Outlines in Psalms
Psalm 15:1 asks the question, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” In a future outline, I intend to consider the answer that is provided in the remainder of the psalm. However, in this out-line let us consider the nature of this question.
The Point
The Perspective
The Person
Psalm 15:1 asks the question, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” In a future outline, I intend to consider the answer that is provided in the remainder of the psalm. However, in this out-line let us consider the nature of this question.
The Point
The Perspective
The Person
The Point – about which the question is being asked.
The subject of this question is that of abiding and dwelling in the tabernacle of the Lord in His holy hill. In David’s time, the temple of the Lord had not yet been built. In fact, David himself sought to build a temple for the Lord. Yet the Lord did not permit him to do so because he had been divinely called to a king of warfare. On the hand, the Lord revealed that David’s son Solomon, being divinely called as a king of peace, would build that temple for the Lord. Thus the center of worship for Israel during David’s reign was still the tabernacle that the Lord had instructed Moses to build in Exodus 25-31. Now, although the question of Psalm 15:1 employs the terms “abide” and “dwell,” the intention of this question is not that an individual might actually move into the tabernacle. Rather, the picture of abiding and dwelling in the tabernacle is used in order to illustrate the practice of dwelling at home spiritually with the Lord. The point about which this question is being asked is a spiritual one. It is that of abiding in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God.
The Perspective – from which the question is being asked.
Both portions of this question in Psalm 15:1 begin with the word “who.” The question does not actually ask what a person must do in order to abide and dwell in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God. Rather, the question actually asks who a person must be in order to abide and dwell in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God. This question is not intended for us to consider a list of external, religious activities. Rather, this question is intender for us to consider the nature of our inner, spiritual character. It is intended to focus our attention upon the heart of the matter, for out of the heart “are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Certainly, the character of our hearts has a direct influence upon the conduct of our lives. Thus behavioral elements are included in the answer of Psalm 15:2-5. Yet the opening question is intended to focus our attention upon the character of hearts through which these behavioral elements are generated. Who shall abide in the Lord’s tabernacle? Who shall dwell in the Lord’s holy hill? Who shall walk daily in spiritual fellowship with the Lord?
The Person – of whom the question is being asked.
The Person of whom the question is being asked in Psalm 15:1 is the Lord our God Himself. The question is directed toward the Lord, and the answer of Psalm 15:2-5 is delivered under the inspiration of the Lord’s Holy Spirit. Thus the list of required characteristics in Psalm 15:2-5 is not man made. Rather, this list of character-istics is the standard of the Lord our God Himself. We cannot establish our own way to walk in spiritual fellowship with our Lord. We can only walk in daily, spiritual fellowship with our Lord according to His way as revealed in His Holy Word.
The subject of this question is that of abiding and dwelling in the tabernacle of the Lord in His holy hill. In David’s time, the temple of the Lord had not yet been built. In fact, David himself sought to build a temple for the Lord. Yet the Lord did not permit him to do so because he had been divinely called to a king of warfare. On the hand, the Lord revealed that David’s son Solomon, being divinely called as a king of peace, would build that temple for the Lord. Thus the center of worship for Israel during David’s reign was still the tabernacle that the Lord had instructed Moses to build in Exodus 25-31. Now, although the question of Psalm 15:1 employs the terms “abide” and “dwell,” the intention of this question is not that an individual might actually move into the tabernacle. Rather, the picture of abiding and dwelling in the tabernacle is used in order to illustrate the practice of dwelling at home spiritually with the Lord. The point about which this question is being asked is a spiritual one. It is that of abiding in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God.
The Perspective – from which the question is being asked.
Both portions of this question in Psalm 15:1 begin with the word “who.” The question does not actually ask what a person must do in order to abide and dwell in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God. Rather, the question actually asks who a person must be in order to abide and dwell in spiritual fellowship with the Lord our God. This question is not intended for us to consider a list of external, religious activities. Rather, this question is intender for us to consider the nature of our inner, spiritual character. It is intended to focus our attention upon the heart of the matter, for out of the heart “are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Certainly, the character of our hearts has a direct influence upon the conduct of our lives. Thus behavioral elements are included in the answer of Psalm 15:2-5. Yet the opening question is intended to focus our attention upon the character of hearts through which these behavioral elements are generated. Who shall abide in the Lord’s tabernacle? Who shall dwell in the Lord’s holy hill? Who shall walk daily in spiritual fellowship with the Lord?
The Person – of whom the question is being asked.
The Person of whom the question is being asked in Psalm 15:1 is the Lord our God Himself. The question is directed toward the Lord, and the answer of Psalm 15:2-5 is delivered under the inspiration of the Lord’s Holy Spirit. Thus the list of required characteristics in Psalm 15:2-5 is not man made. Rather, this list of character-istics is the standard of the Lord our God Himself. We cannot establish our own way to walk in spiritual fellowship with our Lord. We can only walk in daily, spiritual fellowship with our Lord according to His way as revealed in His Holy Word.
Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Fellowship with the Lord
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