Psalm 15

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 15
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Heart That Dwells with God

Scripture: Psalm 15

I. The Pilgrimage Heart

A. The double meaning of "tent" in Psalm 15:1

1. The holy place of worship — the Tabernacle and later the Temple
2. The idea of sojourning — evoking the Feast of Tabernacles and Israel's wanderings

B. David sees himself as a sojourner even while settled in Jerusalem

1. Psalm 39:12 — "I am a sojourner with you, a guest like all my fathers"
2. Psalm 119:19 — "I am a sojourner on the earth"

C. The Old Testament saints were strangers and exiles seeking a heavenly homeland — Hebrews 11:13-16

D. The Earthly Tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the true Heavenly tent — Hebrews 8:1-5

1. Moses was shown the heavenly prototype on the mountain and instructed to copy it
2. Acts 17:24 — God does not dwell in temples made by hands

E. Corporate worship serves as a way station in the pilgrim's sojourn, drawing hearts upward to Heavenly Zion

1. So long as sin indwells and surrounds us, we are always sojourners
2. The apex of our pilgrimage is the day when sin is completely vanquished and we enter fully into the presence of the Lord

II. The Truthful Heart

A. The heart is outwardly kind

1. No slander — one's name and reputation were sacred in the ancient Hebrew world; to soil a name was to soil the person (Psalm 15:3)
2. The word "friend" in Psalm 15:3 captures the Good Samaritan posture — not "who is my neighbor?" but "how can I be a neighbor?"
3. Does not put money out at interest — considers the welfare of others rather than filling his own pockets (Psalm 15:5)
4. Does not take a bribe against the innocent — the "innocent" often refers to the downtrodden: widows, orphans, and the poor; the godly heart sees image-bearers where others see pawns (Psalm 15:5)

B. The heart is outwardly faithful

1. Faithful to the people of God — honors those who fear the Lord, fights and defends fellow comrades in the faith (Psalm 15:4); cf. Galatians 6 and 2 Corinthians 4
2. Faithful to his word — swears to his own hurt and does not change (Psalm 15:4)
   • This is not reckless promise-making but covenant faithfulness that requires sacrifice
   • Marriage vows illustrate this — faithful in sickness and in health, in life and in death
   • God himself models this in Genesis 15 — passing through the severed carcasses, swearing to his own hurt to Abraham
   • The cross is the ultimate display: God in human flesh receives the curse of the covenant for Abraham and for us
3. True Christ-like love is cross-bearing love — "Take up your cross and follow me"; the Good Samaritan sets aside his own plans to serve; love swears to its own hurt as God does at Calvary