Who Shall Abide

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Somebody asks that at the gate, and the psalm is what came back.

Walk the answer clause by clause, because the shape of the list is the surprise. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Then the neighbour: backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. Then his loyalties, and which way round they run: a vile person is contemned in his eyes, and he honoureth them that fear the LORD. Then his word and his money: he sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; he that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.

Eleven clauses about entering a sanctuary, and there is no sacrifice among them, no festival, no ritual at all. It is a mouth list, a neighbour list and a money list. Speaketh the truth in his heart goes deepest, because the heart is the one place nobody can audit. Sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not is the one with teeth: you gave your word, the price came in higher than you were quoted, and you paid it. Everybody keeps an exit clause. The man on the hill has one and leaves it alone.

Read as a price list this is unbearable, and Scripture knows it; ask Psalm 24 the same question at the same gate and the answer is he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, which nobody has produced on demand yet. The last line says what the list is for. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Stability is the subject. So go back over the eleven and find the one you flinched at, and if it was the promise that got expensive, the one you have been renegotiating in your head since the size of it became clear, honour it this week at the price you agreed.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 9 is No Longer Servants (Galatians 4:7).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two