TUESDAY, JULY 17
Psalm 15:1-5
Hebrews 12:14; Deuteronomy 23:20

Only what’s done
for Christ will last.

FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN AND HOLINESS

Concerning the occasion of Psalm 15, Spurgeon says that “it is exceedingly probable that … its composition was in some way connected with the removal of the ark to the holy hill of Zion.” Who should attend upon the ark was a matter of no small consequence, for because unauthorised persons had intruded into the office, David was unable on the first occasion to complete his purpose of bringing the ark to Zion. On the second attempt he was more careful, not only to allow the work of carrying the ark to the divinely appointed Levites (1 Chron 15:2), but also to leave it in charge of the man whose house the Lord had blessed, even Obededom (1 Chron 26:8, 12). Now the matter of bringing back the ark to Jerusalem from its exile (1 Sam 7:1-2) was of such gravity that when one of its bearers, Uzza, “… put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled” (1 Chron 13:9), he died before the Lord. Such an act was ceremonially unclean. Only priests and Levites were appointed to carry the ark. Therefore on the second occasion, when David went to transport the ark, he followed closely the Mosaic law of employing priests and Levites (1 Chron 15:14). Now the spiritual lesson is that when one desires to dwell with God, the inward cleanliness is even more important (Heb 12:14). From Psalm 15 we are required to walk uprightly, and be forthright. Spurgeon says, “Walking is of far more importance than talking … God’s house is a hive for workers, not a nest for drones.”

Spurgeon says of Psalm 15:4: “To all good men we owe a debt of honour, and we have no right to hand over what is their due to vile persons who happen to be in high places.”

Psalm 15:5: As to usury, the high interest charged is hateful both to God and men. Usury here does not refer to Government-approved interest. This psalm is like fire that purifies gold and a furnace for silver!

THOUGHT: “Search me, O God, and know my heart today …”
PRAYER: Lord, make me to desire to live a holy life.