Excerpt from my Bible study journal

Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

This psalm gives a list of things describing the character of the one who DWELLS in the house of the Lord, His holy sanctuary. It's interesting because this psalm sets the standard so high from the very beginning: "...he whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous." Right away, from the very beginning, that eliminates ALL of humanity in our own power because "There is none that are righteous, no not one..." (That's in Isaiah or Romans or something like that). If that's the case, then why in the world does God give us a list of standards for those who dwell in his sanctuary that is unattainable from the start? Because he is describing the character of one who doesn't just VISIT his holy sanctuary, but one who dwells there, one who isn't in a hurry to leave, one who LIVES there. By what Jesus did on the cross, the power of sin was BROKEN in our lives, and we were brought near...we were given the "okay" to go boldly and directly to the Father. And, because of that forgiveness, and the access granted through the torn vail, we're allowed to stand in His presence.

Hear this, though: you absolutely CANNOT behold the kind of glory found in God's presence and NOT be transformed. So - this psalm isn't PREscribing a list of things that we'll have to do in order to dwell with God in His holy sanctuary, it is DEscribing the effects that God's presence has on one who dwells there!

At the end of the psalm there's a promise: "He who does these things will never be shaken." Why will they never be shaken? Because to have the grace to be transformed to have the character described for such a steady, rock solid life, sinful man cannot simply visit God where He dwells in glory - - - sinful man, washed by the blood of Christ, must make their dwelling WITH God, in His holy sanctuary!

Something like what's described in John 15 - "Abide in me and I will Abide in you...apart from me you can do nothing...if a man remains in the vine, he will bear much fruit..." Much fruit, like the fruit of a life that will never be shaken. Also, it goes on to imply that remaining in the Vine means obeying His commandments, the very commandments that the Vine gives you power to follow. And you show your love for the Lord Jesus by obeying His commands, therefore dwelling with Him. And when you do that, Jesus no longer calls you a servant, He calls you a friend. (It's all in John 15 - go read it if you want).

So, what is a good picture of what it's like to be living a steady life that cannot be shaken? Psalm 91! (Select verses are written here, again, go read the whole thing if you want) "He who DWELLS in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust.' Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare...He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your sheild and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day...a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you...if you make the Most High your dwelling...then no harm will befall you...Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name..."

What an amazing promise! A life that cannot be shaken because you choose to dwell with God. And as you dwell with Him, He transforms you into His likeness, giving you His very Character and nature...and with that, you can never be shaken. After all, who would dare come after one resting under the shadow of the Almighty God, King of the universe?

My prayer: "God, make me abide in you. I want to be found in YOU. I want to be noticed as one who makes their dwelling with you. I desire to be with you completely. Oh, to be transformed to be like the one I admire most, just by having the pleasure of dwelling with you! Just by being near you! What an amazing God you are!"