Psalm 15 "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service?"

Psalm 15:1-2

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
    Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart... 

Comments: I always call this “A psalm of Integrity”. Here the psalmist gives voice to the cry of God-seeking—but imperfect—people throughout history, “What do we need to do to live in God's presence?” or, to put it in New Testament terms, “…to be saved?" David gives a detailed list of that kind of person who can approach and be comfortable in a relationship with God. What a practical list of attributes and attitudes this psalm provides! 

As I would sum it up, the person who can dwell in the presence of God:

•        Walks blamelessly
•        Does what is right every time
•        Speaks the truth in his heart (he doesn’t even lie to himself)
•        Doesn’t slander with his tongue
•        Does no evil to his neighbor,
•        Doesn’t betray his friends
•        Doesn’t look up to vile people
•        He honors those who honor the Lord;
•        Keeps his promises even when it hurts
•        Doesn’t charge interest when helping others (not about what he gets out of it)
•        Won’t lie, even when he needs the money (never profit over people).

There is just one problem—we don’t add up, neither did David…and he knew it. It was clear to David that his integrity depended on the lovingkindness of the Lord.

So what do we do in that moment of honesty, when we see God as he really is, and ourselves as we really are and feel suddenly under-dressed and disqualified? Such moments come rarely for those who in their pride and self-sufficiency sense no need. For others, feelings of unworthiness and the dirty rags of disgrace are the uniforms of their daily lives.

The person this psalm describes as having integrity in all areas of their life is a great example for us, but thankfully we don't have to "earn it" ourselves. We can’t presume to approach God in unrepentant sin. When you go to a wedding you wear wedding clothes (Matthew 22:11-12). Our sin must be dealt with, and our nakedness must be covered. Before the King, there can be no excuses, no explanation, and no argument. What we must do—while it is still today—is admit that we need “a wedding garment” befitting the invitation we have received and to trust Jesus to provide what we need.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

For us, as Christians, we are made worthy in Christ, not in our own efforts. Yet, if Jesus lives in us we will become more like him in our behavior as well. He came to serve, and such love transforms our hearts. It is Jesus' integrity that covers us, delivers us, gives us victory and enables us to dwell in the presence of a holy God as one who belongs there. 

We can’t hope to stand before the Lord in any kind of self-righteousness, but like the tax collector in Luke 18:9-15 who cried out, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' and went home justified. In putting his faith in the mercy of God, his righteousness exceeded that of the Pharisees. What about now? Do we have faith in Jesus' integrity on our behalf?

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 2:3-4)

He gives us not only the needed shirt and shoes but all that we need for life and godliness…his very nature!