Worship: A Study in PsalmsSample

What does it say?

The fool says there is no God, so he turns to corruption and does nothing good. But the righteous person dwells with the Lord and will not be shaken.

What does it mean?

These psalms give character sketches of opposite individuals. The fool in Psalm 14 is a morally deficient person rather than someone lacking mental acuity. He portrays the fact that everyone is stained with sin and that evil will always surface when God’s authority isn’t acknowledged. The person in Psalm 15 is at the other end of the spectrum, desiring above all to live continually in the presence of the Lord. There is no trace of sin in his words or dealings with others, even his enemies. The only person whose character perfectly matches the description here is the Lord Jesus Himself.

How should I respond?

Morally deficient or blameless … most of us would describe ourselves as somewhere in the middle. However, Jesus never called anyone to live a mediocre Christian life. As a matter of fact, He taught His followers to live the same kind of life described in Psalm 15 (Matthew 5-7). Being blameless in God’s sight doesn’t mean you’re perfect, but as a Christ follower, your life should demonstrate the same characteristics that He did while on Earth. Which qualities in Psalm 15 do you need to develop more? As you listen to the Holy Spirit today, determine not to be content with life on middle ground.