Just before “drifting off” to sleep the other night, Marceil read Psalm 15 out loud to me. (I put a quote around “drifting off” because that never really happens for me. I have acute sleep apnea so I generally turn on the c-pap machine and just hope I can more like “conk out.”
Her purpose for reading the Psalm was to under-gird with Scripture a situation I faced down in Haiti a couple of months ago where a Church was charging 18% interest on a micro-loan fund that was meant to help middle age women. I was confrontational with the leaders involved and they told me it was “cultural” to which I replied that you can’t call a “Scriptural issue” a “cultural issue” just because the Scripture doesn’t fit into your philosophy. The Scriptures were not written in America….or in Haiti, but instead 2000 to 6000 years ago in a land 6000 miles from Haiti.
As I worked to break Psalm 15 down, there were so many things I thought I would take it point by point over the next couple of weeks and blog about them.
Let’s start with the entire passage and after the passage I will address it a concept at a time. You will notice the introduction will have been “cut and pasted” day to day to give the background.
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
FOURTH IDEA (for previous ideas from this text look back at previous blog posts)
Question: Who is going to make it to Heaven? Answer: V. 2 –“Who does what is righteous.” The combination of the original Hebrew words is insightful (paal tsadaq) has to do with honesty (or equity of character specifically). Not just honesty but (paal) type of execution of honesty. “Paal” is to do or make something systematically and habitually. It is a disciplined intentional approach to living one’s life in an honest way. Honesty (the kind that will get you to Heaven) is systematic, practical, habitual, consistent, and intentional.
Every day is a Bonus Day.
Much Love,
Marc
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