Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)
Scripture teaches that when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he set it in a tabernacle that he had erected for it. Still, he longed to build something more permanent for the LORD but was not allowed to do so having shed the blood of others. Instead, his son Solomon would oversee the construction of God’s House so that the people of Israel might present themselves before the LORD.
Though Solomon built the Temple, David is the one who provided the plans for its construction — plans that the Spirit of God had put in his mind. Obviously, David spent a great deal of time meditating upon the matter and why? He yearned to see the glory of God, once again, manifested among the people of Israel.
It stands to reason that, having spent so much thought and effort on God’s House, David certainly realized the importance of centralized worship in Israel — i.e. people would be accountable not to do what was right in their own eyes. Moreover, he understood that for a Holy God to reside in the midst of the people, it would require the people to conduct their lives in a holy manner. One couldn’t just approach the Almighty carelessly and without acknowledgement of His holiness — there was a definite protocol (keep in mind that David witnessed what happened to Uzzah). So in contemplation of the issue, he asked, “What kind of person must I be in order to come into Your Presence and abide with You?” The answer: one who is committed to follow the rules of His house.
If we were to sum up the core message of this psalm it would be that those who wish to draw close to the LORD and abide in His Presence must possess Godly character. We must walk upright, which is to say, we must be true to God’s standards in spite of our circumstances. It means we must do the right thing regardless of what everyone else does which includes being honest with ourselves and with others. Through the ages, many have paid lip service to God’s ways because they really had no desire to dwell in His tabernacle — they were only visiting. But those who long to abide with Him must strive to conform to His standards.
Admittedly, in our own strength this is not possible, but we who are empowered by the Holy Spirit and equipped by the Word of God can and should be holy people. To those who embrace this commitment, is given the hope and promise that we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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