Week of February 6

Opening sentence alert! A long quote follows, but it is precisely what we need to read to capture the essence of today’s devotional. “We must devote, not only times and places to prayer, but be everywhere in the spirit of devotion; with hearts always set toward heaven, looking up to God in all our actions, and doing everything as His servants; living in the world as in a holy temple of God, and always worshiping Him, though not with our lips, yet with the thankfulness of our hearts, the holiness of our actions and the pious and charitable use of all His gifts” (William Law [1686-1761], “Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life”). These words help us to see that worship is a lifestyle, not a block of time that we set aside for church on Sunday. Psalm 15 reminds us today that we are still pilgrims who are seeking God’s presence and that there are specific worship admission requirements.

A closer examination of the psalm shows that it opens with a question and ends with a promise. This pattern has led some Bible scholars to classify it as a wisdom psalm, while others view it in liturgical fashion (see EBC; Handbook). I believe that it shows evidence of both and provides us with important instruction in pure worship.

The pilgrims ask who may enter God’s “tent” (Temple), and the priests answer them in the verses that follow with ten necessary moral qualifications (vv. 2-5b). In a narrow sense, the psalm may be seen stating God’s worship requirements for a specific group of pilgrims. Yet, if we take a broader view of the psalm, it may teach us what God expects of all who desire to live in His presence (EBC).

I believe, upon reflection, that we too often dichotomize our worship spaces from the ones who worship. The psalmist does not make the same mistake of separating the place where worship occurs from the one who offers that worship. Let’s consider the importance of unity of people and place.

Where does this type of worship occur? It appears that the congregants are standing outside the gate of the Temple when they ask their question (15:1). They are seeking lodging, and they refer to the Temple as “your tent,” which brings to mind the Tabernacle. It had been God’s lodging place for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings (see Exodus 40). To “dwell” suggests permanence and we may even state the question as “Who is empowered?” or “Whom do you allow?” (Handbook). Let’s turn the key on the Temple gate to see what is required of our contemporary worship.

Who is allowed in God’s presence? “Who” appears throughout the psalm, and one may be led to think that the psalmist is in search of this person’s identity. The psalmist refers here to the kind of person that enjoys God’s fellowship. The priests respond with conditions that are moral and spiritual, not ritual and ceremonial. In other words, entrance into God’s presence really does depend upon who I am in my heart and not only what I appear to be outwardly. Notwithstanding the contemporary “accept me as I am” worship mantra, one’s words and deeds are critically important when we describe “who” may enter God’s presence (2-5b).

True worshipers must be “walking perfectly” and “practicing justice.” Note well the participial forms which indicate habitual practice (EBC). This person follows a straight path (Proverbs 3:6), by obeying the commands of God in everything (“blameless”). Next, the person “speaks truth from the heart,” meaning that he or she is sincere and reliable and trustworthy (Handbook).

The true worshiper is also one who avoids slandering his neighbor (15:3). I get the idea of a whisperer in secret, or even a person who is a talebearer. How on earth could I wrong a comrade in this way and expect to present myself as right before God? If God counts a person as reprobate, the true worshiper will “despise in his eyes” the same person (15:4). In other words, the person who seeks God’s presence does not associate with the wicked and vile.

Even if it hurts, this worshiper will keep his or her word (15:4c). He gives his word before God, then he keeps it! This person also will lend to another and refuse to take back more than he gave (15:5a). Finally, the just worshiper will not take a bribe against an innocent person. In other words, he or she will not testify falsely at the trial of an innocent person (15:5b).

I come from a long family of “packers.” I grew up with a dad who knew how to pack our family car for a journey. He had an expert eye for each square inch of space. I inherited that gene, I suppose, because I have always viewed packing the car as an art form. It always brought me such satisfaction to see all the things that my family stacked by the trunk of the car and then to be able to get everything to fit!

Then, there is the “Dad, I forgot to bring my Boogie Board to the car,” or “Larry, I have two potted plants that need to go with us.” I will admit that those “extras” would drive me nuts because I had to unpack the car, rearrange everything, then make everything fit again. The first hour of the drive was not always pleasant because I would whine about the extra hassle that the additional items caused me! The psalmist convicts me today because I missed the point with my packing. It hardly mattered that I had every physical item in place if I made everyone else miserable with the internal disarray in my spirit.

Here is a thought for our worship application. Many of our churches today require little in the way of pre-attendance “worship packing” from those who will attend. In fact, everything from theater-styled seating, lighting, and acoustics to coffee and snacks are aimed to ensure that attendees will experience comfort for fear that they may not return. However, we think nothing of bringing to God’s house our dishonesty, slanderous behavior, and maleficent business practices. My family had no choice but to join me for the ride, but God definitely will not join us in worship.

1. True worshipers worship the Lord with their entire beings. Write down inside your journal the qualities above and ask the Lord over the course of the coming week to give you instructions in areas where you are lacking.

2. We often help our children to “pack an activities bag” for church services on Sunday. While they listen, they color or work puzzles or fill in the blanks to the sermon. Before you go to church next time, take a moment to encourage them to “pack their worship heart” and walk in purity as they worship God that day.

Invite them to make a heart, about the size of their hand, out of construction paper. Then have them write words from this passage on the heart that describe how a worshiper is most pleasing to God (“blameless,” “truth-teller,” “sincere,” “trustworthy”). Now make a small hole in each heart and help your child to tie a ribbon to make a “necklace.” Invite them to tuck their hearts inside their shirts or dresses and wear them to church where nobody sees their heart but God. They can learn to worship God thoughtfully and reverently from an early age.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock