Bible Commentaries

The Conditions of Access to God.

Every true believer who places his trust in the atonement of Jesus will, by virtue of this faith of his heart, repudiate sin and walk in the way of God's will. He is thereby distinguished from the hypocrite, the confession of whose lips does not agree with the condition of his heart, as this sacred poem shows. A psalm of David.

v. 1. Lord, who shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? making the dwelling of God his everlasting habitation, being in constant communion with Jehovah. Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? being at home in the glory of Jehovah's presence, having the right of access to Him at all times, not only in the outward communion of the visible Church, but in spirit and in truth.

v. 2. He that walketh uprightly, without blame, so that his entire conduct agrees with the will of Jehovah, and worketh righteousness, exercising himself in a righteous manner always, and speaketh the truth in his heart, with all sincerity.

v. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, either by defaming his neighbor or by spreading slander, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, by performing any kind of wickedness against him, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, bringing disgrace upon him in any form whatsoever;

v. 4. in whose eyes a vile person is contemned, who despises and rejects those who are reprobate in the eyes of Jehovah, shunning their company at all times; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord, in every way anxious to please them, to show his appreciation of their fellowship. He that sweareth to his own hurt, standing by the oaths or vows made by him even if it meant a loss to him, Lev 5:4; Lev 27:10-33, and changeth not, letting true piety govern his whole life and all his actions.

v. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, thereby oppressing his poorer neighbor, Lev 25:37; Deu 16:19, nor taketh reward against the innocent, setting aside right and justice for the sake of a bribe, Deu 27:25. He that doeth these things, thereby proving the stainlessness of his honor and the piety of his character, as evidences of the faith of his heart, shall never be moved, being secure in the fellowship of Jehovah forever. True faith is always active in love; a Christian can no more desist from showing the faith of his heart in acts of love than the sun can desist from shining. The facts here brought out will also tend to keep the believer meek and humble, since God's ideal of a Christian is set so high.