David: Shaping a Godly Heart

True Worship

One reason to study David

Psalm 15 NIV A psalm of David

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? (2) He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart (3) and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, (4) who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, (5) who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

What do we see in Psalm 15?

We don’t like the answer we see

This is the view we default to

No wonder people don’t like religion

Look at Psalm 15 closely

Psalm 15 asks two questions

Psalm 15:1 NIV LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

Let’s start with the holy hill

Take a look at Genesis 2

Genesis 2:10 NIV A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

That’s how Ezekiel describes it

Ezekiel 28:13-14 NIV You were in Eden, the garden of God … (14) You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God …

What happened in Eden? Genesis 3:23-24 NIV

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden ... (24) After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

For David, the holy hill was Zion

Psalm 2:6 NIV "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

2 Samuel 6:17 NIV

They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD.

The tabernacle was God’s tent

Cherubim – reminders of Eden

Cherubim were over the ark & woven into the veil that barred access to the Lord’s presence.

The sanctuary in Psalm 15 is the most holy place

Adam was thrown down the mountain out of paradise Who can go back up the

mountain, get past those cherubim, and enjoy the tree of life & God’s presence forever?

The question has been put to the Lord Psalm 15:1 NIV LORD,

who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

The Lord begins his answer

Psalm 15:2 NIV He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous …

That’s bad news!

Psalm 15:2-3

… who speaks the truth from his heart … who … has no slander on his tongue, who

does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman

Are you critical of others?

Psalm 15:4

… who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD,

who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

Do you consider others expendable?

Some people think it’s easy – that heaven is for everyone

Psalm 14:2-3 NIV The LORD looks down

from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. (3) All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Have you had a really good day?

Righteousness is not a self-portrait

Psalm 14 & 15 tell us that we’re not ever good enough The answer to the questions

Psalm 15:1 NIV LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

“Not I!” and “Not we!” So we cry with David Psalm 14:7 NIV Oh, that salvation for Israel

would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Where we have failed, the holy one in Psalm 16 says … Psalms 16:8-11 NIV I have set the LORD

always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (9) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, (10) because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (11) You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

He was the high priest

Exodus 28:36-38 NIV "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. (37) Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. (38) … It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.

The high priest – the Lord’s holy one

So, in answer to our questions Psalms 15:1 NIV

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

The answer is: only the holy one, the high priest

But that’s not the entire answer …

The high priests from Aaron to Caiaphas entered the sanctuary in the tabernacle & temple.

They never entered the true sanctuary; they went into a model.

That was because they were just copies of the true great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Their white robes were just symbols of the spotless life of Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

He entered not the sanctuary in Jerusalem, he entered heaven, itself.

Psalm 15:1 NIV

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

Only the great and true High Priest, Jesus Christ. He entered heaven as High Priest and sits enthroned as King.

Psalm 2:6 NIV "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

What a relief!

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. (15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. (16) Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

We can enjoy a confident future because of what Jesus has done

But what if we still feel guilty?

We’ll do the things in Psalm 15 He whose walk is blameless and who does

what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart (3) and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, (4) who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, (5) who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

The final word of Psalm 15

Psalm 15:5 NIV ... He who does these things will never be shaken.