GROUP GUIDE: Psalm 15

There are a lot of great questions that we can find in the Bible. Psalm 15 perhaps asks the greatest question in the Bible: Who can enter God´s presence?, Who makes it? Who gets to go to heaven? This is the most important question in all of our lives. Who can enter God´s presence?

In verse one, David asks this important question. Verses 2-5, David, under God´s inspiration, will answer this question honestly, biblically, and clearly. Verse 2 says that those who live with integrity, work righteousness, and speak truth in their heart. Those who enter God´s presence are those who do the right thing under God´s standard, those who do the right thing no matter the circumstances, those who walk with nothing to cover up, and those who have no secrets. Not only that, but those who speak truth in their hearts, seeing everything through the lens of God’s truth reveale3d in His word.

Verse 3 says that those who will be in the presence of God are those who don't gossip about other people. A man of righteousness doesn't slander other people, doesn't talk badly about his friend. Not only doesn´t gossip, but is someone who doesn´t engage in gossip. A lot of times, we listen and encourage gossip, and according to this Psalm, a person who is involved in gossip is not a person of righteousness. Jesus even took a step further in saying that we ought to love our enemies.

Verse 4 David says that those who will be in the presence of God are those who hate sin as much as God hates it. Those who don´t long to be with sinners, those who don´t celebrate those who care very little about God. But those who want to hang out with godly people desire to be with them. He also mentions that the people who keep their word, regardless of what it is going to cost them. Those who are willing to show hessed love even if it involves a great sacrifice.

The last verse says that a righteous man is one who doesn’t take advantage of people to gain money. He doesn’t gain financially and personally by oppressing others. This is the man who will be able to abide with God. The psalm ends by saying that all who do these things will never be shaken.

If we take an honest look at this Psalm, we realize that you and I, by our strength, cannot fulfill what God demands of us to be in His presence. When we look at this Psalm, the verses here should crush us as we realize that we fall way short of this standard. But there is hope because there was one who fulfilled this list, and it's Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” It´s by the grace of God, through Jesus, that we can become the righteousness of God and be in His presence. It is our union with a perfect savior that allows us to stand as righteous men and women before our Holy God.

However, this Psalm still portrays the standard of God, and now, by the grace of God through Jesus, not only do we get to become righteous and enter His presence, but it's by grace that we can now live the way God wants us to live. May this psalm be our prayer as we live, knowing that through the grace of God, I can now live according to this Psalm.