Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” (Ps 15:1)

Psalm 15 is an awesome psalm. It outlines for us the requirements for those who want to live and dwell in God’s presence. David begins the list of requirements by saying:

“He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.” (v. 2)

In Genesis 15 we also read this morning about Abraham, the father of all who believe: “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Ge 15:6)

Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. So what about having to walk blamelessly and doing what is right in order to enjoy God’s presence? Is it not enough to just believe in God or do we also have to walk right and act godly?

James (Ya’acov) answers these questions for us. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (Jas 2:18,26)

True faith in God will always lead to action of obedience to Him.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 Jn 5:3-4)

Faith in God overcomes the world with its lusts and passions and gives us the ability to obey God’s commandments. Paul wrote: “But by the grace of God I am what I am. and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Co 15:10) Grace is God’s power and ability working in our lives to be what He wants us to be. Through faith in Messiah, God will give us grace to live righteously. “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.” (Ro 4:16)

Through faith in God and by His grace we can fulfill the requirements listed in Psalm 15.

“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” (Ps 15)

It is time for the world to see some fruit in our lives by the way we act. Let’s not accept what Dietrich Boonhoeffer called “cheap grace” as an excuse for our lack of obedience. By faith and trust in God let us also live in righteousness by obeying God’s commandments.

“I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. … because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Ge 26:3,5)

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (Jas 1:25)

Amazing grace is the transformation of ungodly sinners to become like Messiah, living righteous lives and enjoying God’s presence. Let’s repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! The kingdom where God’s will rule in our lives and where His presence dwells, is within reach through Yeshua. That is the good news. Bless His holy Name! May God’s grace not be in vain in our lives but produce the fruit He has intended for us.

Daily Bread