The default settings on mobile phones and computers seem to have all sorts of ‘
What has struck me is how completely Psalm 15 ‘reframes’ the picture of security.
The answer the psalmist gives, is ‘security comes from living in a way that does not lead to a broken relationship with God’. He begins by posing a
question ‘Lord who may dwell in your tent?’ And ends by expressing his conviction that living in a way that is consistent with God’s heart means ‘never being shaken’.
Jesus picks up the theme of security in a number of places but two are at the forefront of my mind as I write. First in the story of the Wise and Foolish builders1, in which he highlights, for his audience, the need to act on his teaching and not just be ‘listeners’ who go away saying “ that was a good story” and then not doing anything about it.
The other ‘story’ on my mind is one where Jesus is speaking specifically to his disciples. He says ‘In my father’s house are many dwelling places’2 and then goes on to talk about the security of relationship that results from ‘abiding in Him’3
The idea of ‘living with God’ is one that is found frequently throughout the bible. It is implicit in the creation accounts in Genesis and continues with comments made about various Old Testament characters, but especially Enoch4. But it is also something God plans for and is, according to the book Exodus, the reason He rescued the people of Israel from Egypt. Exodus 29:46 says “They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”
It might almost be that the Psalmist is saying to himself ‘Lord you want people to dwell with you but who can possibly do it?’ He gives himself the answer but as he does so, one can almost hear him say, ‘but this is impossible’. However, there is also the sense of God giving help to live in a way that reflects who He is, and expresses His love for his creation.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment his answer was “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”5
One of the interesting things about both the Psalm and Jesus answer to the question ‘what is the greatest commandment?’ is that in both cases they are about behaviour and relationships, not about ritual. There is no mention of sacrifices or ‘religion’!
Security comes from our relationship with God!
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 way of life 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
neighbour,
and casts no slur on
others;
4 who despises a vile person
but
honours 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.
A Prayer
Lord, thank you that in your house there is room for everyone who responds to your ‘call of love’. Thank you that you don’t want to exclude anyone.
Thank you, that with the help of your Holy Spirit it is possible to live in your world your way. Help me to keep looking to you for strength and not to get trapped by what is ‘apparently’ the best for me.
Lord you are ‘for’ the orphan, the widow, the homeless, the oppressed and the stranger.
Please help me to listen to your prompting and be someone who ‘draws my strength’ from you each day. Amen.
1Matt 7:24-27
2John 14:1-4
3John 15:7-8
4Genesis 5:18-24
5Matt 22:36-40