Psalms 15 · The Lantern

A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall remain in your tabernacle? who shall dwell in your holy hill?

The fourteenth psalm has been read at just the right moment; and it has come about in due order in such a way that it almost seems to have been read on purpose. The psalm was read in order: I think it has been brought about by God's dispensation that what was profitable to you should be recited today in the sequence of exposition.

All the defiled approach the tabernacle of the Lord, and there they are made undefiled. Jesus alone, undefiled, having entered the uncorrupted tabernacle, has freed us from the defilement of the flesh and has given us holiness.

Above, the Psalmist treated of the malice and deceit of his adversaries; here he treats of his own justice. And first he shows what kind of justice God accepts. Second, as though giving thanks, he shows the nature of his own justice, at "preserve me." The title: "a Psalm of David." In this Psalm he does two things: for, standing before God as a priest, he consults God.

Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountain?

He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

In everything, therefore, good faith is seemly, justice is pleasing, due measure in equity is delightful. But what shall I say about contracts, and especially about the sale of land, or agreements or covenants? Are there not rules just for the purpose of shutting out all false deceit and to make him whose deceit is found out liable to double punishment?

Brothers, let us hear the Lord's answer to the question, an answer that shows the way to the heavenly tabernacle.… He who drives the tempter and his temptations far from his heart, defeats his malice and dashes his rising thoughts against the Rock Christ.

"He who." Here the response is set forth, and concerning this he does two things. First he commemorates the merits of those who dwell in the aforesaid places, namely in the tabernacle and on the holy mountain of God. Second, the reward, at "he who does these things shall not be moved forever." He sets forth ten effects of the virtues.

He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.

He who has practiced no deceit with his tongue: he who has uttered in speech what he has pondered in his mind. Nor has done evil to his neighbor. Some think that a neighbor is a brother, or a fellow townsman, or a kinsman, or a blood relation.

"Who speaks the truth in his heart." For some have truth on their lips, and not in their heart. As if one should deceitfully point out a road, knowing that there were robbers there, and should say, If you go this way, you will be safe from robbers; and it should turn out that in fact there were no robbers found there: he has spoken the truth, but not in his heart.

Second, that he should avoid evil, namely deceitfulness. Jer. 9: "Their tongue is a wounding arrow; it has spoken deceit." "He who has not practiced deceit with his tongue." Another reading: "who is not facile with his tongue." Prov.

In whose eyes a vile person is despised; but he honors them that fear the LORD. He that swears to his own hurt, and changes not.

Whoever abhors the wicked, even if they are very rich, while "honoring those who fear the Lord," even if they are very lowly and poor, will live in honor and respect.

"The malicious one has been brought to nought in his sight" [Psalm 15:4]. This is perfection, that the malicious one have no force against a man; and that this be "in his sight;" that is, that he know most surely that the malicious is not, save when the mind turns itself away from the eternal and immutable form of her own Creator to the form of the creature, which was made out…

"The malicious one is brought to nothing." Here he shows that one should not be contemptuous. In a man there are two things: vice and virtue. Vice is to be despised; and so he says the malicious person, insofar as he is such, "is brought to nothing," that is, is considered as nothing. And this is good: first, to remove emulation, for sometimes a wicked person is exalted. Jer.

He that puts not out his money to interest, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.

Psalms15

Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountain?