The Bible — notes and cross-references in Psalms | Interpretation and commentary to chapter 15

15:0^a Psalm

Psa. 3 title
15:1¹ O

Psalms 15 and 16 are a pair showing a comparison between the keeping of the law and the participation in Christ. Psa. 15 is full of the concept of good and evil, whereas in Psa. 16 Christ, the person, replaces good and evil.
15:1² tent

Referring to God’s house, the temple.
15:1^a Who

cf. Psa. 24:3
15:1^b holy

Psa. 2:6; 3:4; 43:3
15:2¹ He

According to vv. 2-5, David’s concept was that the man who is perfect according to the law may dwell with God for His heart’s desire and good pleasure. Thus, v. 5 says that he who does the good things of the law will not be shaken forever (cf. Psa. 16:8). However, Psa. 16 reveals that only Christ, the God-man, can satisfy God’s desire and fulfill His good pleasure (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). Only He — the very God who became a man, lived a human life full of the divine attributes expressed in human virtues, died, resurrected, and ascended to the right hand of God — is perfect according to the law and can sojourn in God’s tabernacle and dwell with God on His holy mountain. In God’s economy only the God-man Christ as the firstborn Son of God with His many brothers as the many sons of God (Rom. 8:29) can satisfy God’s desire and fulfill His good pleasure.