WHO MAY ENTER GOD'S PRESENCE? (Ps 15)
Dr. Paul Manuel—1999
A Song of David
When we have guests in our home, we do not want to give the impression that they are interrupting something or have come at an inconvenient time. We straighten up the papers in the study, vacuum the carpets, make the bed, and set the table with our good dishes. We prepare for their arrival so that they will feel welcome.1. LORD: Who may sojourn in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
2. He who walks blamelessly
and does righteously
and speaks truth from his heart.
3. He has not slandered with his tongue,
has not done evil to his neighbor,
and has not cast blame on his neighbor.
4. A contemptible man is despised in his eyes,
but he will honor those who fear the LORD.
He has sworn to his own evil,
but will not change.
5. He has not given his money with interest,
and has not taken a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will not stumble forever.
A woman was preparing for some very special guests and had spent the whole day getting things in order. Not wanting either her husband or their teenage children to undo what she had labored to complete, she gave them careful instructions not to make a mess of anything. Knowing from past experience that she would probably have to remind them of certain things, she left a rather graphic note for them pinned to the guest towels in the bathroom: "Use these, and you're dead meat!" To her surprise, the place remained tidy until the guests arrived. The evening passed pleasantly, and she eventually bade the guests farewell. Exhausted, she went into the bathroom to get ready for bed and discovered the guest towels in perfect order...with the note still attached. (Adapted from Phillips 1998:106)If her guests had ventured into the bathroom that evening, one wonders how welcome that note made them feel. Most of us would not visit someone who would not be glad to see us. When you go to church, though, have you ever wondered if God is glad to see you? That is the question the author of Ps 15 answers: Who May Enter God's Presence?
Many of the psalms were composed for use in worship, but Ps 15 is also about worship in that it considers the qualifications of those who have the distinct privilege as well as divine permission to come before God and to express their devotion to Him.1 Scholars call it a liturgical psalm,2 and it treats what God expects from His people. What is particularly interesting, is that in the three liturgical psalms we have (Pss 15, 24, and 134), most of the qualifications are practical not theological; and in Ps 15, these requirements concern our relationships with each other (horizontal) rather than our relationship with God (vertical),3 suggesting that how we behave is at least as important to the One we worship as what we believe.4
The psalmist, who I assume was David (according to the superscription), begins by asking two questions. -
PS 15:1 LORD, who may sojourn in Your tent?5Actually, this is only one question, for both lines say essentially the same thing,7 the gist of which is: "Who has access to God?" "Whom does He allow before Him?"8
Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?6
We all have two kinds of associates, people whose company we enjoy and those whose company is less than enjoyable. Often a person falls into one or the other group based on how closely his viewpoint agrees with ours. When I was at the University of Wisconsin, I most enjoyed spending time with a fellow student named Steve (whom I met in Israel), because we thought the same way on many issues and, as a result, our conversations together were often quite productive.
Apparently, God is similar in this respect. He enjoys the company of certain people more than others, specifically those who share His viewpoint. Unlike us, however, He can be far more particular about whom He permits into His presence. As David observes in Ps 5,
Ps 5:4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.Who, then, may enter God's presence? David answers that question in the subsequent verses of Ps 15 by listing the attributes of those who may come before the LORD.9
The body of the psalm has two parts, as if to answer the two questions in v. 1. Each part consists of three positive lines and three negative lines.10
The first question the psalmist asks and answers is...
I. Who may sojourn in Your tent? (Ps 15:2-3)
A. Whoever has godly speechDo you know what this is? The first part of the psalm, v. 2 (the three positive lines) and v. 3 (the three negative lines), have an unusual structure. They are like a nesting box, setting lines, one pair within another, like a small box placed within a slightly larger box.12 Notice, for example, that the last positive line in v. 2 and the first negative line in v. 3 are both about speech:
Ps 15:2c who speaks truth from13 his heartGod is particular about His people's speech, both what they say and how their words affect others.
Ps 15:3a [and] has not slandered with his tongue
God is truth and, thus, His words are true.14 So it is important that we who represent Him to the world speak the truth as well (cf. Jesus' "Truly, truly, I say to you..."). Yet always speaking the truth is not the same as speaking all the truth. Sometimes it is better to keep silent than to blurt out everything we know, especially when such information—however true it may be—might hurt another's character.15 An obvious example is gossip: a rumor, usually bad, about someone else's private affairs. It may be true, but we must not repeat it because, in most cases, gossip reflects poorly on another's character.
