Journal Ps 14-15 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
- He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
- Who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
- In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord;
- Who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
- (and) who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.” Ps 15 complete
Observation: Being a Christian is honorable in all aspects, and …. none of it is easy. It is sacrificial to the ways of the world … and the way of the Cross
Analysis: What do I see when I read Psalms 15? I see aspiration to be commendable to God.
Remember, this is down the Sanctification road, not the Justification. It is astonishing how the fleshy mind wants to shout “It is all Grace, no works. Works will never save me.” And it is correct…however, a believer PURSUES God, pursues righteousness—and God notices: “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man…to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” (Ps 14:2)
Ps 15:4c says of a believer, “…who swears to his own hurt and does not change…” is a bedrock understanding of walking worthy of the Gospel.
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken…” (Ps 37:25a) The principle here is through different times of my life I have seen how God is faithful (even when I haven’t been) and how He guides my steps to His purpose in changing me to the image of his Son, my Lord Jesus. (Ro 8:29)
I go through times where my shouts are loud and continuous; other times where my tears flow and I can’t see into the next day—I want to crawl into a hole and say, “what is the use?” These are the times of life that all folks to look to Cross can encounter.
And yet, through turbulent times, hope is still there, abiding in the heart. That hope causes me to look past any current situation and into the horizon, taking a longer view of the path of righteousness—swearing to my own hurt, keeping my face like flint towards the Kingdom, not taking my eye of the Cross where I lay down my life daily. Daily. DAILY.
Prayer: Father, today under all the physical isolation, turmoil in the country, my memories of my past, I cling to you in fervor and hope. My resolve shakes but I cling to You. Help me to daily lay my life down at the Cross, no matter the cost.
Bring revival. Heal my land.
AMEN