At first glance this psalm seems like a ‘to do’ list. Be like this and you may dwell in the Lord’s tent. Actually this psalm is not about us! Its about the Lord!
O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
The picture here is the Lord as host and His tent as a tent of hospitality.
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
Who may dwell in His holy hill? - the weary pilgrim coming home to the place prepared for him by the Father.
And look! the gospel embedded in the second verse:
O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
Who walks with integrity? Who works righteousness? Who speaks truth with his heart? Christ Jesus! Who may abide in the Lord’s tent? Those whom the Father and Son, in eternity past, purposed to redeem. We are now clothed with Christ’s integrity, Christ’s works of righteousness, Christ’s truth not by our own merit but rather imputed on us by the work of Christ.
Now that Christ is our kinsman redeemer do we see any family resemblance?
Verse 3 - He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend …
Believers will restrain their tongue (James 3 and Proverbs 10:12) like their Master.
verse 4 - In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD;
Believers are loyal in their allegiance. There is no ambiguity in who they admire and where they stand. They honor the first four Commandments (Exodus 20:1-10)
verse 4b - verse 5a - He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent …
Believers will deal honorably, they honor the second half of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:12-17).
And then the psalmist concludes with this wonderful promise to all those who are welcomed into the Lord’s tent and onto His Holy hill.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
