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Psalm Fifteen and Its New Testament Correspondences B y E rnest G ordon f SALM 15 is by the translators entitled: “ David describeth a citizen of Zion.” In the. preceding l six chapters the children of Belial are portrayed, —the violent, the treacherous, the lying, the cor rupt, the foolishly atheist. Then comes this lovely miniature portrait of an upright, God H e that d o e t h these Matt. 7 :24-27. There- t k i n g s shall never be fore whosoever h e a r e t k moved. these sayings o f mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock . . . and it fell not.
fearing man, a citizen of Zion. It is the contrast between the man of earth and the man of heavenly citizenship. It is not improbable that our Lord took this Psalm as his text for the Sermon on the Mount. “ The citizens of Zion” of the Old Testament are the “ salt o f the earth” of the New, for the Gospel is now for all men and the borders- of Zion extend to the ends of the earth. “ Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” asked the Psalmist, “ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” paraphrases our Lord. The Companion Bible presents the parallel in this way: P salm 15 I M atthew 5-7 I nclusive
The marginal translation for “ nor taketh up a re proach against his neighbour” is “ nor receiveth nor en- dureth” a reproach. The citizen of Zion will not even lis ten to unkind gossip! How high the ethical standard of this Psalm against the background of the contemporary heathenism in its best aspects! The Apostle Peter, in the first chapter o f his second letter, describes the qualifications for naturalization into the heavenly state, for an abundant entrance into the ever lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. The citizen of Zion is described in eleven particulars by the Psalmist; so is the citizen of the New Jerusalem. 1. He must be partaker of the divine nature. 2. Must escape the corruption of the world through lust. 3. Must have faith. 4. Must add thereto virtue. 7. Patience. 8. Godliness. 9. Brotherly love. 10. 1Charity. 11. He must be neither idle nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. “H e that doeth these things shall never be moved,” said the Psalmist of the citizen of Zion. “ For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall [or stumble],” said the Apostle o f those seeking citizenship in the kingdom of heaven, evidently reechoing the Psalmist. Psalm 15 is a picture of the citizen of Zion; Psalm 16 describes the reward and future o f the citizen of Zion. It is a michtam, or Golden Psalm, and truly so, for it ends with the great resurrection prophecy, “ Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. A t thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Peter’s heavenly citizen is promised “ day- dawn and the day-star’s rise,” the day of the Coming and of the Resurrection (2 Pet. 1 :19).' U ntil S eptember 30, 1930— Club of S subscriptions, (U.S.) $5,00. Foreign postage 25 cents , per year .additional. Single' subscription 2 years in advance (U, S.) $2.25. Trial subscription, 3' months' (U. S.) $ .25 P rices A dvance O ctober 1, 1930— See advertisement opposite page 411 for other attractive offers. 5. Knowledge. 6. Temperance. Special Subscription Offers
Matt. 5 :13-16, Walking in the light that {men) may see your good works and glorify your father. Matt. 5 :20. Except your righteousness shall exceed [that] o f the scribes. Matt. 5 :21 to Matt. 6 :34.. Truth in the heart. This deals w i t h heart-hatred, heart-adultery, heart-alms giving, heart-prayer, heart- f a s t i n g , heart-treasure, heart-service and heart-rest. Matt. 7:1-5. Judge not, that ye be not judged. And why beholdest t h o u the mote that is in thy brother’s eye? Matt. 5 :43-45. Love your enemies . . . do good to them that hate you. Matt. 7 :6, 15. Beware o f false prophets. . . . . Inwardy they are ravening wolves. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, nei ther cast ye your pearls be fore swine. Matt. 5 :37. Let y o u r communication be, Y e a , yea ; Nay, nay. Matt. 5 :42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that zvould borrow of thee turn not thou away.
V. 2. He that walketh uprightly, and w o r k e t h righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
V. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue . . . nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Nor doeth evil to his neighbour.
V. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his own hurt, a n d changeth not. V. 5. H e that putteth not his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
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