Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalms 15 (New International Version)

¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

² He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

³ and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

⁴ who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

⁵ who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

This comes to me as simply one of those pieces of scripture that flows knowledge and wisdom word after word. Commentary is fluff, but since that what I do here, some fluff follows.

Walk in a blameless manner. Not perfection as that is impossible, but blameless. I do wrong, I admit it, ask for forgiveness, and continue my walk.

I try to do what is right in the eyes of God.

I am truthful. I speak what is true with the situation and the people involved in mind.

I don’t attack my fellow man with my words. This one is hard sometimes. Especially when I consider the words that go through my mind, but don’t come out of my mouth. Those thoughts count, too.

I dislike the actions of a vile person. What a great word –  vile. We don’t use this word much. From dictionary.com:

vile – adj.   vil·er, vil·est

1. Loathsome; disgusting: vile language.
2. Unpleasant or objectionable: vile weather. See Synonyms at offensive
3. Contemptibly low in worth or account; second-rate.
4. Of mean or low condition.
5. Miserably poor and degrading; wretched: a vile existence.
6. Morally depraved; ignoble or wicked: a vile conspiracy

I do what I say I will do, even when it hurts me. Oh if the majority of modern mankind would follow this one. “On second thought, I have changed my mind given today’s economic situation. A person can change his mind, right? Why be stubborn (especially when it it more convenient to change)?”

I loan a brother some cash without interest. Money doesn’t buy my integrity.

God, these words were written by a man whose heart is like yours. Help me to be like that.