Welcomed at God’s table
The Torah called God’s people to be holy in God’s strength, never their own. This psalm essentially states what it means to be in union with our gracious and holy Redeemer God.
A David psalm.
1 What kind of person
do you welcome into your tabernacle, YHWH
to live on your holy hill?
2 People of integrity
who do what’s right
and speak truth from the heart.
3 Who don’t slander
harm their neighbor
or hurt their neighbor’s reputation.
4 Who loathe depraved people
and honor God-fearers.
Who keep their oaths, no matter what
and refuse to go back on their word.
5 Who lend to the poor
without charging them interest
and refuse to rob the innocent of justice
for a bribe.
The person who lives like this
will never be shaken.
In contrast to the preceding psalms, this one describes the person who pleases God. Besides being the tent devoted to God’s worship, the tabernacle was God’s earthly residence. Here David asks what God looks for in the person he takes into his royal household, as Saul included David in his household and David later included Mephibosheth in his. What kind of person does God welcome into the blessing and protection of his home? This question is vital because inclusion in a royal household always held the promise of royal favor, provided one’s life was in accord with the king’s values and concerns.
So, who makes it onto David’s list? People of integrity, who longed to live holy lives and sought his forgiveness whenever they fell short. The sanctuary, after all, was where God, who knows how weak we are, forgave his people’s sins. God doesn’t demand perfection and, while his standards are high, he never meant for us to live by his moral values in our own strength.
David’s list alternates between the positive and negative, both being equally important. Positively, God welcomes those who have integrity, do what’s right, speak honestly, loathe the loathsome, honor the God-fearing, and keep their word. Negatively, they don’t slander, harm others, gossip, take advantage of the poor, or take bribes.
David’s underlying point is that we can know what to expect of YHWH. He doesn’t cut deals with evildoers to gain their adulation or loyalty. And he never withdraws the welcome he extends to those who, by his grace, seek to live as the psalm describes. Through no fault of his own, David had to flee from Saul because Saul was so messed up. Canaan’s gods were capricious too, but not YHWH. Thus, his people can be confident that they’ll never fall from his favor.
Prayer:
Though you are holy and I am far from perfect, Lord, I long to eat at your table and serve in your kingdom. Help me see as you see, love what you love, hate what you hate, please you in all I do, and model my character after yours. Make me holy as you are holy, I pray. Amen.
In your free moments today, meditate on these words:
The person who lives like this
will never be shaken.
