Who Am I?

When you and your family have gone on vacation or visited another part of the country or perhaps another country, do you feel like a citizen of that area? Do you feel comfortable or a little out of your comfort zone? I visited Suriname, South America five years ago. I was not a citizen of that country and at times felt very out of place.

Contemporary Problem

People today greatly dislike being out of their comfort zone and at times conform to their surroundings when they are in such a situation. As Christians we are not to be as chameleons and blend in with society. We are not to be so comfortable with the way the world does something that we come to a point of allowing it to be familiar. The world’s environment and philosophy is not the character trait of a true Christian. A true Christian exhibits godly character as shown by the Psalmist in Psalm 15 as he describes the character of the one who approaches God.

Context

Psalm 15 was one of the many Psalms written by David. He writes this following his description of the wicked in chapter 14. David describes in chapter 15 the character of a person who is worthy to worship in God’s sanctuary. The description he gives flows from a heart of yearning to be in the presence of God. David begins the chapter by relaying two questions to his readers. These questions are the springboard for discussion of the worthy worshipper. In response to the questions, David gives twelve characteristics, four sets of three, both positive and negative, to help illustrate the worth of a celestial citizen, a worthy worshipper of God. These characteristics alternate from positive to negative.

CPT- David thought deeply to the type of character one must have in order to have a close relationship with God.

Big Idea - Our behavior dictates the closeness of our relationship with God.

Interrogative/Transition- Therefore, here is the question to put forth as we look at this passage of scripture: “How can we as Christians live like one worthy to fellowship with God?” Thus in this passage David begins with two questions inquiring about the character of one who can worship and fellowship with God. He second lays out the response given to him describing a righteous follower of God. Third, a promise is delivered to the person who lives a righteous life before God. Let us look first at the two questions.

The Christian must evaluate their spiritual life

Explanation

David begins in verse one by asking two questions;

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?”

“Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”

David is basically asking the same question twice. The two “who’s” refer to the character of a person not to the identity. In the OT the presence of God was more centralized in the sense that he resided in the tabernacle and later the Temple. As travelers approached the “sanctuary or holy hill” they were required to examine themselves before they could enter. This took place primarily during the three feasts they partook of each year. The purpose of these questions is to help us as Christians question ourselves as to what is guiding our lives. Is it righteousness and holiness? How bad do we desire to be one who resides in close fellowship with God?

Be Worshipful (Seeking God’s Presence (v. 1))

After his men captured Mt. Zion, David made it the site of his residence and of the sanctuary of God, and Jerusalem became “the city of David” (2 Sam. 5:1–16). The tabernacle, the throne, and the “holy hill” belonged together (see Psalm 24:3–6; 2:6; 3:4; 43:3). To the believer today, Mt. Zion speaks of the heavenly city where God’s people will dwell forever (Heb. 12:19–25). David asked this question because he loved the house of the Lord (Psalm 26:8; 27:3–5; 65:4) and desired in his heart to know God better and fellowship with Him in a deeper way. The priests could come and go in the house of the Lord, but David, though he was king, had to keep his distance. “Abide” means “to sojourn as a stranger,” while “dwell” suggests a permanent residential status, but here the verbs are probably synonymous. Knowing about eastern hospitality, David wanted to enjoy the benefits of being a resident in God’s house—enjoying God’s fellowship, God’s protection, and God’s provision. The word “dwell” in the Hebrew is shakan and gives us the word shekineh, referring to the presence (dwelling) of God’s glory in the sanctuary (Ex. 25:8; see also 29:46; 1 Chron. 22:19; Pss. 20:2; 78:69; 150:1). David’s great desire was to be with God in heaven and dwell in His house forever (23:6; 61:4), for God is our eternal home (90:1). Believers today can enjoy intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ (John 14:19–31; Heb. 10:19–25).

Psalm 24:3–6 NASB95

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 2:6 NASB95

6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

Psalm 3:4 NASB95

4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

Psalm 26:8 NASB95

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells.

Psalm 27:3–5 NASB95

3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. 4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 65:4 NASB95

4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

Exodus 25:8 NASB95

8 “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.

1 Chronicles 22:19 NASB95

19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 20:2 NASB95

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion!

Psalm 78:69 NASB95

69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has founded forever.

Psalm 150:1 (NASB95)

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Hebrews 10:19–25 (NASB95)

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Are evaluating your life and wondering if you are living in fellowship with God?

Refutation

The world system today has a false view of what it takes to dwell or abide with God. Take for example the many religions of the world. The religions of the world say you can reach God by works and traditions. Paul refutes that in Romans 3 and Ephesians 2.

Works and living a good life will not help you live a righteous life!

