Psalm 15 Study Notes

15:1 The phrase your tent is parallel to your holy mountain and refers to the sanctuary of the Lord. This is the place of God’s presence and protection (61:4). Certain people are not allowed in God’s presence because of his holiness (5:4-5). The desire of God’s people is to be in his presence forever (65:4; 84:3-4).

15:2 Lives blamelessly refers to a life of integrity (18:23; 119:1). The truth of God is not just something proclaimed. It must reside in a person’s heart, which is the mind or the inner person (Dt 6:6; Is 29:13).

15:3 God is intolerant of those who destroy others with their speech (101:5). Slandering and discrediting come from an attitude of hatred and a desire to harm others (10:12,18).

15:4 Despising the wicked and honoring the godly are attitudes that show we are made in God’s image—we love what he loves and hate what he hates (139:21-22).

15:5 The command against lending at interest was only applicable to fellow Israelites and not to foreigners (Dt 23:20). However, someone who is close to the Lord will follow the spirit of the law and not just the letter. What is common between lending at interest and bribery is that both profit from someone else’s misfortune or lack (Pr 15:27). Those who are able to enter God’s sanctuary will never be shaken, meaning that they will be secure (10:6; 13:4).