Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 15

by Don R. Hender

This psalm recounts what degree of righteousness should be held in order to enter the temple upon the holy hill. It almost seems to be a temple recommend interview listing of such requirements. A number of those requirements are not unlike those of today's lists.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

David asks: Who shall dwell in the Lord's holy hill?—He answers: The righteous, the upright, those having integrity. CHAPTER 15
David from some scriptural source composes or sings this psalm which asks the question: Who shall dwell in the Lord's house? The psalm then gives an authoritative answer from that likely same unnamed scriptural source.

A Psalm of David

1 LORD, who shall ^aabide in thy tabernacle^a? who shall dwell in thy holy ^bhill?
1^a thy tabernacle The tabernacle may reference two places which are very much similar in a number of respects. The earthly tabernacle is that which by the Lord's command through Moses was constructed for the presence of the Lord to dwell with Israel and for Israel to perform their oridances and enter into their covenants witht he Lord. That tabernacle is the 'House of the Lord' on earth. Temples serve that perpose though not of a portable nature as was the tabernacle of Moses. The House of the Lord represents the presence of the Lord and the Lord's dwelling place. In the eternal sense, the House of the Lord is his heaven and his kingdom. To enter into the presence of the Lord, the House of the Lord requires a certain state and level of worthiness. This psalm recounts what it is to be worthy to enter the presence and/or house of the Lord.

2 He that ^awalketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart^a.
3 He that ^abackbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his ^bneighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
2^a speaketh the truth in his heart This is the highest order of truth, the truth of the heart. One may speak the truth verbally and not tell a lie, but is that man's heart in harmony with that truth or is there inner discord? Often a man will think one thing but say another, often to be heard and pleasingly accepted by those whom will hear what is said. This is a disception and though the truth is stated, if it is not felt as well, then though the truth be spoken verbally, the truth in not in that man. Truth must reside and be a part of a man, in his inner being. It must be in his heart as well as in his mind and upon his tougue.

4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt^a, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to ^ausury, nor taketh ^breward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. **4^a He that sweareth to his own hurt** Honesty and integrity in a man is that which will yield the truth even if it is to his own disadvantage or 'hurt'. It is the 'nature' of man to attempt to represent himself 'well' before those he comes in contact with. He puts on his 'best face' so to speak, though often it is a 'false face'. The truly honest man of integrity is not a man of false fronts. He will not represent himself to be something that he is not, even to the extent that it may tent to be to his own disadvantage.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
David asks: Who shall dwell in the Lord's holy hill?—He answers: The righteous, the upright, those having integrity.	CHAPTER 15 David from some scriptural source composes or sings this psalm which asks the question: Who shall dwell in the Lord's house? The psalm then gives an authoritative answer from that likely same unnamed scriptural source.
A Psalm of David
1 LORD, who shall ^aabide in thy tabernacle^a? who shall dwell in thy holy ^bhill?	1^a thy tabernacle The tabernacle may reference two places which are very much similar in a number of respects. The earthly tabernacle is that which by the Lord's command through Moses was constructed for the presence of the Lord to dwell with Israel and for Israel to perform their oridances and enter into their covenants witht he Lord. That tabernacle is the 'House of the Lord' on earth. Temples serve that perpose though not of a portable nature as was the tabernacle of Moses. The House of the Lord represents the presence of the Lord and the Lord's dwelling place. In the eternal sense, the House of the Lord is his heaven and his kingdom. To enter into the presence of the Lord, the House of the Lord requires a certain state and level of worthiness. This psalm recounts what it is to be worthy to enter the presence and/or house of the Lord.
2 He that ^awalketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart^a. 3 He that ^abackbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his ^bneighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.	2^a speaketh the truth in his heart This is the highest order of truth, the truth of the heart. One may speak the truth verbally and not tell a lie, but is that man's heart in harmony with that truth or is there inner discord? Often a man will think one thing but say another, often to be heard and pleasingly accepted by those whom will hear what is said. This is a disception and though the truth is stated, if it is not felt as well, then though the truth be spoken verbally, the truth in not in that man. Truth must reside and be a part of a man, in his inner being. It must be in his heart as well as in his mind and upon his tougue.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt^a, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to ^ausury, nor taketh ^breward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.	*4^a He that* sweareth to his own hurt** Honesty and integrity in a man is that which will yield the truth even if it is to his own disadvantage or 'hurt'. It is the 'nature' of man to attempt to represent himself 'well' before those he comes in contact with. He puts on his 'best face' so to speak, though often it is a 'false face'. The truly honest man of integrity is not a man of false fronts. He will not represent himself to be something that he is not, even to the extent that it may tent to be to his own disadvantage.