Psalm 15 starts with a question: “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
In other words—who gets to live close to God? Who stays in His presence?
David gives a list of things that describe the kind of person that gets to live there. This isn’t about how to be saved. It’s about how saved people act. These are the people who enjoy the fellowship and closeness of God’s house.
Let’s look at three marks of someone who belongs in God’s house.
1. There’s a Direction – “He that walketh uprightly” (vs. 2)
This person isn’t walking in the world’s way. They’ve got a clear direction. They walk upright. They’re going somewhere. They aren’t stuck or confused. Their feet are heading toward God’s house, and their life shows it.
You can tell a lot about a person by where they walk. These folks don’t just visit God’s house—their life revolves around it!
2. There’s a Dedication – “and worketh righteousness”
They don’t just talk the talk. They work righteousness. That means they live right, act right, and do right—even when it’s hard.
This kind of life takes effort. You don’t accidentally “work righteousness”. It takes purpose and dedication. They show up. They stay faithful. They live clean.
3. There’s a Declaration – “and speaketh the truth in his heart”
This person has something to say—but it’s not gossip, lies, or drama. It’s truth.
They declare what’s right. Even when no one is looking, their heart speaks truth.
You don’t have to guess where they stand. They aren’t two-faced or fake. Their speech lines up with their walk and their work.
But What About the Other Kind?
Psalm 15:3-5 gives us the other side. Not everybody has the right direction, dedication, or declaration.
Some people backbite. Some do evil to their neighbor. Some take advantage of others.
They don’t keep their word. They love money more than mercy.
These are people who may show up to church—but they don’t abide in God’s house. Their heart isn’t in it.
What’s the Promise?
Psalm 15 ends with this: “He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” (vs. 5)
That’s the kind of life I want. Not tossed around. Not up and down. Not always struggling to stay close to God.
I want to walk with Him, work for Him, and speak His truth. That’s the person who gets to stay close to the Lord.
