Psalms for Daily Living

PSALM 15—The title chosen to describe the Psalms cited for today’s lesson expresses the real purpose of God in giving his Word to his people. True, rich blessings accrue from simply reading any portion of the Bible but the entire Word of God was intended to be more for his people than inspirational reading. The Word of God and the Psalms are no exception was given to be a Guide Book for his people, to supply them with information concerning his plans and purposes, and to instruct his servants as to how they might co-operate acceptably in the divine arrangements.

Concerning the last book of the Bible the statement is made, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” (Rev. 1:3) It is well to note in this text that the blessing is promised, not merely to those who “read” and “hear,” but to those who, in addition to reading and hearing, “keep those things which are written therein.” No special blessing will result from merely reading any portion of God’s Word unless the one who reads does so with the intent to learn and to do God’s will as he finds it revealed to him.

In the Psalm under consideration David asks, “Who shall abide in thy tabernacle?” The margin gives us the word “sojourn.” This reminds us that the tabernacle of Israel was typical of a temporary condition of the Lord’s people during the present age. However, faithfulness to God during the time we are tabernacling in the flesh is essential if finally we are to dwell in his “holy hill.”—Verse 1

Turning back to Psalm 2:6 we find that the “holy hill” of the Lord is a symbolic expression describing the highly exalted position of Jesus in the heavenly phase of the kingdom. The promise is that if we are faithful in suffering and dying with him we will live and reign with him; that is, we will be in that “holy hill” with Jesus.

The conditions upon which we may hope to attain to that exalted position in the Lord’s kingdom are stated in the Psalm to be that of walking uprightly, working righteousness and speaking the truth in our hearts. Also, refraining from backbiting with our tongues and from listening to reproaches against our neighbors. (See margin.) To these requirements are added the necessity of not countenancing a “vile person,” but on the other hand the honoring of those who fear the Lord. All of these are searching requirements, and it is well for every follower of the Master to check his thoughts and words and conduct daily to make sure that he is living up to them as fully as possible, and trusting in the merit of the Redeemer to make up for his shortcomings.

Most significant of all, however, is the statement concerning those who “sweareth” to their own hurt and “changeth not.” This might well apply to the Christian’s consecration vows, his covenant of sacrifice—that solemn agreement to lay down his life in the Lord’s service as Jesus did—following in his footsteps even unto death.

Those who enter into this covenant find that it is indeed to their own hurt according to the flesh and some are inclined to renounce their vows, failing to live up to their privileges of sacrifice. Such not only lose their place in the present tabernacle arrangements of the Lord but also forfeit their opportunity of joint-heirship with Jesus in his kingdom, in the “holy hill” of the Lord.

Putting out money to usury, as mentioned in the last verse of the Psalm, is evidently a reference to taking unjust advantage of those in need of help. Followers of the Master would rather give to such than to take advantage of them for personal gain. In this we have an example of the operation of love, that principle of unselfishness which causes the Christian to prefer suffering loss rather than to take unjust advantage of another.

The Psalmist wrote, “He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” That is, he will never lose his standing before the Lord. Following a somewhat similar outline of Christian standards, the Apostle Peter wrote, “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

PSALM 24:1-6—“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” When we consider this fundamental fact of the Creator’s ownership of the earth, indeed, of all the universe, it becomes apparent that he has a just right to establish laws governing those whom he permits to enjoy that which belongs to him. And this is even more true in the case of those whom the Lord invites to the highest position in his universe, even to joint-heirship with Jesus, to live and reign with him.

Concerning these the inquiry is made, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?” The answer is just what we should expect of the God of righteousness—“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” “Clean hands” and a “pure heart” are closely related. The hands are a symbol of activity, for we do things with our hands. If our hearts are pure, we will endeavor to have all our activities clean, in harmony with the high standards of righteousness set forth in the Word of the Lord.

Lifting up one’s soul unto vanity suggests the idea of setting up one’s own will in opposition to the will of God. The Apostle Paul speaks of using the “sword of the Spirit,” the Word of God, as a weapon with which to “cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” (Eph. 6:17; II Cor. 10:5) It would be vanity indeed to suppose that our own ways and preferences are superior to that which the Lord has ordained for our good.

“Nor sworn deceitfully”—here the reference is, apparently, to our consecration vows. The first condition requisite to entering into the “hill of the Lord” is that of entering into a covenant of sacrifice with the Lord. This calls for the renouncing of our own wills, and accepting instead the will of God. This is a solemn vow unto the Lord, and only those who keep it faithfully even unto death will live and reign with Christ a thousand years.

PSALM 143:8-10—In this beautiful passage, David petitions the Lord for guidance in the doing of his will. David bases his request on the fact that he has put his trust in the Lord. Only those who trust fully in the Lord can pray to him sincerely for guidance. Jesus hinted at this when he said to his disciples that no true parent would give a stone to children who asked for bread; hence that the Heavenly Father would certainly give the Holy Spirit to those who asked him.

It is by means of the Holy Spirit, through the written Word, that the Lord guides the followers of the Master; and we can ask him to guide us knowing, as Jesus declared, that the Heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children.—Luke 11:13

“Thy Spirit is good,” wrote David. Yes, it is truly a righteous influence in the lives of God’s people and by its enlightening powers we are able to discern the Lord’s will. If we continue to follow the leading of the Spirit we will reach the “land of uprightness,” that is, the spiritual phase of the new kingdom, the “new heavens,” wherein dwelleth righteousness.—II Pet. 3:13

David also prayed for deliverance from his enemies, and so should we. Satan is the chief of the Christian’s enemies and allied with him are the world and our own fallen flesh. It requires a constant warfare to keep the upper hand over these, but by the Lord’s strength we will eventually be victorious and full deliverance will come in the “first resurrection.”—Rev. 20:6

QUESTIONS

What must a Christian do besides reading the Word of God?

What is symbolized by the “tabernacle,” and what is the hill of the Lord?

What does it mean to speak the truth in our hearts?

What does it mean to swear to our hurt and change not?

How might a Christian lift up his soul unto vanity?

Why is it essential to trust in the Lord in order to pray to him sincerely?

What is the medium by which the Lord guides the footstep followers of the Master?

Identify the three great enemies of the Christian, and when will we be fully delivered from these?

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