In Christian circles, gossip is particularly insidious because it often comes in the guise of a prayer concern: "We should pray for so-and-so because I heard that...." How can we tell the difference? Well, there is not necessarily a clear distinction. Some information may come under either category, gossip or valid petition, depending on how it is presented; but let me suggest three ways of telling them apart.
- First, a legitimate prayer request should originate from an involved party; gossip usually comes from a nosey bystander.
- Second, a legitimate prayer request should be brief and to the point; gossip usually comes to us in living color.
- Third, a legitimate prayer request should not—if at all possible—impugn someone's character; gossip, as I mentioned already, usually includes some demeaning innuendo.
B. Whoever has godly deedsMoving one line outward in each direction, the second positive line (in v. 2) and the second negative line (in v. 3) are both about deeds:
Ps 15:2b who does righteously...God is particular about His people's actions, both how they behave in general and how they behave toward others.
Ps 15:3b [and] has not done evil to his neighbor17
The Hebrew word for neighbor also appears in the second greatest commandment, in...
Lev 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.There, as well, God indicates the importance of right actions as we relate to others. However much we might like to make our relationship with God a private affair, He makes the status of that relationship depend on our public behavior. "Who may sojourn in Your tent?" David asks here. "Whoever has godly deeds." ...Who else?
C. Whoever has a godly reputationContinuing outward, we can assume that the first positive line (of v. 2) and the last negative line (of v. 3) also share some common element: reputation.
Ps 15:2a who walks [i.e., "lives"] blamelessly...God is particular about His people's standing in the community. It is not that they must hold a position of prominence, but that others should hold a good opinion of their character and that whatever they have achieved has not been at another's expense.
Ps 15:3c and has not cast blame on his neighbor
Elsewhere, the biblical writers refer to this quality as having "a [good] name," and they extol its value.18
Prov 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.There are people, of course, who are never satisfied with your performance. They always find some fault, some reason for disapproval, no matter how small. You cannot please everyone, no matter how hard you try. Nevertheless, most people will recognize and admire integrity, a soundness of character. What can only enhance that opinion is your refusal to belittle others in an effort to make yourself look better.
Eccl 7:1a A good name is better than fine perfume....
I was watching Wolff Blitzer interview Orrin Hatch, Senator from Utah, soon after he entered the (2000) presidential race. At several points, the CNN correspondent tried to bait the Senator into promoting his own views and disparaging those of his chief opponent for the Republican nomination, George W. Bush. With each attempt, however, rather than taking advantage of the opportunity, the honorable senator from Utah made a statement complementary of Governor Bush. I do not know much about Orrin Hatch, but that interview gave a very favorable impression of his character. Likewise, God values a good name and makes it one of the requirements of those who would appear before Him. "Who may sojourn in Your tent?" David asks. "Whoever has a godly reputation."
In each case, the psalmist balances doing something positive with avoiding something negative.19 Three attributes form the answer in this first part to the opening question—Who may sojourn in Your tent?
- Whoever has godly speech,
- Whoever has godly deeds,
- Whoever has a godly reputation.
II. Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? (Ps 15:4-5)
A. Whoever has godly valuesThe second part of the psalm (vv. 4-5a) also has three positive lines and three negative lines, but the author arranges them differently. .... [R]ather than a clear break, the division between positive and negative sections occurs mid-sentence, in the second pair.20 The first pair of lines is about the worshiper's values.
Ps 15:4a A contemptible21 man is despised in his eyes,God is particular about His people's associations, of whom they disapprove as well as of whom they approve.
but he will honor those who fear the LORD.
What does the psalmist mean by "a contemptible man?" The most obvious clue is that it is the opposite of those the author mentions in the second line, the ones "who fear the LORD." Indeed, other occurrences of the word "contemptible" (in Proverbs) suggest that it indicates someone who does not "fear" (14:2) or "obey" (19:16) God. Furthermore, in Malachi,22 we find that those who treat God or the things of God with contempt, He regards as contemptible. The psalmist is saying that we who would enjoy God's company may not also enjoy the company of those whom God regards as contemptible. On the contrary, we must eschew all such associations. We must "have nothing to do with" those who reject God and "hold in high esteem" those who revere God.23
Optimally, a godly person should have nothing to do with the ungodly; he should avoid both their company and their influence (Craigie 1983:152). What about situations where you cannot avoid such contact, like at work or school, where there is usually circulating some bit of gossip, backbiting, a lewd joke, or word of a wild party that weekend. It is difficult to ignore this undercurrent, and although it is certainly possible to smile in some noncommittal way or to mutter a response, God wants us to make a clearer statement. Let me suggest two ways that are both simple and effective.
