Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

James 1:26-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.The Question of Worthiness
Psalm 15 begins with a probing question: O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? (Psalm 15:1). This sets the stage for understanding the qualities God desires in those who seek His presence.

Blameless Walk and Righteous Actions
The psalm emphasizes the importance of living a blameless life and doing what is right. He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart (Psalm 15:2) highlights the need for sincerity and moral uprightness.

Speech and Relationships
The psalmist underscores the significance of our words and relationships: who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, nor casts scorn on his friend (Psalm 15:3). Our speech should be edifying, and our relationships should be marked by love and respect.

Reverence for God and His People
A person who honors those who fear the Lord and despises vile individuals is commended: who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD (Psalm 15:4). This reflects a heart aligned with God's values.

Integrity in Promises and Finances
The psalm concludes with a call to integrity in promises and financial dealings: who keeps his oath, even when it hurts, and does not change his mind; who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent (Psalm 15:4-5). Faithfulness and fairness are essential traits.

The Promise of Stability
The psalm ends with a promise: He who does these things will never be shaken (Psalm 15:5). A life lived according to these principles is marked by stability and security in God's presence.Examine Your Walk
Regularly assess your life to ensure you are walking in integrity and righteousness. Are there areas where you need to align more closely with God's standards?

Guard Your Speech
Be mindful of your words, ensuring they build up rather than tear down. Strive to speak truthfully and lovingly in all situations.

Honor Godly Relationships
Cultivate relationships with those who fear the Lord and encourage one another in faith. Avoid associations that lead you away from God's path.

Practice Integrity
Be faithful in keeping your promises and conduct your financial dealings with honesty and fairness. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.1. The Blameless Walker
This person "walks with integrity" (Psalm 15:2). The Hebrew word for "integrity" is "תָּמִים" (tamim), which implies completeness, sincerity, and moral soundness.

2. The Righteous Worker
This individual "practices righteousness" (Psalm 15:2). The Hebrew term for "righteousness" is "צֶדֶק" (tsedeq), indicating justice, rightness, and ethical conduct.

3. The Truth Speaker
This person "speaks the truth from his heart" (Psalm 15:2). The Hebrew word for "truth" is "אֱמֶת" (emet), which conveys faithfulness and reliability.

4. The Non-Slanderer
This individual "does not slander with his tongue" (Psalm 15:3). The Hebrew root for "slander" is "רָגַל" (ragal), meaning to go about as a talebearer or to defame.

5. The Harm Avoider
This person "does no harm to his neighbor" (Psalm 15:3). The Hebrew word for "harm" is "רָע" (ra), which can mean evil or mischief.

6. The Non-Reproacher
This individual "casts no scorn on his friend" (Psalm 15:3). The Hebrew root for "scorn" is "חֶרְפָּה" (cherpah), meaning reproach or disgrace.

7. The Despiser of the Vile
This person "despises a vile man" (Psalm 15:4). The Hebrew word for "vile" is "נִמְאָס" (nimas), which means rejected or despised.

8. The Honorer of Those Who Fear the Lord
This individual "honors those who fear the LORD" (Psalm 15:4). The Hebrew word for "fear" is "יָרֵא" (yare), indicating reverence and awe.

9. The Oath Keeper
This person "keeps his oath, even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:4). The Hebrew word for "oath" is "שְׁבוּעָה" (shevuah), meaning a sworn promise or pledge.

10. The Non-Usurer
This individual "lends his money without interest" (Psalm 15:5). The Hebrew term for "interest" is "נֶשֶׁךְ" (neshek), which refers to usury or excessive interest.

11. The Non-Bribe Taker
This person "does not accept a bribe against the innocent" (Psalm 15:5). The Hebrew word for "bribe" is "שֹׁחַד" (shochad), meaning a gift or reward given to pervert justice.1. Your Tent (O LORD)
This refers to the dwelling place of God, symbolizing His presence. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "אָהֳלֶךָ" (ohel), which means "tent" or "tabernacle." This term evokes the imagery of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, where God's presence dwelled among the Israelites. It signifies a place of communion and fellowship with God.

