Daily Nugget:
“A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” Psalm 15:1
Psalm 15:1 starts with a question David asked the Lord. He asked who should live (“abide”) in the tabernacle?
At that time, there was no temple. It had not been constructed. Worship to the Lord was done at the tent tabernacle. Although in Israel’s past, it was portable and carried during their wilderness journey, it was then permanently raised on Mount Zion (“the holy hill), which today is called the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was on this mount where worship was done.
However, no one lived in the tabernacle. Levite priests and tribe members were the only ones who worked on the site and performed what was required for the Old Testament worship.
Psalm 15, and many other Psalms, speak prophetically about the millennial reign when Christ will return and rule in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. I do not believe anyone will live at the temple during that time either.
So, who can live (“dwell”) in the “holy hill”? In this case, verse one’s “who shall abide” refers to those that “turn aside”, as the Greek of this verse says. It is applied to one who would leave the road he is traveling and pull off to another road or building. He would change his destination.
Webster’s 1828 defines it another way. It states that “dwell” could mean loiter or delay. Again, it may not describe those who permanently live there.
With these understandings of the word, if one turns away from worldly goals or longs for the Lord and purposedly turns to live the way God desires of him, he will have God working more in his life. This new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17) will live differently than the unsaved. He will:
- Live his life as a good testimony to the Lord, will do right, and will be honest (vs. 2).
- Not talk about others, do wrong to people, nor will he bring reproach to his neighbor (vs. 3).
- Dislike vile behavior (vs. 4), but respect those who honor the Lord. He will be consistent (vs. 4).
- Not earn money by loaning or taking advantage of others.
A person who is consistent in this behavior will be upright and will not fall for the temptations this life presents.
Today’s Thought:
“If you can get along with the world, then you are out of step with God.” — Harold Sightler
Words to Understand:
Backbiteth: slander, a tale-bearer
Contemn: Look down upon with disdain
Holy hill: the temple mount in Jerusalem
Reproach: blame or discredit
Tabernacle: the first place of worship for the Jews. It was a tent.
Usury: taking profit in a loan
“who shall abide”: to turn aside from the road, to loiter or delay
Today’s Reading:
Psalm 15
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
