“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will be in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NLT). John Calvin described the book of Psalms as “an anatomy of all the parts of the soul.” One of the reasons the Psalms are so loved by so many is the depth they give to an array of emotions. John Piper called them “Songs that shape the heart and mind.”
How are my heart and emotions sheltered by the shadows of God found in the Psalms?
The Psalms are filled with passages about keeping your word. Let’s look at a passage that reflects the thoughts of King David.
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth from his heart (Psalm 15:1-2 ESV).
The question and answer banter may be a reflection of what took place at certain sanctuaries in the ancient world. A worshiper would approach the temple gates and ask concerning the conditions of admittance. The priest would reply, usually providing a list of practically unattainable goals.
The Lord’s reply is strikingly simple. Search deeply to the conscience and see if it is pure. Doesn’t it foreshadow the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure in heart.” The same sentiment can be seen in Psalm 24:3-6 and Isaiah 33:14-17.
The word translated “tent” casts an important shadow for us. Some translations render the Hebrew אֹהֶל (ah-hel) as sanctuary, which probably gives it too formal of a connotation in today’s English. The KJV translates the word as “tabernacle” 198 times and “tent” 141 times.
The important concept is that this place is not your home; if anything, you are a guest. This meaning is supported by the additional words “sojourn” and “dwell.” When you are a guest in someone’s home, you obey their rules. You follow their patterns.
Verse two is supported by the next two verses: as a guest, guard your words, choose them carefully. What a man says needs to be consistent with what he is.
