Psalm 15
1O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
3who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
What are your life standards? What rules do you try to live by? In answer to these questions, we get ten answers on how to live a life worthy of abiding in God's presence.
Three positive actions (walk blamelessly, do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart) are followed by three negative conditions (do not slander, do no evil, and take no reproach against neighbors). Following this, there are two additional positive characteristics (honor those who fear the Lord, stand by their oath even to their hurt) and two negative ones (do not lend money at interest and do no take bribes against the innocent).
More than formulas. More than guidelines. More than things we can and cannot do. These are rules that help us enter more closely into a relationship with God. These are not suggestions that if kept will make life easier. In fact, the keeping of the ten do's and do not's will probably make life more difficult as we try to live as God's covenant people in this world.
Yet, for those who keep these commandments and who live by God's laws shall never be moved.
Pray Psalm 15.
