Psalm 15 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Verse 2Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
Verse 3who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
Verse 4in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
Verse 5who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Devotion
This psalm is a question and then an answer. It reminds me of Luther’s teaching method in his Small Catechism. For example, he divides the Apostles’ Creed into three parts. After each part Luther asks, “What does this mean?” Then he gives an explanation. His answers remind us what it means to live in the covenant of our baptism into Christ.
This psalm uses the same approach. The question it poses is “Who may enter the worshiping community and the presence of God?” The answer is: One who has attitudes and behaviors that evidence a life lived in response to God’s grace. How we speak of and act towards our neighbor reflects our relationship with God. The marks of the life of the baptized are honesty, kindness, compassion and integrity. This is what truly brings us into the presence of God where we see the face of Jesus in our neighbor.
Prayer
O God, we know that we cannot do good except through your work within us. Forgive us for our dishonest, mean-spirited, selfish ways. By your grace empower us to love our neighbors in all we say and do. Amen.