Lord, Who Shall Abide? – Audio

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It was the psalmist who asked, Lord, who may abide? Who may dwell? You know, that’s a worthy thought, and it’s most worthy of our study today from Psalm 15. That’s from the International Gospel Hour. Please stay with us.

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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.

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Well, thank you for staying with us, friends, for our study today. Greetings to all of you. Thank you for being with us. and we’re honored that you have chosen our broadcast here from International Gospel Hour. We are indeed blessed for you, our listeners, your desire of pursuing truth and to know the said truth, as noted from John 8, 31 and 32. Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, Let us search that truth with an honest and diligent heart. Also, a very special thanks to our J-Web, who you hear throughout our broadcast. Jay will have some information later for some study material that you may find advantageous, and we do appreciate our Jay Webb. Our lesson text today is from Psalm 15 that says, Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord. He who swears to his own hurt and does not change. He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Friends, considering Psalm 15, let’s define some terms from verse 1. Verse 1, once again, Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle, who may dwell in your holy hill. Let’s define the word abide that means to remain, to continue, or to conform. An established one, a child of God. Lord, who may remain or continue in your tabernacle, who may conform to your will. Now the word tabernacle, let’s define it. Also known as a dwelling place, we’ll parallel there 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 1. And the tabernacle in the Old Testament time was a part of the temple, a place of worship. So Lord, who may remain or continue or conform in your temple, your place of worship? How about the word dwell? Who may dwell in your holy hill? The word dwell means to live as a resident or to reside. to exist in a given place or a state, to dwell in joy. So who may dwell, who may live in your holy hill? We abide in your tabernacle. How do we live? Now the holy hill, called Zion from Psalm 2 and verse 6, it’s part of Jerusalem, also called the city of David, and the holy hill was known as Zion or a part of the holy city. So it’s like this. Lord, who may abide or remain or continue in your tabernacle, your place of worship, a place to conform our lives? Who will dwell or live in the holy hill or part of Jerusalem? It’s rather interesting, friends, that Lord, who shall abide? And if we worship him, then we must live a certain way. Now, note the question is asked twice. Who may abide? Who may dwell? Who is this individual that will abide and dwell with God and His people? What are the qualities of this individual? Lord, who shall abide? That’s our broadcast today, and we’ll continue in just a few seconds. But first, a few words from our J. Webb.

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A great online publication is the Gospel Gleaner. For over 30 years, the Gospel Gleaner has presented excellent, sound biblical articles for reading and study. It is published quarterly, four times a year. Subscriptions are free. Just go to gospelgleaner.com and sign up for their email version. Be sure to post in the comments blank you heard about it from the International Gospel Hour.

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Lord, who shall abide? Well, verse 2 of Psalm 15, one that is committed. Those who are faithful to God. He who walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart. Let’s break that down in three parts. The one that walks uprightly. Think about Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist in Luke 1 and verse 6. And where that verse states how they were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. To the Christian who is walking in the light, 1 John 1 and verse 7. What about eight times in the book of Ephesians we see the word walk? Think also of the man in Psalm 1 that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. The faithful to God, the committed one, walks uprightly with a commitment to God. Second, he works righteousness. Now, friends, do not allow the teaching of works to just, as we would say, freak you out or disturb you. Folks, the Bible does not teach that we do works in order to gain heaven. Ephesians 2 and verse 10 says that we, the Christians there, are the workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Simply doing right works and right things, 1 John 2, 29. One’s obedient faith is expressed by the works that they do, or as I heard it termed one time, works are not what a man does to be saved, works are what a saved man does. It expresses his faith. He walks uprightly, he works righteousness, and speaks the truth. The truth that makes men free, as we noted as our broadcast began in John 8, 32. The truth that is brought forth in love, Ephesians 4, verse 15. So here is one who shall abide, one that is committed. He’s committed with his faith to God. He walks, he works, he speaks. Friends, there’s really nothing else when you put all three of those together. So here’s my question. Are you walking as one committed to God? Or are there things that need to change in your life? Second question. Who shall abide? Not only the committed, but one who is compassionate. I take us to verse 3. He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend. When we think about the phrase backbiter, it’s one that speaks against or evil. Romans 1 and verse 30. Now, is it wrong to speak against something or someone? No. No. But friends, we need to know what we are saying. We need to know and to make a judgment that is according to a righteous judgment. John 7 verse 24. When we look at Matthew 18 beginning with verse 15, a lot of things can be solved if we simply would go to one another when need be. I think the golden rule would apply here of Matthew 7 and verse 12. Therefore, whatever you would that men do to you, do you also to them, for this is the law and the prophets. We make the first move. We treat others rightly. My father, and I affectionately called him Daddy, has been gone for well over 15 years, but I remember him telling me, always do the right thing, regardless of what anybody else may do, because then you can pillow your head at night knowing you did the right thing. Friends, when you think about it, if we don’t backbite individuals with our tongue, nor do evil to our neighbor, or take up a reproach against a friend, it’s the kind of person that I would like to have in my life. So why don’t I put a little golden rule in essence or in action, if you will, and to be one who is compassionate because that’s the one who will abide. Here’s the third one. What about one who is convicted? Now, not only is he committed and compassionate, but he’s going to stand against wrong. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord, he who swears to his own hurt and does not change. Standing against such is necessary for the purity of truth to press onward. We need to mark those that will cause a problem, Romans 16, 17. When there are those that will preach another gospel or things not according to the Bible, we need to stand against those individuals, Galatians 1, 6-9. Friends, let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good, Romans 12, 9. Let’s notice a fourth one, one that is candid or who is honest in his dealings. He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He’s a committed person who stands for the right. He’s an upright individual. He will provide things honest in the sight of all men, Romans 12 and verse 17. Plain, simple honesty in the workplace and among ourselves. Friends, we must be honest in our dealings. So who shall abide? The one that is committed, compassionate, convicted, and candid. Friends, do you need to abide within the Lord? Maybe a further study of the Word of God will be of help. Here is one of our online offerings. Here is our J-Web.

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That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour has sent you. So friends, who shall abide?

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What about one who is committed and faithful to God, who is compassionate in treating others rightly, but yet convicted standing against those who are wrong, and candid who is honest in his dealings? You see, he who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 19, verse 5. What a wonderful study, or rather Psalm 15, verse 5. My apologies, friends. I just wanted to see if you were listening. No, friends, you are always listening. We love our audience from International Gospel Hour. And we hope that this lesson today will move you to abide in the Lord, to look at your lives, to look at your lives, rather, and make the things right that need to be made right. We’ll continue our studies together at another time, but thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.

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God be with you till we meet again. Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.