Psalms 15 · The Lantern

O Yahweh! Who shall be a guest in thy tent? Who shall abide in thy holy mountain?

And again in the fourteenth Psalm he says: "Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy mountain? He that entereth without spot and worketh righteousness" and the rest.

Since the psalm before this also prophesied salvation for the inhabitants of Jerusalem and forecast the return of those already made captive, it is right for him to introduce exhortation in this psalm and propose a way of life proper for them to live who are under God's command and enjoying such wonderful assistance.

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.

He that walketh without blame, and doeth what is right, and speaketh truth with 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.

Hath not carried slander on his tongue, hath not done his friend a wrong, nor, a reproach, taken up against his neighbour;

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.

Despised in his sight, is the reprobate, but, them who revere Yahweh, he doth honour, he hath sworn to his neighbour, and will not change;

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…

Here he forbids deceiving one's neighbor. Now a neighbor is deceived in three ways: namely, in promises, and this through an oath. And so he says, "he who swears," etc. -- that is, he confirms something in order to deceive, because he does not keep it. Zech. 8: "Love not a false oath." Lev.

His silver, hath he not put out on interest, nor, a bribe against the innocent, hath he taken. He that doeth these things, shall not be shaken unto times age-abiding.

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