What is the meaning of Psalm 15:1? A Psalm of David. • David’s name reminds us this song rises from real history (1 Samuel 16:13; Acts 13:22). • The Holy Spirit moved David to write (2 Peter 1:21); every word can be trusted as literal and true. • Because David ruled from Zion and cherished God’s presence (2 Samuel 6:17), he is uniquely suited to ask the question that follows. O LORD • David speaks to the covenant God, “the One who was and is and is to come” (Exodus 3:14; Revelation 1:8). • Using the divine name makes the appeal personal; the question concerns intimate fellowship, not abstract religion (Psalm 8:1; Psalm 23:1). • Only the Lord Himself can grant entrance; no human merit opens the door apart from His approval (John 14:6). who may abide in Your tent? • “Your tent” points first to the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God’s glory rested (Exodus 25:8–9; 40:34). • To “abide” (stay the night) implies ongoing closeness, not a brief visit (Psalm 27:4). • Holiness was non-negotiable—any defilement meant exclusion or death (Leviticus 10:3; Numbers 1:51), underscoring the gravity of David’s inquiry. • Spiritually, the tent looks ahead to Christ “tabernacling” among us (John 1:14) and to believers becoming God’s dwelling through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? • The mountain is Zion, the site later chosen for the temple (Psalm 2:6; 2 Chronicles 3:1). • “Holy” stresses absolute moral purity; whoever would live there must share God’s character (Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 1:16). • Dwelling suggests settled citizenship, hinting at the eternal kingdom where God’s people will “reign with Him” (Psalm 48:1; Revelation 22:4-5). • The paired questions highlight both nearness (tent) and permanence (mountain), inviting us to long for earthly fellowship now and heavenly fulfillment forever (Hebrews 12:22-24). summary Psalm 15:1 poses a twofold question: Who is fit for sustained intimacy with the holy God, both in the present symbolized by His tent and in the future pictured by His mountain? David’s inspired words underscore that God alone sets the terms of access, demanding holiness that matches His own. The verses that follow (Psalm 15:2-5) will spell out the required righteousness, driving us finally to the only One who fully meets the standard—Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is credited to all who trust Him, granting them the privilege to abide and dwell with the LORD forever. |
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