Who Shall Dwell on His Holy Hill?

Scripture: Psalm 15 v 1- 5: "A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
 2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
 3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 
 4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
 5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved."


If you want to dwell forever on the holy hill of God in Heaven this passage of scripture gives you the list of requirements you must meet to show true Christian character.

You must walk uprightly - that is a stance and status we must attain. It means to be openly righteous, not hiding your Christianity from others but rather allowing people to see who you really are. It means being transparent and honest, not having a hidden agenda. To those who don't read the Bible you must BE the Bible made visible.

Your righteous works should be done humbly without looking for rewards, congratulations or recognition. You must be truthful in everything you think and say. In a world built on lies, deceit and pretence, truth sticks out like a sore thumb.

The list of don'ts starts with backbiting. Always having the last word and using malicious tactics to deliberately hurt others shows that Jesus is not in control of your life. You should never do evil to your neighbour by refusing to show common courtesy or creating bad feelings and bitter feuds. Jesus came to reconcile and bring love to cover a multitude of sins.

Do not take up a reproach against your neighbour - that is fault-finding that brings public disgrace or discredit to someone. Attempts to threaten with embarrassment or cause someone to fear this are signs that you have no Christian love in you.

You must honour those who fear the Lord, but those who mock Him should be shunned.  If you make a promise you must keep it even if the circumstances have changed and it means you will lose or be disadvantaged by honouring your word.  God's Kingdom is based on truth rather than rivalry and competition.

The Lord frowns on usury which is inflated and escalating interest of bankers and money lenders.  It is unnecessary as it traps the unwary borrower in a spiral of increasing debt and desperation.  It's like taking a reward against the innocent such as kidnapping for ransom.  Totally unacceptable to our God.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that we should live by the Golden Rule. Do as you would be done by. He will have His answer for those who cause hurt to His people.  They won't like it.  Terrorists, murderers, rapists, thieves will be under His judgment.

Galatians 5 v 19 - 21: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
 20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
 21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

So if you are seeking a place on His holy hill you may need to repent, change your mind, about your behaviour to others and begin to rebuild your Christian character.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we desire to be blessed and found worthy of Your holy hill. We are guilty of many things that betray our human nature. Please change us into the likeness of Jesus. In Jesus' name. Amen.