WHO SHALL ABIDE IN THY HOLY HILL?

WHO SHALL DWELL IN THY HOLY HILL

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walk uprightly, and work righteousness, and speak the truth in his heart. He that backbite not with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that fear the LORD. He that swears to his own hurt, and change not. He that put not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved” Psalms 15:1-5 KJV

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” Psalms 15:1 NLT

It's important to note that Psalm 15 is not a prescription for becoming saved but a prescription of how saved people ought to live if they want to please God and fellowship with Him. The list contains both positive and negative qualities, and these qualities must be present in all of our lives at all times. Believers who would fellowship intimately with God must follow David's example and meet three principal personal requirements and several others. Mount Zion is a godly description of the Kingdom of God that came and where believers are to dwell spiritually upon the earth realm. There God is in them and they also dwell in God.

The Kingdom of God produces complete integrity in a believer. Such a man is described in the Psalms with integrity and godly character as “He who does these things shall never be moved". But the righteousness of the Kingdom of God is even more than positive action. God's righteousness produces an infinite longing to grow in holiness, an ardent desire to know Him better, an intense craving for truth in the inward parts. It is longing for the consciousness of the Lord's presence, the panting of the deer after the water brooks (Ps. 42:1), and desperate quest to get away from secret faults and presumptuous sins, uprightness and being innocent from great transgression [Psalms 19:13]. It is that hungering and thirsting after righteousness which our Lord promised would be spiritually filled with abundance (Matt. 5:6).

When a believer truly yearns for the righteousness of God, he possesses the passport that identifies him as a true citizen of the Kingdom of God. Such Zion dwellers have blameless character, righteous conduct, and truthful conversation. If we are right in these basic virtues, we will "work them out" in every area of life and be obedient to the Lord. Walk, work, and speak are present participles, indicating that the dedicated believer is expected to constantly obey the Lord and seek fervently to please Him. "Blameless" doesn't mean "sinless," for nobody on earth is sinless. Blameless has to do with soundness of character, integrity, complete loyalty to God. Noah was blameless (Gen. 6:9), and the Lord admonished Abraham to be blameless (Gen. 17:1), that is, devoted wholly to the Lord.

CRITERIA FOR DWELLING IN ZION - Psalm 15:2-5 (MSG)

1.  A. Walk straight,

      B. Act right,

      C. Tell the truth.

2.  "Don't hurt your friend,

3. Don't blame your neighbor;

4.  Despise the despicable.

5. "Keep your word even when it costs you,

6.   Make an honest living, never take a bribe.

7. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this."

Those who are fit for communion with the LORD are known for their conformity to His laws, ordinances, statutes, and precepts.

After his men captured Mt. Zion, David made it the site of his residence and of the sanctuary of God, and Jerusalem became "the city of David" (2 Sam. 5:1-16). The tabernacle, the throne, and the "holy hill" belonged together (see Psalms 24:3-6; 2:6; 3:4; 43:3). To the believer today, Mt. Zion speaks of the heavenly city where God's people will dwell forever (Heb. 12:19-25). David asked this question because he loved the house of the Lord (Psalms 26:8; 27:3-5; 65:4) and desired in his heart to know God better and fellowship with Him in a deeper way. The priests could come and go in the house of the Lord, but David, though he was king, had to keep his distance.

“I have installed (anointed) (established) my king on Zion, my holy mountain” Psalms 2:6 NSB

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” Isaiah 48:1-2

Jesus Christ the King of kings was installed, anointed and His ruler-ship established upon Mount Zion. He is our Rock of offense, Chief Cornerstone and deliverer [Romans 9:33, 11:26, 1 Peter 2:6]. Mount Zion is where all believers dwell now so to speak.

“His foundation is in the holy mountains. Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God” Psalms 87:1-3

The authority and the power of the Holy Spirit the seal of God on this Mount is at the gates of Zion. It is here where the water of Life flows through the east gate to water the valley of Shittim and whatever is dead in the path of the flowing river of Life is imparted with God kind of Life. Here abundance of fishes are prominent and the saints, the planting of the Lord or the trees of righteousness produces fruits all year round.

“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” Zech. 14:9 

The temple is also a proper type or emblem of the Church triumphant in heaven. "Here the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." It is the dwelling-place the eternal residence, of all who are faithful unto death, who are made pillars in that temple of God, to go no more out forever. The seat of government of our God is Mount Zion and He loves it more than any other place. That is where He reside or abide. Zion means fort or sunny. It is also called the city of David and it is the site where the Tabernacle of David was established. Mount Zion, the holy mount, where the temple was built, was the type of the kingdom of heaven. There the ark became stationary, and was no longer carried about from place to place; and the whole was typical of the rest that remains for the people of God.

“For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee” Isaiah 30:19

Spiritually speaking, that is where we also ought to be living. When we do, God promised that we will weep no more, He will be gracious to us and He will answer our petitions. Here unspeakable joy and peace culled from the Prince of peace enormously reside.

"Abide" means "to sojourn as a stranger," To abide, in the language of Scripture, means somewhat more than merely the remaining in one place. It implies an adherence to a thing; or a union with, and connection with it; while "dwell" suggests a permanent residential status, but here the verbs are probably synonymous. Knowing about eastern hospitality, David wanted to enjoy the benefits of being a resident in God's house—enjoying God's fellowship, God's protection, and God's provision. The word "dwell" in the Hebrew is “shakan” and gives us the word Shekinah, referring to the presence (dwelling) of God's glory in the sanctuary (Ex. 25:8; see also 29:46; 1 Chron. 22:19; Psalms. 20:2; 78:69; 150:1). David's great desire was to be with God in heaven and dwell in His house forever (23:6; 61:4), for God is our eternal home (90:1). Believers today can enjoy intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ (John 14:19-31; Heb. 10:19-25).

WHY GO UP TO MOUNT ZION

“For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish” Psalms 132:13-18 

1.        To be taught by the Lord Isaiah 2:2-3

2.        Deliverers [those rescued by the Lord], will go up to Mount Zion to govern Obadiah 1:21

3.        Ascend to the place of dignity, ruler-ship and spiritual supremacy

4.        Come up hither to place of spiritual sight “I will show thee” Rev 4:1

5.        Upon Mount Zion there shall be holiness – Obad. 1:17. Place of impartation and standing in holiness

6.        And my people shall process their possession Obad. 1:17 – Place of possessing our possession

7.        And deliverance Obad. 1:17 – Place of deliverance Joel 2:32

8.        Place of establishing the kingdom of God

9.        Place of glory and defense – Isaiah 4:5

10.      Place of drawing near to God Heb. 12:22

11.      Dew of Hermon that falls upon Mount Zion – Blessings - Psalms 133

Obeying God's Ordinances

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speak better things than that of Abel” Heb. 12:22-24 

Only the righteous dwells in this city. It is called the city of JUST men made PERFECT. The Church of the Living God in holiness and full of righteous acts dwell in this City. There is a RIVER which is the Holy Spirit streams of Life that makes glad or bring joy into the life of Zion dwellers. We must get set for character adjustments and infusing of integrity and all round Christ-likeness to dwell in this blissful haven.

Culled from the Upcoming book "Who shall abide in thy Holy Hill?" by Joses Hizkiah