Psa. 15:0 ¶ A Psalm of David.
Point is made that this is a psalm of David. It is an uplifting but challenging Psalm about the character of a righteous person.
Wiersbe: “It’s important to note that Psalm 15 is not a prescription for being saved but a description of how saved people ought to live if they want to please God and fellowship with Him.”
Psa. 15:1 ¶ LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
This song of David opens with a question to the LORD as to who will get to dwell in His presence.
It is understood by the psalmist that morality is determined and defined by God—not man.
Psa. 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
As David begins to ponder the question, I believe the Holy Spirit begins to speak to his heart. The first three qualifying traits that come to David’s mind are:
One who walks uprightly.
One who works righteousness.
One who speaks truth in his heart.
One who walks uprightly is one who lives with moral integrity. One who works righteousness is one who chooses to do what is right and just. They pretty much go hand-in-hand I think. It is understood that no one can be perfect, but this person strives to be so. Overt sin is an aberration in this person’s life; it does not characterize him.
Spurgeon: “True believers do not cringe as flatterers, wriggle as serpents, bend double as earth-grubbers, or crook on one side as those who have sinister aims; they have the strong backbone of the vital principle of grace within, and being themselves upright, they are able to walk uprightly.”
I thought David’s wording on the next character trait was interesting, one who “speaks truth in his heart.” It’s not just important for one to speak the truth publicly; it’s probably even more important to speak truth in one’s heart, the place where only God is our witness. People will choose to say things for many different motives, sometimes pretending to believe one thing while harboring a different truth in their hearts—like many politicians today. What goes on in one’s heart testifies to one’s true character. John spoke about such people.
1 John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth….”
Wiersbe: “Truth is the cement that holds society together. If people can get away with lies, then every promise, agreement, oath, pledge, and contract is immediately destroyed.”
Psa. 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
The next three traits David identifies are:
One that isn’t a backbiter.
One that does no evil to his neighbor.
One that doesn’t reproach his neighbor
A backbiter is one who is a tale-bearer, a gossip; one who slanders another. To do no evil is actually to do what is good. To reproach someone is to act with intent to disgrace or bring shame upon someone. The Hebrew basically defines our neighbor as kinfolk or a friend. Again, these character traits basically go hand-in-hand.
Adam Clarke: “The words backbite and backbiter come from the Anglo-Saxon bac, the back, and to bite….but it was intended to convey the treble sense of knavishness, cowardice, and brutality. He is a knave, who would rob you of your good name; he is a coward, that would speak of you in your absence what he dared not to do in your presence; and only an ill-conditioned dog would fly at and bite your back when your face was turned.”
Psa. 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
The one whom God will have dwell in His presence is one who does not hold in esteem those who are morally impure, whose lives are characterized by sin. He will choose to honor those that show that they reverence God by how they live.
This is a constant challenge for us all, but especially for young people in particular today. Those that are esteemed as role models are often those that live the most worldly lives—actors, athletes, entertainers, the rich and famous, etc. I have heard the media tout famous people as role models whose lives show them to be in direct rebellion against God—even though they may claim otherwise. The moral culture of our day is getting ever closer to that of the days of Noah.
Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Truth from the prophet Isaiah still speaks to us today.
Isaiah 5:20–21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
The last part of verse 4 describes one who keeps his promises, even when it may be to his own disadvantage. Again, in today’s culture one’s promise is not honored as it once was. It’s especially sad when parents easily put aside promises made to their children and then try to justify it by declaring something else more important than they are. Such parents serve as prime examples to children that one’s word is not to be valued.
Psa. 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
In closing, David identifies two more character traits:
One who does not lend to others with interest.
One who refuses bribes to hurt the innocent.
These two character traits are pretty self-explanatory. Both speak to having a healthy outlook on money and a heart to help and protect those in need and the innocent. Scripture is clear in declaring the love of money to be the root of all evil.
1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
It is so true! Our culture is one of always wanting more—never having enough. How often have you heard the phrase “follow the money” when it comes to getting to the source of evil and corruption? I believe that is the driving force behind the political establishment that has reacted so violently to Donald Trump. He is trying to do things to put the brakes on their plans to basically enslave the masses. The closer we get to a one-world order, the greater will be the divide between the haves and the have-nots—no matter what they say to the contrary. Sad to say, they will get their day—but only for a short while; and it certainly won’t be what they expected. Jesus is coming soon and will establish His kingdom in righteousness. I can hardly wait!!
David closes with the thought that people with the kind of character he has described in this psalm are strong in faith, people who are true role models.
Psa. 16:0 ¶ Michtam of David.
This psalm is identified as a poem (from Hebrew for Michtam) of David
Psa. 16:1 ¶ Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
David opens his poem with words of prayer and faith. He asks for God to put a hedge of protection around him (from Hebrew for preserve). He makes his prayer while proclaiming his trust in God. The Hebrew helps define that trust as confidence in God’s protection as his refuge. In other words, he prays with confidence that his prayer will be answered. This is a principle that Jesus taught His disciples.
Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
Ironside: “Many of these Psalms were the prayers of Jesus. It has been said, ‘The strings of David’s harps are the chords of the heart of Jesus.’ And as you read these Psalms you are listening to the breathings of the heart of Jesus.”
Psa. 16:2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psa. 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
David understood that anything good in his life was a gift from God. He also understood that only those that strove to live godly lives before the LORD were deserving of his respect and honor.
Psa. 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
David declares the truth that those who choose to follow other gods, man-made gods, will eventually experience great sorrow. He is determined to have nothing to do with the worship of these false gods. Neither will he give them credence by mentioning their names.
That is an important truth. False gods only “live” when men choose to worship them. They have no life in themselves—no power, no authority, no ability to do anything on behalf of those who worship them. They provide opportunities for wicked spiritual beings to deceive man into following the god of this world—Satan.
Psa. 16:5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Psa. 16:6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
In these verses, David praises the LORD and acknowledges that He has blessed David personally, but he also recognizes that the kingdom he inherited is a special blessing from God.
Psa. 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
David praises God for providing him guidance, noting that He receives needed instruction in his heart during the night and during times of adversity (both from the Hebrew).
I can certainly identify with David in that some of my most precious times of communion and some of my favorite poems have resulted from inspiration in the night hours.
Psa. 16:8 ¶ I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa. 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
In these verses David acknowledges God as his LORD and nothing will change that. It is this truth that fills his heart with joy, and he is full of praise to God. He has no fear for his life because his confidence rests in the LORD.
Psa. 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
David is confident that he can look forward to life after death; his body will not remain in the grave.
Peter quoted this verse, along with several other Old Testament verses in reference to Jesus as he shared the gospel with the people on Pentecost (Acts 2). Paul also made reference to this Psalm as a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection when sharing the gospel on Cyprus (Acts 13).
Psa. 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
As David ends his poem, he expresses confidence that God will continue to guide him into life everlasting—a life full of joy and pleasure in the presence of the LORD.
Wiersbe: “A foolish caricature of heaven shows white-robed saints with halos and harps, resting on little white clouds; but the Bible gives no such description. In our glorified bodies, we shall be like Jesus Christ, and we shall worship and serve Him forever. The pleasures of heaven will be far beyond any pleasures we have known here on earth; and as we enjoy the Lord and serve Him, we will not be restricted or encumbered by time, physical weakness, or the consequences of sin.”