Walk Of Life – Day 20, July 2022 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms

Psalm 15 – The Character Of The One God Receives

Questions are asked often with an intention of gaining knowledge. When you are confused and in need of guidance, it is good to take matters to God. David also faced a challenge which made him ask a very important question, “Lord, “who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?”” Psalm 15:1

David loved God and wanted to bring the ark of the covenant back to Israel. He followed what seemed fit in his sight and put the ark in a cart from the house of Abinadab which was on a hill. At the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out, took hold of the ark and God stuck him down. This troubled David who was afraid of God, and he left the ark which was so dear to him in Obed-Edom, the Gittite’s home. This incident might be the triggering factor for David to ponder on the above question.

David was from the clan of Judah and was a warrior. But he always desired to dwell with Yahweh. In Psalm 84:10, David says “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” It is this love and longing in David which made him think of building a temple for his God. Although he longed the life of the priests who served in God’s tabernacle, God could not accept him for this work. For God had set apart the Levites and commanded that only they could hold the ark at the poles and carry it. As David pondered, he learnt that “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22. So, he decided to do it the right way and brought the ark of covenant to Jerusalem following the commandments of God.

The sacrifice made by Christ on the cross has enabled us today to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” Hebrew 4:16. But it was not so in Old Testament times. David’s meditation on this matter has revealed ten characteristic one should possess to enter God’s sanctuary(church) and his holy hill(heaven).

• Walk blamelessly in front of God and men.
• Do what is right.
• Speak the truth from your heart.
• Talk no slanderous words.
• Do no harm your neighbour.
• Don’t talk falsely on your fellow brother.
• Despise evil men and honour those who fear God or fellow Christian.
• Keep your promise and be committed to fulfil it irrespective of the situation.
• Do not lend money at unreasonable interests.
• Do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Today many go to church as a tradition. We do not understand or value the freedom that we enjoy in having fellowship, prayer, worship and even to proclaim about Christ to the world. Believers in Gulf once shared how they had to go two by two to gather at a home where they could worship on Sundays. They could not even carry the Holy Bible openly as they would be checked and detained by the authorities. Their Bibles looked like a handbag or is designed to look like something else so that it would not be identified. They were so grateful to be in India where they can worship God so freely.

Do you realize how privileged you are today? Time will come when the ruler of this world will take control and you will lose the freedom that you so enjoy and not value today. Churches will be destroyed and everything you cherished in this world will be gone. Then only one question will remain, Will I live on his holy hill (heaven)?