For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 15 – Wondering at it all

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?

2 The one whose way of life is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbour,
    and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
    but honours those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

A. Find Out:

1. What starter question has David got? v.1
2. What is that person’s walk like? v.2a
3. What is their speech like? v.2b,3a
4. What is their behaviour to others like? v.3b
5. What are their feelings towards others? v.4a
6. What are their financial dealings like? v.5

B. Think:

1. What is this psalm really all about?
2. What are key features of the righteous person?
3. What is the outcome of their lifestyle?

C. Comment:

     The more we consider God’s revelation, the more we wonder at our position before Him. David now poses the question, who can live close to God? The immature believer takes their walk with the Lord for granted, but the believer who is maturing starts considering the wonder of it. They allow the Holy Spirit to work out sanctification (gradual change to become more and more like Jesus) in daily thoughts, attitudes, words, and behaviour. It can only, David answering his own question, be someone who is without blame and who is righteous in all they do. Such are the people Jesus makes us to be.

     How do we show this?

     First, by our words, that we only allow truth to pass our lips, because yearning for the truth is in our hearts and therefore there is no room for untruths.

     Second, by our attitudes, that we recognise and honour those who fear the Lord but reject and despise the way of the evil doer, that we maintain an attitude of truth when it comes to promises made to others, that we honour them with our word being kept.

     Third, by practical daily living so, for example, in our financial dealings with others, we lend generously to those in need without charging them for it and refuse to take money to do wrong. These are some of the signs of a righteous person. May that be us.

D. Application?

1. Is my position “in Christ” a marvel that I still wonder at?
2. Righteousness is something practical, to be worked out in my life