◄ What Does Psalm 15:1 Mean? ►

O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

Psalm 15:1(NASB)

Verse of the Day

In this Psalm we find David contemplating the character of the man or woman who is fit to enter into the house of God and abide there. He explores the attributes of the one who is qualified to dwell in the holy residence of the Lord, forever.

David was a man after God's own heart... because he trusted the Lord. And David came to an understanding that the behaviour of a man or woman of God should be reflected in that person's behaviour.

David gives a long list of flawless character traits that seem to be the key to dwelling in the house of the Lord... including godly integrity and a blameless walk. He suggests that those who are permitted to abide in the house of God are to be truthful in thought, word and deed, trustworthy, honest, honourable, and generous.

A cursory reading of this verse implies that a man's salvation is dependent on a man's good works and his exemplary character traits, but the whole counsel of Scripture dictates that a man is not saved by good works, but by faith. Indeed, the Bible teaches that only the person who is born from above through faith in God's Word is credited with righteousness.

We read in John's Gospel that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And from this base of faith should flow the works of righteousness that David lists in this beautiful Psalm - for we read in Hebrews, "without faith, it is impossible to please Him."

May we who have come to a saving faith in the sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, take to heart the character traits that should be evident in the life of the spiritual man or woman. May our lives be a reflection of the character traits that David identifies as belonging to the one who is worthy to dwell in the house of the Lord.

May the hallmark of our own lives reflect godly integrity and a blameless walk. May the words of our mouths, the meditation of our hearts, and the actions of our lives, be truthful in thought, word, and deed.

May we, as the Body of Christ, be trustworthy, honest, honourable, and generous... both in our individual lives and in our corporate worship - to the praise and glory of our Father in heaven.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that by grace through faith I have the privilege to enter into the presence of the Lord and abide in Christ and He in me. I pray that I may walk with integrity, truthfulness, humility, and grace, and I pray that in Your strength, I may bring forth godly works of righteousness for Your name's sake. May my actions and attitudes reflect the godly characteristics that are pleasing in Your sight. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.