Time in the Word ~ Psalm 15:1

David pivots from Psalm 14 on who the wicked man is, to Psalm 15 where God answers David’s question on who may dwell in your sanctuary and who may live on your holy hill. My friends, there is one big difference between God and mankind, and that is that God’s expectations for all men are high indeed. Isaiah says it best in Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” 

God has a standard for men, and it is properly related to us in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. David’s question is important to those who would seek God, because it points us toward what is important to God, and why building those characteristics into our lives is a long-term pursuit if we are to see God’s face. As a devotional matter, there are several things that should be highlighted for God’s people:

1. Routinely ask yourself the question: “How do I get close to my God?” That examination process is critical to obtaining and sustaining faith in God. Notice how David leads off the first verse with this question of God’s standard, expectation, and desire for his life. If we are God seekers, we must ask these questions of ourselves. We often procrastinate at this point and never affect change in our lives.
2. Recognize you cannot achieve God’s standards or expectations on your own abilities or determination. Who is blameless or righteous?  Not one of us (Romans 3:23)! Without Jesus Christ we can never be blameless or righteous and dwell with God on his holy hill.
3. You must treat people right! As Micah 6:8 states, a God seeker must do justice. You simply do all the good you can, as long as you can, to whomever you can. To be able to do this 24/7, which is God’s standard, requires his inexhaustible energy.
4. You must keep your commitment to others even when it hurts. God expects that we represent him to others in this life and we cannot go wobbly in our faith. Especially as it applies to money and taking advantage of other people for the sake of money. God must come first before all else, and most assuredly money! In our society today this often separates godly and ungodly character.

David ends this psalm with the conviction that the one who listens, understands, and applies it in his or her relationships will become a friend of God and become a true intimate with him in our Christian walk.

FATHER, HELP ME TO EXAMINE MYSELF TODAY AS TO THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN MY LIFE. HOW I TREAT OTHERS AND MY LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST FIRST AND FOREMOST, RATHER THAN THE TREASURES OF THIS WORLD.

Article source: Mike White @ Summit church of Christ