Lectio
Passage: “Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy hill? He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice: He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours. In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not; he that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things shall not be moved for ever.” (Psalm 14:1-5, DR)
Meditatio
- Question of Worthiness: David begins with a fundamental question: Who is worthy to dwell in the presence of God? Who can rest on God’s holy hill? Meditate on your own life and how you strive to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord Yahweh. Consider your worthiness to enter God’s presence and what steps you can take to walk within His will.
- Requirements for Dwelling with God: The psalm outlines the characteristics of the righteous person: walking without blemish, working justice, speaking truth, avoiding deceit, and refraining from harming one’s neighbour. Meditate on these virtues—how are they present in your life? Where do you struggle? The pursuit of justice and truth, as well as the avoidance of evil and slander, are seen as essential to being in communion with God.
- Living with Integrity: The one who honours the Lord lives with integrity, both in speech and action. Meditate on your own integrity in relationships with others—do you always speak truth, avoid deceit, and treat your neighbours with justice? Consider the seriousness of the commitment to uphold these virtues in all aspects of life.
- The Just Man Glorifies the Fear of Yahweh: The psalm highlights the importance of glorifying those who fear the Lord, while the wicked are brought to nothing. Meditate on how you honour those who live righteously and how you regard those who walk in sin. This calls for a clear moral judgement that is in accordance with God’s values, recognising the worth of holiness.
- Permanence of the Just: The psalm concludes with a promise: He that doth these things shall not be moved for ever. Meditate on the eternal stability and security that comes from living a life rooted in God’s justice. This is not just a temporary reward but an everlasting one—God’s righteous people are unshaken, eternally upheld by His grace.
Oratio
Lord, I seek to dwell in Thy holy tabernacle, to rest upon Thy holy hill. Help me to walk blamelessly in this life, working justice and speaking truth always. Purify my heart from deceit and guide me to love my neighbours with integrity and kindness. Let me honour those who fear Thee and bring me closer to Thy holiness. I desire to be unmovable in Thee, standing firm in Thy love and justice. Grant me the grace to live a life that reflects Thy goodness and leads me to eternal rest with Thee. Amen.
Contemplatio
Allow the peaceful assurance of the promise that those who live in righteousness will not be moved to settle in your heart. Rest in the knowledge that God sees your efforts to live justly and will uphold you forever. Trust in His grace as you strive to live according to His commandments.
Actio
- Examine your integrity: Take time to review your actions and words towards others. Are they truthful and just? Make a commitment to bring your life more closely with the virtues described in the 14<sup>th</sup> Psalm.
- Honour those who fear Yahweh: Look for ways to encourage and support others who live in righteousness. Glorify their example and seek to emulate their fear of the Lord.
- Commit to justice and truth: In your daily interactions, actively choose justice and truth over convenience or self-interest. Let your actions reflect the integrity of heart that God calls for in this passage.
