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psalm 15
Haystack bible commentary"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."
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==psalm 15:1-5:
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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. |
A discerning Christian does not believe everything he or she hears, especially evil reports. He or she will try to ascertain whether the information is really true before sharing with others.
Psalm 15 gives us some practical standards to determine how we are doing as Christians in regard to truth telling. King David opens with an important question, “Who can come before God?” (Psalm 15:1). And he ends on an assuring note, “He who does these things will never be shaken” (Psalm 15:5). “These things” are listed in Psalm 15:2-5, including generosity to the poor and doing righteousness.
In a sense, David is asking, “Who may be received as a guest into God’s tent, enjoying all the benefits and protections of his hospitality? Who may live as a citizen of his holy kingdom? What is the character of the one who walks in fellowship with God, whose heart, mind and actions are in sync with God’s character?” The Christian knows that we confidently approach God through faith in Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). That is our sure source of fellowship with God. -Rosie Moore; Gospel Coalition; Speak The Truth From Your Heart, Even When It’s Hard 3.9.22 |
August 26, 2024: Eric Smith wrote: Who may abide in your tent,” it asks, and “who may dwell on your holy hill?” Who, in other words, can be in the presence of God? The Psalm goes on to answer its own question: the people who can be in the presence of God are the ones who follow the rules and the behaviors expected of people who are in covenant with each other and God. And here, the rules mostly have to do with how we treat other people, not how we treat God. Psalm 15 admonishes the reader to speak truth, not slander other people, not to treat either friends or neighbors badly, to honor promises made, to not take bribes, and interestingly, to not lend money at interest. (This last one is a pretty pervasive idea in the Hebrew Bible—that you shouldn’t make money charging interest on lending—but it seems to have been conveniently and wholly abandoned by the people who want to bring “biblical values” into American society). In short, Psalm 15 is making a tidy association: the ones who get to hang out in God’s presence are the ones who treat other people decently. This isn’t quite law, in the sense that Deuteronomy is imagining it, but it’s reflective of a kind of ethics that flows from law—the kind of just and righteous society and citizenship that Deuteronomy thinks will come from Israel’s adherence to God’s special law. |
==psalm 15:2-3:
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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. |
The benchmark for real truth & uprightness is that he speaks truth in his heart. He doesn't just say things that are true...but believes it in his heart, and from there will he speak
 Rosie Moore
Speaking the truth requires that we never plagiarise or steal another person’s words, ideas, or inventions. It means always acknowledging our sources. We don’t pretend to be smarter than we are by inflating our CV or creating a false persona. Instead, we align ourselves with reality. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3).
Speaking the truth means that we don’t invent or listen to propaganda. It means that we do not suppress or hide the truth with word play or by ignoring empirical facts, even if we think censorship is for the ‘greater good.’ Truth lovers support transparency and free debate. They are careful not to manipulate data or build a straw man in order to demolish another person’s arguments. A truthful person speaks the truth even when it’s awkward and costly. Speaking the truth at work may require us to expose sexual abuse, theft or fraud. It may lead us to write an open letter to expose injustice and lies, or demand accountability. Speaking truth may require us to be a whistleblower or to advocate for voiceless victims. It may compel us to engage in civil disobedience when laws are unjust. Speaking truth to power is the duty of a Christ follower wherever we have influence. --Rosie Moore; Gospel Coalition Africa; Speak The Truth From Your Heart, Even When It’s Hard |