An Invitation to God’s House

Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives (walk straight) and do what is right (act right), speaking the truth (honesty) from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. Psalms 15:1-5 (NLT)

Have you ever wanted a dinner invitation to the White House or Buckingham Palace?  Normally, there are rules and guidelines to obtain an invitation to such exclusive places. In Psalm 15, King David also provided people some simple guidelines to follow if they wanted to get an invitation to God’s eternal home – His heavenly sanctuary. Psalm 15 with parallel references in Psalm 24, also written by King David, gives some easy guidelines to obtain an invitation to God’s presence – His holy, royal house.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

The true and living God was not looking for people who just gave empty sacrifices or performed half-hearted religious rituals. God wanted moral righteousness in order to gain access to His House (see Exodus 20:1-17; see also Isaiah 1:10-17; Isaiah 33:14-16; Isaiah 58:6-10; Jeremiah 7:2-7; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Zechariah 7:9-10; Zechariah 8:16-17). Like the other true messengers of God, King David proclaimed that God wanted our genuine and wholehearted love, alliance, and obedience to Him and not the people’s empty, dishonest, and half-hearted worship (see also Isaiah 1:10-20; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-8). Such people who seek righteousness and God’s ways of living are ultimately invited into God’s eternal sanctuary (Psalm 15).

God calls all people to sincere faith and wholehearted devotion to Him (Isaiah 1:10-14) although we live among evil people whose standards and morals are steadily eroding (Isaiah 33:15; Isaiah 56:1; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 2:4; Mark 12:29-31). Sin blocks our intimate union and access to God. However, King David reminded the people if they wanted this close fellowship with God; they must turn from sin and wholeheartedly obey God (Psalm 24:3-6; see also Isaiah 33:14-16). The only sure cure to restore a meaningful relationship with God is by confessing our sins, obeying God’s teachings, and communicating regularly (prayer) with God (see Psalm 140:13; Isaiah 1:16-19; 1 John 1:9). Our close fellowship with God brings God's protection and God's provision (blessings).

From Psalm 15, God said we must walk blameless before Him (Psalm 15:2; see also Genesis 5:22; Genesis 6:8-9; Genesis 17:1). Being blameless means living a life wholeheartedly devoted and loyal to God and faithfulness to His holy teachings. The true and living God wants people to reverential trust Him, respect and honor Him as their God, and order their lives in accordance with His will as they shun evil and sin (Psalm 34:8-14; Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7; 1 Peter 3:8-12). “Blameless” before God does not mean “sinless,” for nobody on earth is sinless. Instead, blameless has to do with our moral character, integrity, and complete loyalty to God. Noah was blameless (Genesis 6:9), and God warned Abraham to be blameless (Genesis 17:1), that is, devoted wholly to Him (see also Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Psalm 101:2, 6; Luke 16:13).

Second, God wants people to act right (that is seeks after righteousness) and tell the truth (truthful conversations) from their hearts (Psalm 15:2; see also Psalm 1:5). Words are powerful. God wants honesty with Him, truth in our innermost being (Psalm 51:6) and honesty in our conversations with others (Ephesian 4:14-15). Dishonest communication hurts our fellowship with God and our relationship with others. Without honesty, a close relationship with God is impossible. How greatly God values our honesty!

Third, the true and living God does not want His people to backbite and hurt other people (Psalm 15:3). Gossiping, blaming others, and speaking evil of people are things God dislikes (see also Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). More trouble and heartache is caused in families, neighborhoods, offices, and churches by gossip and lies and the people who keep them in circulation. Instead, God wants everyone to “speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15, NLT). God wants us to use our words to encourage, uplift and help people and not hurt (see 1 Thessalonians 5:11; James 3:1-12).

