DESCRIPTION OF THOSE WHO WILL BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
December 21
, 2021

A. Starting point: Rev. 7:12

“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

B. Praying from: PSALM 15

1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

C. Praying Time:

15:1–5 Whereas Ps. 14 focused on the way of the wicked, Ps. 15 concentrates on the way of the righteous (cf. Ps. 1). The saved sinner is described as exhibiting indications of ethical integrity. These characteristics alternate in triplets of positive and negative descriptions. The whole psalm unfolds through a question-and-answer vehicle, and indeed it may be regarded as the ultimate Q and A session. With its focus on moral responsibility, the psalm offers a sequence of responses to the question of acceptable worship.
I. A Two-Part Question (15:1)
II. A Twelve-Part Response (15:2–5b)
A. Three Positively-Phrased Ethical Characteristics (15:2)
1. His lifestyle exhibits integrity
2. His deeds exhibit justice
3. His speed exhibits reliability
B. Three Negatively Cast Ethical Characteristics (15:3)
1. He does not tread over people with his tongue
2. He does not harm his fellow man
3. He does not dump reproach upon family or friend
C. Three Positively Phrased Ethical Characteristics (15:4a–c)
1. He views the reprobate as rejected
2. He respects the people of God
3. He holds himself accountable
D. Three Negatively Cast Ethical Characteristics (15:4d–5b)
1. He is not fickle
2. He is not greedy
3. He cannot be bought
III. A One-Part Guarantee (15:5c)
15:1 Your tabernacle. Lit. “tent” (cf. Ps. 61:4; for possible background see 2 Sam. 6:12–17).
15:2–5 Notice the focus on life-and-lip qualities.
15:4 despised … honors. Whom God rejects, the psalmist rejects; whom God loves, he loves.
15:5 usury. Interest rates ran as high as 50 percent, but God’s law put strict regulations on borrowing and lending (see notes on Deut. 23:19, 20; 24:10–13). he … shall never be moved. This is an important promise in the light of its usage in Psalms and Proverbs (cf. Pss. 10:6; 13:4; 16:8; 46:5; 62:2, 6; Prov. 10:30).

Messianic Prophecies in the Psalms

Prophecy
Psalm
Fulfillment

1. God will announce Christ to be His Son
2:7
Matthew 3:17; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5

2. All things will be put under Christ’s feet
8:6
1 Cor. 15:27, Hebrews 2:8

3. Christ will be resurrected from the grave
16:10
Mark 16:6, 7; Acts 13:35

4. God will forsake Christ in His moment of agony
22:1
Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34

5. Christ will be scorned and ridiculed
22:7, 8
Matthew 27:39–43; Luke 23:35

6. Christ’s hands and feet will be pierced
22:16
John 20:25, 27; Acts 2:23

7. Others will gamble for Christ’s clothes
22:18
Matthew 27:35, 36

8. Not one of Christ’s bones will be broken
34:20
John 19:32, 33, 36

9. Christ will be hated unjustly
35:19
John 15:25

10. Christ will come to do God’s will
40:7, 8
Hebrews 10:7

11. Christ will be betrayed by a friend
41:9
John 13:18

12. Christ’s throne will be eternal
45:6
Hebrews 1:8

13. Christ will ascend to heaven
68:18
Ephesians 4:8

14. Zeal for God’s temple will consume Christ
69:9
John 2:17

15. Christ will be given vinegar and gall
69:21
Matthew 27:34; John 19:28–30

16. Christ’s betrayer will be replaced
109:8
Acts 1:20

17. Christ’s enemies will bow down to Him
110:1
Acts 2:34, 35

18. Christ will be a priest like Melchizedek
110:4
Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17

19. Christ will be the chief cornerstone
118:22
Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11

20. Christ will come in the name of the Lord
118:26

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [Ps. 15:1].
There is only one holy hill; the Bible calls it Zion, which is in the land of Israel. He is talking about those who will enter the millennial kingdom, the kingdom Christ will establish on earth with Israel as the center.
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not [Ps. 15:2–4].
“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned”—that is, despised. In our contemporary culture the opposite is often true; the vile person is honored, and the godly man is despised.
“He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not” means that he will go on record for the truth and will not change his story to protect himself.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved [Ps. 15:5].
In this psalm David is saying exactly what James said: “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). I like the way John Calvin put it: “Faith alone saves, but faith that saves is not alone.” Who is going to stand before God? Those who have had a faith in God that has produced a life of righteousness. At the time I write this, there is a great deal of talk about the soon coming of Christ, and yet I don’t see much change in the lives of folk who say they are expecting Him. My friend, if you really believe Jesus is coming soon—or even if you believe you will someday stand before Him to give an account, you will make sure that you live your life in such a way that it will count for God. This is the real test that will prove whether or not you love Him and look for Jesus’ return.
This is a tremendous psalm!

D. THE A-MEN OF ROMANS 16:20, 24, 27
16:20 “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. A-men.”