- The first way is outright refusal. (The word translated as "despise" in v. 4 can also mean "reject" or "refuse.") If someone invites you to go drinking or to join in some other activity equally unwise, politely decline. If the individual persists, decline again and offer a diplomatic but direct explanation.
- The second way is deliberate silence, which is only effective after you have already voiced your disapproval. When someone starts talking about the latest local scandal, ignore it. If the person asks what you think of the matter, simply reply, "It's none of my business." Again, the message is clear.
There are several ways we might answer this objection.
- First of all, you do not have to be rude or pompous. It may not be easy, but it is possible to express one's disapproval forcefully yet tactfully.
- Second, Christians may not be perfect, but they should be different in that they are bringing their lives into ever greater conformity with God's righteous character. If you see no difference between your life and that of your non-Christian acquaintances, then you should probably re-evaluate your walk with God.
- Third, keep in mind that disapproving of sinners is the flip side of communicating the gospel and is just as important a part of your relationship with them, for without it they may not realize that you are different from them; and it is the difference, in these areas as well as in others, that often prompts them to ask serious questions about God.
- Fourth—and this may be the most important consideration—whether you like it or not, the psalmist considers this to be a requirement of those who would be close to God.24
B. Whoever has godly promisesThe second pair of lines in v. 4 is, again, about speech, specifically the worshiper's promises.25
Ps 15:4b He has sworn to his own evil,26God is particular about His people's commitments, that they keep their word even when it is to their detriment.27
but will not change.
One of the best tests of an individual's integrity is what he does when he makes a promise and then discovers that it will be to his disadvantage to fulfill it. If he holds to his vow anyway, despite the personal inconvenience, it demonstrates the quality of his character:
- That he has a high regard for his word and does not make commitments lightly;28
- That he has a high regard for the feelings of others and even considers them more important than his own feelings;29 and
- That people can depend on him to do what he says, "no matter how much it may cost" (TEV).
C. Whoever has godly financesThe third pair is the opening lines of Ps 15:530
Ps 15:5a He has not given his money with interest,God is particular about His people's income, that they not make money at another's expense.
and has not taken a bribe against the innocent.
The first line of v. 5 reiterates the prohibition in the Torah against usury,31 which is not concerned with business loans but with personal loans to the poor intended to relieve their distress. In such cases, the charging of interest serves more to aggravate the problem than to alleviate it (Craigie 1983:152). Keep in mind that this prohibition predates the modern concept of federally regulated Savings and Loans. An Israelite in financial trouble could not just pop over to his personal banker for quick cash at a fixed rate. There were no such controls, which made it easy to charge the kind of exorbitant interest documented in Babylonian and Assyrian records. We complain about 18% on our credit cards, but in the Ancient Near East interest rates could reach 33 1/3-50% and more (Kraus 1988:230). God is not against wealth, but He considers charging interest on a loan to a poor brother to be unjust enrichment, and He has no desire to keep the company of those who practice it.
The second line of v. 5 reiterates the prohibition in the Torah against bribery,32 one that has to do with serving as a witness in a court of law. To take a bribe perverts justice; it is unrighteous, and as v. 2 indicates, God demands righteousness from those who come before Him.33 "Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?" David asks. "Whoever has godly finances."
Three characteristics form the answer in this second part to the opening question—Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
- Whoever has godly values,
- Whoever has godly promises,
- Whoever has godly finances.
Ps 15:5b He who does these thingsDavid does not mean that the godly are free from trouble; he surely was not, as so many of his other psalms attest.35 His point is rather that those who enter God's presence find there an unshakable position transcending the disruptive uncertainties of life (Craigie 1983:152), a position that is both rewarding and enduring.36
will not stumble forever.
In all of this, remember that God does not demand of His people the impossible. The requirements of this psalm are not beyond your capabilities. You can do them, and you should want to do them in order to please God and to enjoy the privilege of His company.37
We are separated from the original setting of this psalm by three millennia. The situation has changed, for God is not residing on His holy mountain at this time. Furthermore, when you come to church, no one greets you at the door with the embarrassing question: "Have you been naughty or nice this week?" Nevertheless, although the circumstances have changed, you are still a guest in the court of the King, and His criteria for those whose company He prefers remain unchanged. Although God graciously accepts all who come to Him in repentance and faith, regardless of their past, He expects that you who know Him will act appropriately in the present. How you behave is as important to God as what you believe, and by heeding the instructions in this psalm, you will be among those welcome guests Who May Enter God's Presence.38
For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.
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