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by Kevin Pauley
Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart - who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor, who despises the one rejected by the Lord, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent - the one who does these things will never be moved. – Psalm 15 HCSB
Once I adopted my children, they were mine, all mine. As soon as those papers were signed by a judge, my five became just as much mine as if we shared genetic material. If someone wants to take them from me, it will have to be over my dead body. Whether they grow up to be tzaddikim or unrighteous men and women, they will always bear my name and I will always love them.
That doesn’t mean that I always like them, however. Sometimes they do things that irritate the daylights out of me. They pick their scabs (among other things), ruin clothes, and are periodically loud and obnoxious. They also scare me when they don’t think!
Worse, sometimes they do things that I absolutely hate. They are, from time to time, rebellious and disobedient. They have learned that the quickest way to Dad’s bad side is to show disrespect for their mother!
If they do these things, they remain my children but our relationship suffers for it. I will never stop loving them, but we may not always be as close because relational intimacy depends on mutual submission.
What David is talking about here is not yeshua (salvation) but d’vekut (relationship). Notice that God’s requirements for d’vekut all involve ethical behavior. In order to draw and remain close to their Father, God’s children must:
- Live blameless, honest lives
- Practice righteousness, honing it like a craft
- Acknowledge truth even to themselves
- Be completely honest and transparent
- Do no harm
- Hate the things God hates
- Honor and elevate the tzaddikim
- Stand by their word regardless of personal disadvantage
- Never lend money at extortionate rates
- Never be swayed by bribes, whether it takes the form of money, flattery or popular opinion
Those who do these things out of a loving reverence for Elohim will soon discover an intimacy with Him that they never knew before. Their lives will be stable even in the midst of circumstantial storms. They will live on the mountain with God. They will be God’s mountain men.
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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