The Model Church Member
Psalm 15:2
He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.


The visible Zion was typical of the Invisible Church. In the "holy hill" God dwelt in symbol, in the Universal Church He dwells in viewless spiritual realness. Spiritual citizenship is the common privilege and honour of all who in moral character are abreast of the standard fixed in this Psalm. Who is a Christian, or a worthy member of Christ's Church, is here perfectly outlined by the infallible pert of inspiration.

I. WHAT HE IS, IN WORD, DEED, LIFE. He only abides in God's tabernacle who abides in God, and God in him.

1. His walk is in uprightness. This implies spiritual life, exercise, health, progress.

2. His work is in righteousness. This implies activity, beneficent activity, the holiest activity; righteous in its motive, method, and results.

3. His words in truth and love: this implies conversation and testimony. Invisible truth shrines itself in holy words, holy works, a holy walk. Being upright, the Christian cannot be crooked; being righteous, he cannot be a hypocrite; being truthful in his heart, he cannot be false in his conversation and deportment.

II. WHAT HE IS NOT (vers. 8, 5).

1. No backbiter.

2. No evildoer.

3. No receiver of slander. Were there no ears to receive scandal there would soon be no tongues to speak it. The receiver of such pernicious goods is as vile as the trader in them.

4. No usurer.

5. No patron of bribery. He daily endeavours to maintain a pure hand, a pure purse, a pure ear, a pure heart, and a pure tongue. He will contemn evil wherever found; honour holiness however manifest; swerve not from his word when given, though to personal injury, and be permanently steadfast in his work of faith and life of love.

(J. O. Keen, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

WEB: He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;




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