Finally, God desires for His people to keep their promises (our word), even when it may cause personal hurt (Psalm 15:4). We must all “keep your word even when it costs” us personally (Psalms 15:4, MSG). Even more, God wants people to make an honest living and not take bribes and kickbacks and not charge people excessive interest (Psalm 15:5; see also Isaiah 1:23). As with King David, the Prophet Isaiah reminded the people that God wanted: “All who are honest and fair, who reject making profit by fraud, who hold back their hands from taking bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong” (Isaiah 33:15, TLB).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

The true and living God encourages all people to do good and make a positive difference (Philippians 2:12-16). We are saved by faith, not by deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nevertheless, love and kindness for others and wholehearted love for God is the proper response of all those whom God has truly forgiven and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-14; Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus Christ said that those who are forgiven much love much (Luke 7:47). Our genuine love and goodness for others are evidence of our salvation and God’s forgiveness (Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 7:15-23). Besides, the Lord God exercises “kindness, justice and righteousness on earth” and He wants everyone to do the same towards others (Jeremiah 9:24).

The Jewish rabbis taught that there were 613 commandments for the ancient Israelites to obey if they wanted to be righteous. However, Psalm 15 with parallel references of Psalm 24 brings that number down to eleven. Isaiah 33:15-16 gives six requirements, and Micah 6:6-8 lists three. Habakkuk 2:4 names but one—faith! Faith in God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and faith in Jesus Christ’s life and sacrificial death is the only way to have our sins completely forgiven and be welcomed into God’s eternal sanctuary (John 14:6; Acts 10:34-38, 43; Romans 1:7; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not merely a gift received but one that ultimately expresses itself in good works and love (Galatians 5:6; James 2:18, 20, 22).

In every nation He (God) accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we apostles are witnesses of all He (Jesus Christ) did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him to life on the third day. . . . He (Jesus Christ) is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.” Acts 10:35-40, 43 (NLT)

Psalm 15 and Psalm 24 are not a prescription for being saved. As stated earlier, only our personal faith in God (Father, Son – Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) brings about our salvation (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4; Mark 12:28-34; see also Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:19). “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. . . . For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23, NIV). Good works or religious character cannot save us. The only way we can enter into God's eternal sanctuary is through the merits of Jesus Christ, which means we must repent of our sins and place our wholehearted faith in Him. Only Jesus Christ qualifies to enter God the Father's eternal presence, and He has gone to heaven to represent His people and intercede for them before God the Father's throne. God's righteousness is a gift to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ and not a reward for our good works (Romans 3:21-4:9; Romans 5:17; Romans 10:1-10). Ultimately, our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ expresses itself in good works and love (Galatians 5:6; James 2:18, 20, 22).

Psalm 15 and Psalm 24 do provide a description of how saved people ought to live if they want to please God and have eternal fellowship (union) with Him (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49). A godly life discussed by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount parallels the characteristics of the godly person described in Psalm 15 and Psalm 24. A life built upon God and God’s teachings has a strong and stable foundation. Practicing obedience to God’s teachings becomes the solid foundation to weather any storms of life (see James 1:22-27). “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17, NKJV).

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their Savior. Such people may seek you and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob. Psalms 24:3-6 (NLT)

“Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying” will see God (Psalms 24:4; see also Matthew 5:8). “Clean hands” speak of righteous conduct (Isaiah 1:15-16, 18), and a “pure heart” speaks of godly character and motives (Matthew 5:8). Jesus Christ said that the “pure in heart . . . will see God” (Matthew 5:8). A pure heart is a right attitude and motives (Psalm 51:10; Psalm 73:1). Those who are pure in thought, word, and deed will receive God’s blessings and goodness (Psalm 24:5; Matthew 5:8) and “allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:6, TLB). Inner purity and truth are required of those who worship God aright (Psalm 15; Psalm 24:3-5; John 4:24).

Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey Me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 1:16-20 (NLT)

God hates all kinds of deception and frauds, especially false witness in court. Even more, external religious rituals are meaningless before God without inward holiness and truth (Isaiah 1:15-16, 18). Our religious celebrations and sacrifices are to be an outward sign of our inward love and faith in God (see Deuteronomy 10:12-16; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 51:16-19; Hosea 6:6). Our gifts and sacrifices mean nothing to God when they come from a corrupt heart. God wants us to wholeheartedly love Him, faithfully obey Him and turn from our sins. God's Word promises that He gives everyone an opportunity to repent and be forgiven (Isaiah 1:16-31) with full cleansing of all our sins and shame (Psalm 51:1-7).

References

KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

Woman’s Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.