Sermon Tone Analysis

!!! Who Can Dwell in the Presence of God?

!!! Psalms 15

!!!  

!!! Introduction:

In this Psalm David asks a very serious question v. 1

 

What David is asking is who can be in the presence of God?

This question is often asked today, what are some different ways that it is answered?

Doing good:  This passage might appear that way taken out of context

God does not exist

Giving your life to kill an infidel

Worship of __________

Many ways to answer that question

 

David is not saying that we enter by being good.

We know from Scripture that it is impossible to live the way David describes without Christ

               ~*He gives both the will and the ability to please Him

 

This passage is a good description of the life of faith, life of one who knows the Lord by faith.

!!! I.

He will walk uprightly v. 2

 

Lord to Abram in Gen. 17:1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I /am/ Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.

David speaking of himself in Psalm 26:3

And I have walked in Your truth.

To me:  Ones whose way of life matches his profession of faith

 

            One who takes God’s word as the rule of conduct

 

Obviously it does not mean that a Christian will be perfect:  David was far from perfect, he made many errors, yet overall he was a man who walked uprightly

 

!!! II.

He will work righteousness v. 2

 

Righteousness is doing right in the sight of God

A Christian strives to be righteous in all that he does

 

Gets instruction from the Word of God 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes righteous

Goes hand in hand with walking uprightly

 

He knows what God’s word teaches and strives to live accordingly

 

In every area of life:

            Home life

            Church life

            Work life

            Social life, etc.

If we would to have someone ask in those areas if we are a righteous person, how would they answer?

!!! III.

He will speak the truth in his heart v. 2

 

Adam Clarke:

He is a true man; in him there is no false way.

He is no man of pretenses; speaking one thing, and meaning another.

He professes nothing but what he feels and intends; with him there are no hollow friendships, vain compliments, nor empty professions of esteem, love, regard, or friendship.

His mouth speaks nothing but what his heart dictates.

His heart, his tongue, and his hand, are all in unison.

Hypocrisy, guile, and deceit, have no place in his soul.

One thing that is true in our lives is that our tongue gives away what we really are inside.

Proverbs 10:20-21

The tongue of the righteous /is/ choice silver; The heart of the wicked /is worth/ little.

The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

James 1:26-27

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion /is/ useless.

27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, /and/ to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

!!! IV.

Does not backbite with his tongue

 

Adam Clarke quote:  Very strong, well written words

 

He is one who treats his neighbor with respect.

He says nothing that might \\ injure him in his character, person, or property; he forgets no calumny, he is \\ author of no slander, he insinuates nothing by which his neighbor may be injured.

The tongue, because of its slanderous conversation, is represented in the nervous \\ original as kicking about the character of an absent person; a very common vice, and as destructive as it is common: but the man who expects to see God abhors it, and backbites not with his tongue.

The words backbite and backbiter come from the Anglo-Saxon bac, the back, and to bite.

How it came to be used in the sense it has in our language, seems at first view unaccountable; but it was intended to convey the treble sense of knavishness, cowardice, and brutality.

He is a knave, who would rob you of your good name; he is a coward, that would speak of you in your absence what he dared not to do in your presence; and only an ill-conditioned dog would fly at and bite your back when your face was turned.

All these three ideas are included in the term; and they all meet in the detractor and calumniator.

His tongue is the tongue of a knave, a coward, and a dog.

… None of his disposition can ever see God.

 

Romans 1:28-32

And even as they did not like to retain God in /their/ knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; /they are/ whisperers, 30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

!!! V.                Does not do evil to his neighbor v. 3

 

Looking out for the well being of his neighbor

Shows respect

Jesus answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

anyone who has a need

 

!!! VI.

Does not take up reproach against his friend v. 3

Again the idea is looking out for his neighbor and putting him first

Reproach = Keeps harmful things about his friend (neighbor) to himself even if they are true.

!!! VII.

His eyes despise the vile person v. 4

!!! VIII.

This has to do with how we look at a sinful lifestyle

I know one thing that has changed dramatically in my own life over the years is how I look at sinful lifestyles.

If we can look on what God hates with pleasure then there is certainly something wrong in our lives!!

 

!!! IX.              Honors those who fear God v. 4

 

!!! X.

He is faithful to what he has said v. 4b

 

He does what he says, even if it hurts!!

How lacking that is in today’s world!!

He lets his yes be yes and his no mean no

 

!!! XI.

Does not put his money in the usury v. 5

 

Has the idea of earning interest by taking advantage of others

What came to my mind is gambling and investment in ungodly places

 

In other words he doesn’t do anything ungodly just to get gain for himself

 

Seems today that everyone has a price, not the godly man or woman!!

 

!!! XII.

Does not take reward against the innocent v. 5

 

!!! XIII.

He will not be moved v. 5