O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart…” vss. 1-2
Psalm 15
In the psalmist’s world, there were standards that went beyond mere obedience to the law. Certainly the Torah was honored and people tried to live according to its precepts, but such behaviors didn’t even come close to what was expected of God’s holy people. It was more a lifestyle than adherence to a set of moralisms. That’s been a notoriously hard principle for the followers of Jesus to get their heads around. We tend to focus on extraneous pietisms that have little or nothing to do with the blameless living the psalmist outlines. Ironically it’s not hard to identify the folks he has in mind. They stand out in our communities of faith, not because of their drinking, swearing, or smoking habits, but because they do what is right and can be counted on to speak the truth in every circumstance. They’re not rumor-mongers or slanderers, and they generously share their wealth with others without asking for anything in return. And they’re not living that way so that they can punch their tickets at the pearly gates; all they’re wanting to do is walk in the light of the Lord, and spread love to the unlovely and the unlovable. It is these who are the salt of the earth. If only we all would walk like them!
Thought for the Day: I wonder if I’m living a blameless life?
0 Comments