Learning to Live in God’s Country
“If you want to learn what citizenship in the kingdom of heaven is like, sing Psalm 15” -Athanasius
A Traveler’s Question
The structure of Psalm 15 is quite simple: It begins with a question (1), provides an answer (2-5a), and ends with a blessing (5b).[1]
The Psalm begins, “whomay sojourn in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” Importantly, the question is asked from the perspective of a traveler. Both of the verbs in v. 1 (“sojourn,” gur; “dwell,” shacan)refers to the activity of someone who settles from another location.
The Psalmist is like a foreigner who inquires about the customs of the new land, wondering how he might fit in and not get kicked out. The question is pressing because a foreigner doesn’t have the natural legal protection of blood-ties. They have to learn to get along.
The Psalmist thus uses the metaphor of migration to drill down to the core of the spiritual life: It’s a pilgrimage from an old life and learning the new ways and customs of God’s country.
What God Requires
The first thing to notice about the answers is that it’s given in the positive. God does invite us to dwell with him. So what does God require of those who take refuge in him? The first three lines emphasize integrity. “Walk blamelessly” (v.1) carries the idea of a life where all the constituent parts are ordered and support one another, like a finished building or a healthy body.
Two more statements further describe an integrous life: “Do righteousness” and “speak the truth in their heart.” These two statements describe two parts that are integral to each of us, thought and action. In the integrous life, these are guided by our values, “righteousness” and “truth.” In other words, If someone is integrous, you can ask them “why do you do that?” and “why do you think that?” and they will give you a good answer.
The Goodness of God’s Kingdom
This Psalm is powerful because it reveals to us the goodness of God. The Psalmist asks, “What are the rules of your country? How can I dwell with you?” And God answers: In my country, people are healthy and whole. They aren't divided. The rest of the Psalm continues to describe the healthy life, integrity in relationships, and integrity in society and institutions.
Walking the Pilgrim’s Path
I’ve been praying Psalm 15 in the morning, and I find it a great way to begin the day. First, it gives me direction. It reminds me that I’m still learning the way of God’s kingdom. This is not my native soil. I’m continually having to “put off the old self” (Eph. 4:22). Second, it gives me hope. It reminds me that I’m on a journey towards wholeness and health. Third, it gives me awareness. It reminds me that I need to pay attention to what I do, think, and how I treat others, because that’s what God looks at.
Psalm 15 is a pilgrim song. It seeks to know how one might find the ultimate destination of dwelling with God. And the answer of the Psalm is that every day we act, think, and relate to others is an opportunity to move ahead on our journey towards God’s presence.
[1] Christopher Asch, The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary. The quote from Athanasius is also cited from the commentary.
