Psalm 15

Analysis

According to the International Critical Commentary, "Ps[alm] 15 is a didactic poem, inquiring what sort of man is qualified to be a guest of Yahweh (verse 1); describing him in accordance with a decalogue of duties (verses 2-5b) and declaring such a man secure (verse 5c)." The duties listed emphasise virtues relating to one's neighbor.

The main topic of this psalm is "residence" (verse 1: "dwell"... "live") in God's "tent" (not "sanctuary") and how to be in 'holiness, without which no one sees God' ().

Although the Psalm is captioned "A Psalm of David", and the Gemara also attributes this Psalm to David, Charles and Emilie Briggs considered this claim of authorship "unhistoric".

Context

In Psalm 12 the godly perished and in Psalm 14 there is none righteous. That leaves a rhetorical question as to "who can ascend the mountain of God?" which is an inclusio (a pair of literary bookends) in Psalms 15–24, appearing in Psalm 15:1 and Psalm 24:3.

In the context of the culture of the time, "who [then] can dwell in His tent" as a guest would not only be welcome but also come under his special protection.

In the context of David's time, the ark has been in Shiloh in the tabernacle, and David moves the ark to Mount Zion to a newly made tabernacle there.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 14.

Uses

Christianity

Some see a chiastic structure of Psalms 15–24, with Psalm 19 in the center.

Many see Jesus as the one who can climb the hill of God and dwell in God's sanctuary, with the church in Him. This is supported by the frequent use of the phrase "right hand [of God]" in each of Psalms 16–21, except for Psalm 19. The right hand of God usually refers to an act of salvation. This Psalm is appointed as one of the Proper Psalms for Ascension Day.

Charles Spurgeon sees this psalm as an expectation of fruit in a believer's life.

Without the wedding-dress of righteousness in Christ Jesus, we have no right to sit at the banquet of communion. Without uprightness of walk we are not fit for the imperfect church on earth, and certainly we must not hope to enter the perfect church above.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the third day of the month, as well as at Mattins on Ascension Day.

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Prime.

Judaism

Verse 4 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set a metric version of Psalm 15 in German, "Wer wird, Herr, in der Hütten dein", as part of the Becker Psalter, SWV 111.

Notes

References

Sources

References

1. [http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps14.htm Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 14 (15)] {{webarchive. link. (2017-05-07 medievalist.net)
2. [[Confraternity of Christian Doctrine#Contemporary usage. Psalm. 15. NABRE in the New American Bible Revised Edition
3. The Tabernacle of David by Kevin J. Conner, Christian Publishing, 2007
4. "Psalms – Chapter 15". Mechon Mamre.
5. "Psalms 15 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
6. "Psalm 14 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
7. "Reflections on Psalms 15–24".
8. [https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?search=right+hand&version=ESV&searchtype=phrase&spanbegin=23&spanend=23&resultspp=500 Bible results for "right hand"] biblegateway.com
9. [[Alexander Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick, A. F.]] (1906), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/psalms/15.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Psalm 15, accessed 4 October 2021
10. Spurgeon, C., [https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=spur&b=19&c=15 Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David: Psalm 15], accessed 29 July 2020
11. Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, p. 204
12. "The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days".
13. "Prime". agpeya.org.
14. The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah, page 327