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Living in God’s House
The tongue is a sword; no physician can heal the wounds of the tongue.
Scripture: Psalm 15
Sermon Notes:
- This Psalm calls us to self-examination as we enter God's presence.
- Everyone is corrupt (cf. Psalm 14:2-3) and yet only the pure of heart are worthy to enter God’s presence.
- The resolution is that we are sojourners seeking refuge in God's life-giving presence, provision and protection.
- The Lord cares for the foreigner (Deut. 10:18; Ps. 146:9).
- This Psalm is grounded in Christ who sojourned with us.
- We are pointed to Christ, who fits the description of Psalm 15, having integrity and speaking the truth.
- All our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6); however, in Christ we are justified (1 Cor. 6:11).
- For the believer, Psalm 15 isn't a sentence of death and condemnation. It is a class in discipleship (cf. Titus 2:14).
- The true Christian disciple a) walks blamelessly, in integrity, with continuity of words and actions; with simplicity and godly sincerity; b) does what is right (i.e. acts in accordance to God's words); c) speaks truth in his heart (unlike Isaiah 29:13).
- The Psalm warns against doing evil to our neighbour by use of our tongue: gossip, slander, reproach.
- The tongue is a sword; no physician can heal the wounds of the tongue.
- Slander is false or unfounded accusations against another person. A slanderer is a devil, following the father of lies.
- We are guilty of slander even if we listen to it (1 Tim. 5:14).
- Everyone prefers hearing evil than hearing good. It's the common plague of humanity.
- Give no occasion to slander; the results of listening to slander are doubt, despair, confusion.
- Give no occasion to reproach or gossip; gossip is true-but-unnecessary speech about the faults of others.
- We must counter gossip by veiling blemishes in our neighbour; preserve his honour and prevent his disgrace.
- It's easy to strip a man of his honour, but hard to restore it.
- Put on Christ; avoid corrupt talk (Eph 4:29-32).
- We are neither to flatter nor speak wrongly of evil persons.
- We are to cultivate the godly virtue of despising the ungodly. We are to honour those who fear God.
- Keep your commitments; honour your word.
- Do not charge interest when lending money to the poor, and fear your God that your brother may live beside you (Leviticus 25). It's an extreme form of inhumanity to make a profit from another person's misery.
- God pays the interest on your gifts to the poor.
- He who does these things will never be moved.
- There's no promise of security or stability for the person who's disobedient.
- Only by His grace can we become the people of Psalm 15.
Application Questions:
- Are we people who rely on God and depend on him daily for provision and protection?
- Do our thoughts and hearts match our speech?
- What is the difference between slander and gossip?
- What are the results of listening to slander?
- How can we jump into a conversation and promote the honour of another?
- How does the Psalm command us to think of evil persons? Is this compatible with loving them?
- How can we have the power to embody the virtues of Psalm 15?