Psalm 15
July 28, 2024 A psalm of David.
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.
Father, David gives a remarkable answer to the question “Who may worship in your sanctuary; who may enter your presence?” It is unexpected in light of the elaborate system of animal sacrifice you gave your people in the law. Was not the sacrifice of a Lamb and the rituals that went with it necessary for worship in your sanctuary? Is this a trick question?
It is clear David knew the answer to what you require, Father, and the bringing of the Lamb is not in his answer. No doubt David was influenced by his experience with your grace and mercy in his life along with the words you gave the prophet Samuel who said “to obey is better than sacrifice.”
Three hundred years later you prompted the prophet Micah to amplify David’s response when Micah asks the same question, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” His answer is clear: You, Father, do not require burnt offerings or rivers of oil or the sacrifice of our first born. You have made your requirements clear: that we should do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before you.
Justice, kindness, humility before you, O God. Remarkably, you, the incomprehensible creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, who does not dwell in a temple made with hands, who is very existence itself, describing yourself with a verb, the great “I am;” you, the God above all other presumed or imagined gods has an incomprehensible requirement for coming into your presence: to lead a blameless life, to speak the truth with a sincere heart, and to love one another.
Father, in response to the inexplicable access we have to the throne of grace, we offer our bodies a living sacrifice; we desire to walk worthy of the gospel by using the gifts you gave us through the Holy Spirit to serve one another; we desire to love one another as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.
We acknowledge that it is not through our goodness that we are saved, but by your mercy. Help us to walk blamelessly before you, confessing our sin and receiving forgiveness. We acknowledge that being just and kind toward our brothers and sisters rubs against our nature but we know you are at work in us “both to will and work for your good pleasure.”
Father, as we live and work side by side in the part of the body of Christ that fellowships together at this place we call Centennial Church, may our love for one another grow, and may the light of your Son, Jesus, so shine through us among those who do not know you, that they will be prompted to seek you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.
And all of Gods people said: AMEN