If you are unsaved here today and you are doubting whether you have a relationship with God then make that decision today.

Christian, why are you allowing the world to dictate how you live? Why are you consumed with yourself blinding your view of God? Why are you not contemplating on how you can live as a person worthy of God’s blessing?

Application

How does one center their thinking on growth in their spiritual life? How does one live as one who will be in the Lord’s tabernacle and on His Holy Hill?

Where are your thought processes each day from when you wake up to when you go to bed?

Do you constantly try to think of God and meditate on Him? Do you meditate on scripture? As we will see in the next point where David gives us the answer to how we can specifically live and abide in God.

Transition- David asks questions of himself while evaluating his life. Within these areas are twelve character traits the person of God must exhibit in his or her life. He gives these in four sets. Two of three and two of two comparisons alternating between positive and negative.

The Christian must manifest biblical character.

Explanation

David lists these characteristics to help show people the way to follow. The way which all believers, men and women of God ought to exhibit. He begins with three positive then turns to three negative and does the same with pattern a pattern of two. Let us look now at the characteristics.

Three Positive

Lives a daily life of integrity.

Integrity means one who walks uprightly before God. Integrity carries the aspect of reliable and honest.

Pr 11:3 ¶ The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Integrity helps to guide your walk in life. This integrity David mentions is upheld by God (Ps 41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.).

This entails being blameless or without cause to be accused of sin. No hint of sin in your life exists (Ps 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.).

Lives a daily life that demonstrates righteousness

A righteous life is a life that is in harmony with God and His standards. Simply put, it is obedience the God’s commands. In Luke 1:6, Luke speaks of Zacharais and Elizabeth when the angel was about to come to them and tell them of their son they would have and their righteousness. (Lu 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.).

Lives a daily life of honesty

Honesty carries the idea of reliability and truthfulness. An honest person is open and does not seek to hide things.

Honesty is a character trait that needs to be evident in more people’s lives than the typical. Honesty is a key aspect to living uprightly and righteously. John 4:24 speaks specifically how we ought to worship Christ, worship God. The verse says, John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The child of God must walk before God in truth/honesty. (2Ki 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.)

Three Negative

They do not slander people with their tongue.

Slander implies the idea of treading over people. Another way of putting it is malign or speak hurtful words to another person. These can be words that cut deep or shallow.

Slander destroys the testimony and moral of another person.

We as Christians are to do the opposite. (Pr 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.) This verse is listed in a list of seven things the Lord hates. Therefore, if the Lord hates a false witness, one who slanders another, we must as Christians live a life of kindness of speech and edification.

Build others up rather than tear them down!

They do not harm or do evil to their neighbor.

First, your neighbor is anyone who you come into contact. Second, doing harm or evil to another can mean harming him physically, mentally, materially(possessions), emotionally, or spiritually.

Examples:

Example of what not to do: King Ahab and Nabol’s vineyard.

Example of what to do: Onesiphorus ministry to Paul while he was in jail.

Example from the 21st century: Story of two campers at Northland—destroying each others things.

They do not take up reproach against a friend.

Simply, a citizen of Zion does not criticize or hold hurt done to them by a friend (Ps 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.)This can lead to bitterness.

Bitterness leads to a continual feeling of dislike or hate toward a friend because you feel as if you have been wronged. Not holding a reproach is someone who does not injure another with his or her words and/or deeds. Bitterness is considered in God’s eyes as the sin of witchcraft ( 22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.). These verses are speaking of Saul and his heart condition. Is your heart as Saul’s heart?

Two Positive

They view the reprobate as rejected

God rejects the reprobate. Therefore, the citizen of Zion rejects the reprobate as well.

A reprobate is one who has had a chance to repent and turn to God but refused. He is degenerate. Paul in Romans chapter 1 (go ahead and turn there) speaks of how God turns some over to a “reprobate mind.” Hence, he turns them over to themselves. Being turned over to yourself is the worst place one could be.

You may ask, is not that unloving? How can a loving God do such a thing? Simple, He is God and He is sovereign. God can do whatever he pleases. None of us deserve eternal life in heaven. These reprobates had a chance and they rejected time and time again. Do we for sure know all the time if one is a reprobate? No, therefore we share God’s Gospel with all and show compassion. More than likely you will be able to sense if one is a reprobate.

They honor those who fear the Lord. (This and the previous statement are joined together by the conjunction. Rejection of the reprobate is seen by honoring those who fear God.)

They show respect to those who respect and revere God.

The fear of the Lord can be defined as the continual conscience awareness and trust in the very presence and power of God.(def. by my father)

One who abides in God respects those who live in the state of fearing God. May we as those who fear God also fear God.

