Blogging the Bible: Psalm 14 and 15

                Psalms 14 and 15 provide a bit of a contrast.  Psalm 14 attacks the fools who deny God.  Psalm 15 provides a guideline for living righteously.  In Psalm 14, David uses similar language to that found in Paul’s letter to the Romans.  In verse 3 David writes, “...there is no one who does good, not even one.”  This reflects Paul’s statement that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  Clearly the people were not behaving up to standards.

                The notes indicate that fool refers to someone who is “morally deficient.”  I can imagine that David found himself surrounded by people willfully going against God’s commandments.  Israel’s relationship with God had many ups and downs.  The Old Testament records a repeating theme of Israel turning its back on God, falling into ruin because God refuses to protect them, and being saved/rescued by a morally upstanding person that leads them back to God.  Psalm 14 seems to be a lament that the people have gone astray and a hope that salvation will come soon.

                Of course, there are commandments that need to be followed as a believer and Psalm 15 lays out some practical steps to living righteously.

¹Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?  ²He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart ³and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, ⁴who 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.  ⁶He who does these things will never be shaken.

The keys are all here.  Don’t tell lies.  Love your neighbor.  Keep your promises.  Don’t steal others’ money.   Do good.  This should seem a familiar theme to Christians.  It’s what God calls us to.  Jesus emphatically tells his followers to love God and love one another.  His ministry is all about caring for those around him.  Jesus’ anger come out when he confronts the money changers who are defiling the temple with their greedy practices. 

As fallen humans, we are not perfect.  We will stumble and fall short of these guidelines.  We might lie or break a promise.  We might not be so nice to our neighbor.  We might not pay back a friend who lent us money in a pinch.  But, because of the cross, we can be forgiven.  That does not mean we keep doing whatever we want knowing that forgiveness is available.  No, we should daily strive to live by the standards listed in Psalm 15 and know that sometimes we will fail.  And when we do, Christ will be there to forgive, pick us up, and help us follow again.