By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
Honor All Relationships
Exodus 20:15–17; Psalm 37:1–6
While the original settings of most the Psalms have been lost to the annals of history, there are a few whose place in the life of ancient Israel can still be recovered. One such psalm is Psalm 15, a work that once served as an “entrance liturgy” for worship at the temple.
Imagine yourself as a pilgrim in Bible times, making your way up to the Temple Mount for worship. As you prepare to enter one of the temple’s many gates, you are met with the challenge from a temple guard that forms verse 1: “O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” What answer should you give? What response will elicit the “You may pass” that forms the psalm’s final verse: “Those who do these things shall never be moved”? The answer lies in the psalm’s middle section.
These verses list the qualifications for those whom God deems worthy to enter His presence. But what a fascinating list. Each and every one of the psalm’s descriptions of those who can visit the Temple Mount is an ethical qualification. Nothing is said of crossing the right theological t’s or dotting the right doctrinal i’s.
Worthy worshippers are those who walk blamelessly, do what is right, speak truth from their heart, utter no slander, do no wrong to a neighbor, cast no slurs, despise the vile but honor God-fearers, keep their oaths, lend to the poor without interest and take no bribes.
It is not that right doctrine is not important; it is that right conduct is equally important. Amos tells us God despises the praise of those whose worship is devoted but whose lives are marked by oppressing the poor (5:11, 21–24).
James says even demons have right doctrine, but their right doctrine is not enough (2:19).
Even Jesus Himself, when asked what was the greatest commandment, was careful to attach “Love your neighbor” to “Love the Lord your God” (Matt. 22:37–39).
God wants His people to believe the right things, but He also wants them to do the right things.
Be a person of integrity in both your actions and speech. (Ex. 20:15–16)
The eighth and ninth commandments are examples of God’s insistence that the people called by His name act righteously toward others. He commands, “You shall not steal,” and, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Both commands are directed at moments when our love for neighbor is put to the test by our own selfishness. We want something, so we are tempted to take it. We want the personal benefit of seeing one person succeed or another fail, so we are tempted to be untruthful in our words.
Find contentment in what God provides. (Ex. 20:17)
The 10th commandment digs even deeper into this matter as it goes beyond our actions (stealing) or our words (false testimony) to our very thoughts and desires. A person who honors God is satisfied with the blessings God has given him or her. They do not gauge their own blessings by comparing them with the blessings others have received. They work hard and act wisely, but they do so to honor God and care for those around them, not to satisfy their craving for what others have.
All we desire rests in God. (Ps. 37:1–6)
Psalm 37 offers kind counsel to those who are tempted to let material desires get the better of them, to those apt to let desire for something relatively unimportant now crowd out concern for what is most important ultimately. The psalmist urges us not to be consumed with the actions or even the apparent successes of those who do wrong. Those brief moments of flourishing will pass away soon enough. Instead, we should wait on and delight in the Lord. We should trust Him to give us what we need when we need it.
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