The psalm is more about the moral and ethical qualities required to be in God's presence rather than a list of physical locations.1. Inquiry of Worthiness
The psalm begins with a question about who may dwell in the Lord's sanctuary or live on His holy hill. This sets the stage for the characteristics that follow. (Psalm 15:1)

2. Walking Blamelessly
The person who may dwell with the Lord is described as one who "walks with integrity" (Psalm 15:2). The Hebrew word for "integrity" is "תָּמִים" (tamim), which implies completeness or blamelessness.

3. Practicing Righteousness
The individual "practices righteousness" (Psalm 15:2). The Hebrew word "צֶדֶק" (tsedeq) refers to justice or doing what is right according to God's standards.

4. Speaking Truth
The person "speaks the truth from his heart" (Psalm 15:2). This emphasizes sincerity and honesty in communication.

5. Avoiding Slander
The psalmist notes that this person "does not slander with his tongue" (Psalm 15:3). The Hebrew word "רָגַל" (ragal) means to go about as a talebearer or to slander.

6. Doing No Harm to Others
The individual "does no harm to his neighbor" (Psalm 15:3). This reflects a commitment to love and respect others.

7. Despising the Vile
The person "despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD" (Psalm 15:4). This shows a discernment between good and evil, valuing those who revere God.

8. Keeping Oaths
The individual "keeps his oath even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:4). This highlights the importance of faithfulness and reliability.

9. Lending Without Interest
The person "lends his money without interest" (Psalm 15:5). This reflects generosity and fairness in financial dealings.

10. Rejecting Bribes
The individual "does not accept a bribe against the innocent" (Psalm 15:5). This underscores integrity and justice.

11. Stability and Security
The psalm concludes with the assurance that "He who does these things will never be shaken" (Psalm 15:5). This promise of stability is rooted in living a life aligned with God's principles.1. The Question of Worthiness
The psalm begins with a question about who may dwell in God's sacred tent or holy hill. This sets the stage for the criteria that follow.
^“O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?”^ (Psalm 15:1)

2. Blameless Walk and Righteous Actions
The psalm describes the person who walks blamelessly and does what is righteous. The Hebrew word for "blameless" (תָּמִים, tamim) implies integrity and completeness.
^“He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,”^ (Psalm 15:2)

3. Truthful Speech
Emphasis is placed on speaking truth from the heart, highlighting the importance of honesty and sincerity.
^“who speaks the truth from his heart,”^ (Psalm 15:2)

4. No Slander or Harm
The psalmist notes that the worthy person does not slander with his tongue or do evil to his neighbor. The Hebrew root for "slander" (רָגַל, ragal) suggests spying or backbiting.
^“who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, nor casts a slur on his friend;”^ (Psalm 15:3)

5. Despising the Vile and Honoring the God-fearing
The psalmist contrasts the treatment of the vile with the honor given to those who fear the LORD, indicating a discernment in relationships.
^“who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath;”^ (Psalm 15:4)

6. Keeping Oaths
The importance of keeping one's word, even when it is costly, is highlighted, reflecting a commitment to integrity.
^“who does not revise a costly oath;”^ (Psalm 15:4)

7. No Usury or Bribery
The psalm concludes with a prohibition against charging interest on loans to the poor and accepting bribes against the innocent, underscoring justice and fairness.
^“who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.”^ (Psalm 15:5)

8. Stability of the Righteous
The final assurance is that those who live by these principles will never be shaken, indicating a life of stability and security in God's presence.
^“He who does these things will never be shaken.”^ (Psalm 15:5)1. Blameless Living
The psalm begins by emphasizing the importance of living a blameless life. The Hebrew word used here is "תָּמִים" (tamim), which conveys the idea of completeness or integrity. This theme underscores the necessity of moral and ethical wholeness in one's walk with God.

