Wisdom Books Psalms

Living Righteously

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 13-15 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 398 of 730
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INTRO

Scripture has regularly contrasted the way of the wicked with the way of the righteous. Jesus said, “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:14). In today’s assigned passages, Psalm 14 describes the way of the wicked while Psalm 15 describes the way of the righteous. MacArthur notes that, in Psalm 15, “The saved sinner is described as exhibiting indications of ethical integrity.”1 Wiersbe observes, “Psalm 15 is not a prescription for being saved but a description of how saved people ought to live if they want to please God and fellowship with Him.”2

Wiersbe notes, “The rabbis taught that there were 613 commandments for the Jewish people to obey if they wanted to be righteous.” Psalm 15 lists 11 commandments to obey. Isaiah 33:15-16 lists six requirements: “The one who lives righteously and speaks rightly, who refuses profit from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears from listening to murderous plots and shuts his eyes against evil schemes—he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be on the rocky fortresses, his food provided, his water assured.” Micah 6:8 lists three: “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Habakkuk 2:4 simplifies all the lists and brought the requirements down to one: “Look, his ego is inflated, he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.”3

TEACHING

Psalm 15:1: Even though David was king, he was not free to come and go in the house of the Lord as he pleased. Only the priests could do that.4 The “tent” on the “holy mountain” was where God’s people went to seek the presence of the Lord. David said, “At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly”(Psalm 5:3). What patterns have you established to see the Lord daily?

Psalm 15:2–5: Only when our pattern of seeking the Lord has been established can we begin to see the effects of living a righteous life. MacArthur observes these verses almost follow a question and answer format in “triplets of positive and negative descriptions.”5 Wiersbe characterizes these verses as describing how to go about “obeying God’s precepts.”6 Eleven precepts are outlined:

  1. Live blamelessly (v. 2a).
  2. Practice righteousness (v. 2b)—Saved people were charged to be holy, to be characterized by standing rightly before the Lord, by reflecting His attitude in every situation.
  3. Acknowledge the truth in your heart (v. 2c).
  4. Do not slander with your tongue (v. 3a)—Saved people are not to tear others down in a malicious way.
  5. Do not harm your friend (v. 3b)—Saved people should have no desire to bring ill will to people close to them..
  6. Do not discredit your neighbor (v.3c)—Saved people should not speak negatively of their neighbors.
  7. Despise the one rejected by the Lord, but honor those who fear the Lord (v. 4a).
  8. Keep His Word whatever the cost (v. 4b)—Saved people stay consistent in their walk with the Lord regardless of what they may have to give up or lose.
  9. Do not lend money at interest (v. 5a).
  10. Do not take a bribe against the innocent (v. 5b).
  11. The one who does these things will never be shaken (v. 5c)—Wiersbe points out that the Hebrew word translated “shaken” implied “violent shaking.”7

Righteous people, who have ordered their life according to these precepts, will have security in their faith before the Lord.

CLOSING

As He concluded the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” (Matthew 7:24–27).

Just as Psalm 15 teaches that those who build their lives on the foundation of spending time with the Lord and living a righteous life will not be shaken, Jesus also taught that living according to His teachings would produce the same results.

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 607.

  2. Warren Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004). p.116.

  3. Wiersbe, p. 115.

  4. Wiersbe, p. 116.

  5. MacArthur, p. 607.

  6. Wiersbe, p. 116

  7. Wiersbe, p. 117.

Questions

  1. David asked, “How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1b). Have you ever felt as though God was hiding His face from you? How did this make you feel? Did this make you want to give up on Him or seek Him even more?
  2. David was going through a tough time, but he still praised God through it (Psalm 13:5–6). Have you ever found yourself praising Him through the trials in your life?
  3. What did David call people who did not believe in God (Psalm 14:1)? Do you believe that there are really any true atheists?
  4. Where else does the Bible say there is no one who does good? (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:23)
  5. David gave ten guidelines for living a righteous or blameless life (Psalm 15). Where else in the Bible are ten guidelines given for living a righteous or blameless life? Can anyone live up to these standards?
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalms 13—15 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 15:1, 5b

“LORD, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your Holy Mountain?. . . The one who does these things will never be moved.”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Micah 6:8 — “Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
  • Matthew 7:24–25 — “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.”
  • 1 Corinthians 3:16 — “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”