Psalm15 speaks to believers in Jesus Christ and homes in on the whole issue of integrity. When I was Headmaster of Plett Primary, I remember well how the Governing Body Chairman and I discussed this issue and his remark to me was: ‘yes Anton, in your position or in any leadership position, it is imperative that one remains ‘squeaky clean’. In whatever position we find ourselves, God requires no less. As Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe and all its peoples – not just the material universe, but the 8 billion souls who inhabit the earth. All are created by God in His own image [sobering thought].
We don’t speak of our Creator God’s Integrity – we use a much loftier Heavenly term, a term that is outside the boundaries of the natural man. We speak of His Holiness. In Scripture we see this attribute of God elevated to the third degree. The Bible does not say that God is merely holy, or even holy, holy: He is holy, holy, holy. That does not imply that there are degrees to Holiness. Holiness is absolute. Saying it three times simply nails it down as God’s ultimate, all-encompassing attribute. His Power is Holy, His love is Holy, His Grace is Holy, His Justice is Holy, His Anger is Holy, His Goodness is Holy – God is Holy, Holy, Holy.
Psalm 15, a Psalm of David. The body of the psalm sits between two bookends. The opening verse is a probing question intended to get our attention. The last line speaks of a victorious outcome. Psalm 15: “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbour, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honours those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
With much Christian love, Anton van Stormbroek