2. Righteousness
The psalm highlights the need for righteousness, which involves doing what is right according to God's standards. The Hebrew word "צֶדֶק" (tsedeq) is used, indicating justice and ethical conduct. This theme stresses the importance of aligning one's actions with divine principles.

3. Truthfulness
Speaking the truth from the heart is another key theme. The Hebrew word "אֱמֶת" (emet) signifies faithfulness and reliability. This theme points to the value of honesty and sincerity in one's speech and intentions.

4. Integrity in Relationships
The psalm addresses the importance of not slandering others, doing no wrong to a neighbor, and not casting slurs. This theme highlights the ethical treatment of others and maintaining integrity in interpersonal relationships.

5. Despising Evil
A person who dwells with God despises vile individuals but honors those who fear the Lord. This theme reflects the biblical principle of loving what is good and rejecting what is evil, as seen in the Hebrew word "מָאַס" (ma'as), meaning to reject or despise.

6. Keeping Promises
The psalm emphasizes the importance of keeping oaths even when it hurts. This theme underscores the value of faithfulness and reliability, as seen in the Hebrew concept of "שָׁבַע" (shava), meaning to swear or make an oath.

7. Financial Integrity
The psalm advises against lending money at interest or accepting bribes against the innocent. This theme highlights the importance of ethical financial practices and justice, reflecting the Hebrew word "נָשָׁךְ" (nashak), meaning to lend at interest.

8. Stability and Security
The concluding promise is that whoever does these things will never be shaken. This theme speaks to the stability and security found in living a life aligned with God's standards, as indicated by the Hebrew word "מוֹט" (mot), meaning to totter or be moved.1. Psalm 15:1 says only certain people can dwell with the Lord; doesn’t this contradict the broader biblical idea of God’s universal invitation?

2. Psalm 15:2–3 demands complete truthfulness and no slander; how do we reconcile this with instances of approved deceit (e.g., Rahab in Joshua 2)?

3. Psalm 15:4 endorses despising the vile while honoring the godly; does this clash with New Testament commands to love enemies (e.g., Matthew 5:44)?

4. Psalm 15:5 forbids charging interest; how does this align with other Old Testament passages that allow interest to foreigners (e.g., Deuteronomy 23:20)?

5. If Psalm 15 is attributed to David, how can a flawed king instruct perfect moral conduct without undermining his own credibility?

1. How does Psalm 15 challenge our understanding of what it means to be a godly person?

2. How can the qualities listed in this Psalm apply to our modern-day lives?

3. In what ways can you strive to speak the truth from your heart as described in verse 2?

4. How does verse 3's description of not slandering with our tongues or doing harm to our neighbor apply in the context of social media?

5. How can you actively honor those who fear the Lord in your community as instructed in verse 4?

6. In a world where interest rates and usury are common, how can we interpret and apply verse 5's message today?

7. What does it mean to you personally, that those who live righteously will not be shaken?

8. How do the principles in Psalm 15 guide your daily decision-making process?

9. How does this Psalm deepen your understanding of righteousness beyond just following rules?

10. Can you share a situation where you had to keep a promise even when it was difficult? How did it affect your relationship with God and others?

11. How can we ensure we do not cast scorn on our friends, as mentioned in verse 3, in our daily interactions?

12. How does Psalm 15 challenge your understanding of financial ethics in terms of lending and receiving bribes?

13. How does Psalm 15 encourage you to live a life of integrity?

14. How does this Psalm guide your understanding of who is worthy to dwell in God's sanctuary?

15. In what ways can the church or a faith community embody the principles laid out in Psalm 15?

16. What steps can you take to apply the characteristics mentioned in this Psalm to your life?

17. How does your view of God change after reading and understanding Psalm 15?

18. Are there any characteristics listed in this Psalm that you find particularly challenging to uphold? Why?

19. How does the concept of 'dwell in your sanctuary' apply to your personal relationship with God?

20. After studying Psalm 15, how would you describe the characteristics of a person who truly "lives on God's holy mountain"?