Psalm 15:1
In reading and studying Scripture one must always take careful note of the words which God uses in the passage. Scripture is His word, and we miss the message in the measure that we slide over any of the words which He uses.
In that important question in Psalm 15:1, '"Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?", we could easily slide over that word "holy". But if we do, we will not understand the answer to that question that is given in the remaining verses of the Psalm. Because God's house is a holy house, we are given the answer that appears in the Psalm.
Look at the question and at the beginning of its answer as we sing it from our Psalter:
Who, O Lord, with Thee abiding,
In Thy house shall be Thy guest?
Who, his feet to Zion turning,
In Thy holy hill shall rest?
He that ever walks uprightly,
Does the right without a fear,
When he speaks, he speaks not lightly
But with truth and love sincere.
It is because God is holy, and we by nature are so unholy, that this is the only possible answer to that question the psalmist asked. Only the holy will be guests in God's house. And to be holy is to be like God, completely cut off from sin, and hating sin as completely as He does. Otherwise the door is tightly shut against us. There is no rest for us until there is no sin in us.
That blessedness is promised us, but surely not because we are worthy of it. Appreciate the fact then today that God's Son earned it for us, and that He has already begun the work of making us holy by implanting the seed of a heavenly life in us. As we read in I John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." The new man in Christ is holy. He reveals this in his constant fight against the old man of sin.
Read: I John 3
Psalter versification: #24:1
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #149
Why not sing along?
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Leviticus 9:7-24 ; Leviticus 10:1-20
Mark 4:26-41 ; Mark 5:1-20
Psalm 37:30-40
Proverbs 10:6-7
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Quote for Reflection:
“The worst enemies of the cross are not those who object to a crucified Savior, but those who deny that the cross and the sacrifice of Christ alone justify and save the sinner.” -- R.C.H. Lenski
Additional Info
- Date: 20-February
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.