Psalm Devotional
Who Is Good Enough?
Psalm 15 asks and answers the question: “Who is good enough to dwell in the presence of the holy God?”
The psalmist begins by posing this question to God. There are two questions posed, but the psalmist really is asking the same question in two different ways (a poetic device known as synonymous parallelism). He is asking who may come into the special presence of God.
We know the psalmist is referring to the special presence of God because he employs words such as “sanctuary” and “holy hill.” These words are references to the Tabernacle and Temple. However, these words take us beyond these earthly sanctuaries as we examine them in light of the progressive unfolding of Scripture. The New Testament informs us that we draw near to God in a heavenly tabernacle that resides in a heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 9:11; 12:22). Therefore, the psalmist is asking: “Who can come into the heavenly sanctuary and stand before the holy God?”
