By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15:1-5
Her name was Gwen. The ex-schoolteacher was in declining health, and her house showed it. The house stank. Her cat left ‘presents’ all over the floor. The carpet was stained. Maggots were breeding in the multiple food bowls left out for the cat. Dirty dishes piled up in the kitchen.
Our job was to clean for her, and we dreaded it.
Although Gwen passed away about ten years ago, our family has never forgotten her house. Just its mention brings strong feelings of revulsion to our minds.
This is how we should feel about sin. It’s vile.
If we saw that which tempted us like we do a reeking toilet bowl, we’d never indulge in that sin, would we?
In verse 4 we see the word ‘vile.’
A stable person’s associations are important. He judges the actions of people who surround him, discerning who he holds in contempt and who he esteems as honourable.
There is an anti-judgmentalism thinking that has risen to prominence in these last days. I’ve been surprised by how many unsaved people quote the ‘judge not’ verse (Matthew 7:1). None of them have studied what the verse actually says1.
But multiple Scriptures2 teach Christians to faithfully judge, and this verse is one of them.
Sin and vileness should disgust us. But people who fear the Lord should attract us.
To fear the Lord is to know that He sees everything about us, even the thoughts of our hearts. It is to live in constant awareness of His presence. It is to fear His assessment of us more than putting on a show for others to see.
When we discern someone who lives like that, they deserve our respect. We should befriend them and seek their influence on our children if possible.
Stable people love what God loves, and hate what God hates.
Thank God the blood of the Lord Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). While our vile sins make us worthy of God’s judgment, the Lord Jesus shed His blood to wash away all of our vileness. Repenting and trusting in Him alone for salvation is the only hope for us vile sinners.
Praise the Lord for the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Father, thank You for washing away my sins by Your Son’s precious blood shed on the cross for me. Thank You that in Christ I am a new person. Thank You too for friends who fear You. Help me to value and honour them. At the same time, help me to discern vile people, such as those in the entertainment industry who promote what is loathsome in Your sight. Help me to avoid them, to turn off their music and boycott their movies. In so doing, please stabilise me and my family. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
1In Matthew 7:1 The Lord Jesus actually teaches us to judge. How else can we help someone with the irritating speck in their eye unless we see it, judge it a problem, and come to their aid? When the Master says ‘judge not’ He is speaking to hypocrites who pretend righteousness. Ignoring major flaws in their own lives, they offer to help others with relatively minor flaws in their lives. The emphasis of ‘Judge not’ is to confess and forsake our own sins first. Then help others with their sins.
2 For examples, see Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 12:57; Acts 17:11; Romans 12:2; 16:17; 1 Corinthians 2:15; Ephesians 5:10; Philippians 1:10; 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 2:2.
This article was written by Kevin Harris, Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.