‘Whoever does these things will never be shaken…’ (Psalm 15:5)
Read Psalm 15
Have you ever been in that situation where you ask someone a question, yet even as you are doing so you realise that you already know the answer to that question, so you answer on behalf of the person you are asking the question of. I have to confess that it is a bad habit of mine and on initial reading that would appear to be what is happening here in Psalm 15. The Psalmist begins by asking a question and then proceeds to give the answer to that very question. Indeed it could be argued that the answer given goes well beyond the scope of the original question.
But if we look in more detail we see that Psalm 15 in many ways encapsulates the way of Discipleship for those who would say they know and follow Jesus. It speaks about how we should live morally with respect to our fellow human beings but at the same time emphasises our relationship with God throughout. We cannot, for example, hope to have a right relationship with God without having a right relationship with our fellow human beings. Nor can we have that same right relationship with God unless we speak the truth from our heart. In other words, our thoughts, words and deeds in respect of how we interact with others is important when it comes to our relationship with God.
Today, of course, that we can have that relationship with God through His Son and it is by this grace we are able to be at one with God. But remember Jesus Himself would go on to tell us that the entire law could be effectively summed up in two commandments. Love God and Love Your Neighbour. Isn’t this in effect what the Psalmist is saying here and, ‘whoever does these things will never be shaken…’
Lord we thank You that through Your Son we are able to come in to Your Holy presence and be at one with You. Help us to live as You would have us – loving You and loving our neighbour, that in so doing we might bear witness to Your name. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Question Of The Day: What is the first thing Noah did on leaving the ark?