June 9 Daily Devotional

Hypocrisy Unmasked: A Meditation on Psalm Fifteen

Psalm 15

1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 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.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Devotional

(continued)

Who Are the Godly?

The true worshippers of God have hearts with no evil design. They hurt no one and abstain from all that is wrong. The words that proceed from their mouths are acceptable in God's sight because they are sincere.

They are clear of the great crimes of backbiting and slander. A good name is to be prized above riches, and what greater sin is there than to impair the name of a good man? The godly flee from such evils. From false and wicked accusings they flee as from a deadly plague. They will never harm their brethren.

With plain and uncorrupt judgment they will not spare the wicked, but the virtuous they never defraud of the honor that is their due. Not given to flattery they are not guilty of nourishing vices by covering them. While the worldling pleases even the wicked in order to gain their favor, the righteous seek only to be pleasing to the Lord.

Men break covenants and their solemn promises to avoid a loss. They only know that liberty which is circumscribed by their own interests, but the man of God takes the hurt rather than be untrue to his vow.

All about us, men are in pursuit of gain. They care not if in so doing they bring loss and hurt to others. Yet nothing is lawful that brings damage to another. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." This is Christ's rule of uprightness and He has never exempted one of His children from it. He is a true citizen of heaven who has these words written in his heart.

The godly man will never defend an evil cause, nor will he permit himself to be led from true and right judgment by the bribes and favors of his fellows.

No, it is not honoring to God's free grace to turn aside from that which pleases the Lord. He is not pleased with those whose only show of godliness is the self-given title of "holy men." God is far off from those who approach Him with the mouth and lips only.

Hypocrites alone spurn God's commandments. Everyone who hopes in Christ should diligently give heed to the words of the Holy Spirit in this Psalm. Memorize it and teach it to your children.