When one lives in the fear of God they cannot live in the fear of man. The fear of man only brings sin. Fear God and keep His commandments.

Respect the children of God.

They hold true to their word. (This and the following are also joined by a conjunction. The psalmist uses contrast to emphasize the point.)

The person who abides on “His Holy Hill” keeps his or her promise. They do not break a commitment. They keep themselves accountable.

Even if a person of such were to make a rash or quick promise without thinking it through they would stay true to their word

Illustration: Over Christmas break, there were a few times where my parents were gone and they asked me to empty the dishwasher and take out the trash before they arrived home. I told them sure would. Well, as they arrived home I realized I had not kept to my word and neither of the two had gotten done. I was not acting as one who abides in God.

Are you in the habit making small or big promises and not holding to them? Do make commitments whether work related or personal and not fulfill completely those commitments?

They are not erratic. (join with previous by conjunction)

This person is not unpredictable. You do not know for sure whether he is telling the truth or not. You do not know if he is going to hold to his or her commitment or back out.

We are to do all things decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40). We are commanded to be decent and in order in all we do.

Being erratic does not glorify God, it does not make God look good. God is a God of order not chaos.

How do you live your life? Are you changing with the seasons or are you dependable at work, at home both spiritually, mentally, and physically. Is God pleased with how you live?

Two Negative

They are not greedy.

Covetousness is a sin. (Ex. 20)

Usury refers to the charging of high interest on business loans. According to the Law Israelites were not to participate in order to keep the poor from getting deeper in debt. The Ancient Near East had a typical rate of 50%.

This citizen freely with a willing heart gives to the poor and needy. He does not require them to give back more than they borrowed. Simply, they have a giving heart! Do you? Or Do you seek only yours?

Do you desire another’s wealth or possessions? Are you content with what God has given to you?

Example: Professional athletes are always asking for more.

They cannot be bought.

This citizen fights for the poor and needy. They do not take from others, the more unfortunate, to make themselves richer.

They think of others before self.

Are you others oriented or self oriented? If you find yourself comparing yourself with others than more than likely you are very much self-oriented.

Be God-oriented>Others-oriented>then self. (Proverbs 16:18)

Proverbs 16:18 NASB95

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

The Christian holds a guarantee of a secure relationship with God.

Explanation

David guarantees that the person who lives these character traits in their life will never be shaken. Stand Resolved.

This person will enjoy the Lord’s presence and have a vital, living, growing relationship with Him. They will experience a joy that is unfathomable and incomparable. They will receive blessing from the Lord along with supreme and divine security.

Do not you want this to be a description of your life?

Illustration

Employee working to become an employer.

Certain qualities have to be evident before any promotion takes place. Everyone does not start out in corporate. They must meet certain requirements and expectations to reach promotion.

The same goes for the person who desires to abide in close and righteous relationship with God. He or she must striving to live these ten character traits in their lives.

Refutation

The world boldly proclaims that you can live like you please. They say it does not matter how you live, it only matters what you do. This “what” they speak of is “anything.” No limits they say do whatever you want. It won’t hurt anything or anyone.

WRONG! Everything we do does affect someone. Living for ourselves and what we and our flesh desire only brings despair and frustration. Living for God brings joy and contentment. Live out these characteristics that David presents and defy the world’s boisterous proclamation and abide in God.

Application

For those of you unsaved here today, will you throw off your dirty, sin-rotted clothes and put on Christ? Will you by the grace of God through faith, believing that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the earth for you, to cleanse you from sin, and to give you eternal life. Will you make that decision today? The only way you can have this promise of a spiritually steadfast life is to first accept God’s gift of salvation.

Believer, are you failing in one, a couple, a few or perhaps all of them? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to continue to let your pride come between you and God? Will you get right with God whatever sin is in your life? Repent and turn form it this evening! Do not let sin rule you any longer. God is greater than any sin and loves the greatest of sinners. He is the only answer to your problem. During the invitation go to him to day and take care of it!

Put on these character traits! Live them in your daily life!

Conclusion

Recap

Visualize: This citizen of Zion lives a Christlike life exhibiting the character traits given by David in Psalm 15. Each day put on Christ. When during your day a struggle comes and the temptation to live selfishly or take the “easy” way out, think of abiding with the Lord in His Tabernacle on His Holy Hill.

You can summarize these character traits into three categories—blameless character, righteous conduct, and truthful conversation. You and I must be individuals and a church that dedicate our lives and church to having blameless character, righteous conduct, and truthful conversations.

Of these 12 traits this evening where are you falling short?

Our behavior dictates the closeness of our relationship with God.

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