tribe were the only ones that worked on the site and performed what was required for the Old Testament worship.

This, and many other Psalms, speaks prophetically about the millennial reign when Christ returns and rules in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. During that time, I do not believe anyone will live at the temple either.

So, who can live (“dwell”) in the “holy hill”? Here, verse one’s “who shall abide” refers to those that “turn aside.” It applies to one who leaves the road he is traveling and pulls off to another road or building. He would change his destination.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines it another way. It states that “dwell” could mean to loiter or delay. Again, we see it may not describe those that permanently live there.

With these understandings of the word, if one turns away from worldly goals or longs for the Lord and purposely turns to live God’s way, he will have God working more in his life. This new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17) will live differently than the unsaved. He will:

• Live his life as a good testimony to the Lord, will do right, and will be honest (Psalm 15:2).
• Not talk about others, do wrong to people, nor will he bring reproach to his neighbor (Psalm 15:3).
• Dislike vile behavior (Psalm 15:4), but will respect those that honor the Lord.
• He will be consistent (Psalm 15:4).
• Not earn money by loaning or taking advantage of others.

The person who is consistent in this type of behavior will be upright and will not fall for the temptations this life presents.

Today’s Thought:
“If you can get along with the world, then you are out of step with God.” — Harold Sightler

Words to Understand:
Backbiteth: slander, a tale-bearer
Contemn: Look down upon with disdain
Holy hill: the temple mount in Jerusalem
Reproach: blame or discredit
Tabernacle: the first place of worship for the Jews. It was a tent.
Usury: taking profit in a loan
“who shall abide”: to turn aside from the road, to loiter or delay

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 15
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
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.
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.