Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
It’s a question that has been asked forever, “What must I do to get to Heaven?” David, in poetic fashion, asks and answers this question showing the maturity of his understanding of Old Testament teachings.
In Jesus’ day a rich young ruler sought Him out to ask this question. I wonder if he had just read this Psalm and wanted to get Jesus’ take on it. Initially Jesus answered as a teacher of the law would answer.
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew 19:16-19
The rich young ruler beamed with pride at Jesus’ answer, saying he had done these very things. However, he asked a follow-up question because, in his heart, he didn’t think he had done enough. Jesus then answered as God and Savior would answer.
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:20-22
Jesus sees through the façade, into the heart. While the young man may have appeared to be a “good person” by following the last six commandments he hadn’t completely followed the first four. He had put money in front of God. Jesus called him on it and the man’s smile turned to a frown and he walked away. He did not know how to put God first and at this point in his life didn’t want to.
While Jesus told us to follow the commandments, including putting God first, taking up our cross and following Him, David’s psalm gives us examples of what that looks like. This poem is extremely good teaching. In the second verse David talks about a righteous person who speaks truth to his heart. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. David is talking about a person covered by the righteousness of Christ and who checks his heart daily to see if there is any sin in it. If we do this, we confidently put God first and are fulfilling the first four commandments.
The rest of the Psalm give concrete examples to fulfill the final six commandments which cover loving your neighbor as yourself. David says you should love your neighbor, even to your own hurt. Jesus said much the same in His teachings. When you arrive at Heaven’s gate and God asks why He should allow you into His Heaven, how will you answer? Being good enough doesn’t cut it.
