#693 Coming To Your House

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the Lord;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15 ESV

Sojourn in Your tent - The tabernacle came before the temple. It was this king who desired to build a more permanent structure for the Lord, but this duty was designated for his son. Anyway, the tabernacle was more like a tent, which was carried about with Israel during the 40 years in the wilderness and onward. It is a nomadic sort of question, there is a kind of hospitality in the middle east and dry countries, where travelers would come to stay in the tents and confines of each other. It was considered an honor not only to be a guest, but more so a host. In Christ time we see the washing of feet and we have His words, "behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him." Who would God invite into His tent? 

Who shall dwell on Your holy hill - Another look at the same question and it reminds me of a song when I was a kid. 

"Nicodemus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he

he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see"

 Nicodemus was one of those who was despised by the zealous and even not so zealous, for he was a tax collector. The answer to these two questions follows in verses 2 - 5, and this would easily discredit a man like Nicodemus, yet the Lord approaches him in the tree, and says, "Nicodemus, you come down, for I am going to your house today." 

Speaks truth in his heart - This is not only unfavorable to Nicodemus, but I also find myself unqualified. I have not walked blamelessly, and my heart has held darker things than my actions or words have even betrayed. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." 

Who does not slander with his tongue - This is grievous, for we would not like to be spoken against even when the accusations are true, but we love to lift ourselves up so much upon the poor performance of others, that we will paint them in an unfair light. Gossip, slander, envy, pure poison, and if you could become a guest in the tent of God, He knows all aright, so those lying lips would not be welcome. This is not to be used as an abuse against the truth either, for we are still told to confront evil as well. If someone has wronged or is still wronging you, then go to an authority that can help and be honest of the situation. We do no good covering for wickedness anymore than slandering the righteous.

Who does not put out his money at interest - It is interesting how much we are respecters of person. If you are wealthy then you can often times more easily get a low interest rate. Some of this is based upon merit as well, but for those who are clean but without history, they still become an excuse to be treated as high risk, and at such rates that make one cry, "extortion!" I think this verse is not so much against a usury fee as it is against a predatory eye to the poor. If someone is already struggling, then why dig them the deeper hole. It is a matter of compassion, and the ungrateful servant will also not be on the guest list. 

and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’…Matthew 5: 41-43