What are the key qualities of people whom God welcomes to worship him and to spend time with him (v 1)? Did you notice that none are to do with how we behave in a meeting with other worshippers? All of them are about how we live in the rest of our lives.

Can you find the positives and negatives in this psalm that characterise such people? Positively, they live (walk) in line with truth, honesty and justice (v 2), treat godly people with great honour, and keep their word, even when it is costly (v 4). Negatively, they do not gossip, or stir up wrong with words, or criticise others (v 3). They are discerning in the company they keep, avoiding evildoers (v 4), and they are people of their word (v 4). They handle money rightly, being generous to those in poverty, and not accepting bribes to favour the rich (v 5).

Who can live like this? The standard is too high! Yet, through Christ, God accepts us as we are, but not so that we can stay as we are. This psalm is a challenge to us about how far our lives are coming into line with God’s purposes.

Thank you, Father, that we can come to you just as we are, because of what Jesus has done. We praise you for our secure relationship with you.

Psalm 15 seems to set an impossibly high standard: a perfect life in word and deed (v 2). I once heard a sermon on this psalm which spelt out the challenge but offered little hope and – ultimately – very little gospel. Jesus was barely mentioned. I was left with an impression of an unattainable, moralistic goal. 

There is a better way to approach the psalm, which is to view it through a gospel lens and think of it first as a picture of Jesus’ way of life. He completely fulfils the challenge these verses give. In thought, word and deed, he was perfectly pure. Then – wonder of wonders – he went to the cross for you and me. Some Bible versions have ‘sanctuary’ as a translation in verse 1, but ‘sacred tent’ is more accurate. It reminds us that, at a time when people lived in tents, God came and dwelt symbolically in a tent with them, thus prefiguring the incarnation when God’s Son came and ‘tabernacled’ among sinful humanity.¹ Because Jesus has come to us and died for us we really can ‘dwell’ with God for he has made his home with us. This psalm, viewed from a New Testament perspective, is full of grace and full of gospel. Jesus’ fulfilment of it is a beacon of hope for all those who put their trust in him. 

Understanding this, we are ready to respond to the call to holy living; in particular, to hear the challenge to have integrity (vs 2–5). Jesus always did what was right ‘even when it hurt’ (see v 4). We are to follow his example of integrity, applying this principle to every dimension of our lives, for instance, our financial conduct (v 5). This psalm encourages us to live in ways that are fitting for those who know God. 

Thank God that you can ‘dwell’ with him. Ask him to sharpen your Christian living so you become more like the one who ‘tabernacled’ among us. 

¹ Exod 25:8,9,22; John 1:14, Tree of Life Version