_David describeth a citizen of Zion._
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.
This Psalm strikes at the hypocrites who say that holiness stands in
the pretended works of the law of God, or in the vain and foolish
works of human invention and tradition; and it teaches us how to
understand the law of God rightly, and to live godly and righteously.
It shows us that we are to walk in the spirit and to mortify the
desires of the flesh. For the sum of all godliness is this;—to love
and worship God with a pure heart by faith, and then, to direct our
lives for the good of our neighbour; and to avoid all those things
which militate against these two; that is, to shun all hypocrisy and
pretended holiness, which militates against both faith and love: for
such an one is ignorant of the true worship of God, and neglects all
truly good works, which should be done for the benefit of his
neighbour.
It has reference to the Third Commandment of the Decalogue, concerning
keeping holy the sabbath day, which is done when we hear and learn the
word. And it refers also to the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer.