WHO SHALL ABIDE IN THY TABERNACLE?

There are two questions in verse 1: “who shall abide in thy tabernacle?” and “who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”. These should be taken with two further questions: “who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” and “who shall stand in his holy place?”, Psa. 24. 3. Without doubt, Psalm 24 refers to the occasion when king David brought the ark up mount Zion for the first time, 2 Sam. 6. 12-18. Psalm 15 then refers to the subsequent service of God that took place before the new tabernacle on Zion.

The two psalms reflect upon the essential character and moral qualifications that were necessary for this service. In fact, 1 Chronicles 15. 3-28 provides a long list of those who ascended mount Zion. There were the high priests, Zadok and Abiathar, many Levites (those who carried the ark upon their shoulders, porters, singers, doorkeepers), “all Israel” and king David, with the elders and captains, v. 25. Psalm 68 also refers to this ascent, where we read that “The singers went before (the ark), and the players on instruments followed after”, v. 25.

But the Lord was in the midst, “the King of glory shall come in”, Psa. 24. 7. Moreover, when the ark was safely established in the tent on mount Zion, David left the singers, players on instruments and porters on the mount, “to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required”, 1 Chron. 16. 37-42. For such holy service, the Levites were sanctified, and were clothed in “fine linen”, 15. 14, 27. Moral and spiritual qualifications were necessary, and these are spelt out in verses 2-5 of Psalm 15 and in verse 4 of Psalm 24. Those that “dwell on high” and who “see the king in his beauty” are also described in Isaiah 33. 15-17.

One author has described Psalm 15 as illustrating “Fitness for Fellowship”. God is very particular now amongst whom He presences Himself. As citizens of heaven, Phil 3. 20, we have come to mount Zion, Heb. 12. 22-24. The Corinthians, as sanctified and enriched, had been called “unto the fellowship of his Son”, 1 Cor. 1. 9, but some were unworthy and had been removed from their mount Zion, 5. 5; 11. 30-32.

“Worship … in spirit and in truth”, John 4. 23.