◄ Psalm 15:5 ►
who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Study Bible
who lends his money without interest
In ancient Israel, lending money without interest was a principle rooted in the Mosaic Law, specifically in Exodus 22:25 and Leviticus 25:35-37. These laws were designed to protect the poor and prevent exploitation. Charging interest to fellow Israelites was prohibited, emphasizing community support and compassion. This principle reflects God's character of mercy and justice, encouraging believers to act selflessly and prioritize the well-being of others over personal gain. The practice of lending without interest is a call to trust in God's provision rather than relying on financial gain.

and refuses a bribe against the innocent
Bribery was a common issue in ancient Near Eastern societies, often leading to corruption and injustice. The refusal to accept a bribe is a commitment to integrity and justice, aligning with the biblical call to uphold righteousness. Deuteronomy 16:19 warns against perverting justice through bribery, highlighting its destructive impact on society. This phrase underscores the importance of maintaining moral integrity and protecting the innocent, reflecting God's justice and righteousness. It calls believers to be impartial and fair, mirroring God's character in their dealings with others.

He who does these things will never be shaken
This promise of stability and security is a recurring theme in the Psalms, often associated with those who live righteously and follow God's commandments. Psalm 1:3 and Psalm 112:6 echo this assurance, portraying the righteous as firmly established and unmovable. The imagery of being "never shaken" suggests a life built on a solid foundation, resilient against life's challenges. This stability is not merely physical but spiritual, rooted in a relationship with God. It points to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is the cornerstone and foundation of faith, offering eternal security to those who trust in Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 15, King David, is traditionally understood to be the writer. He was the second king of Israel and a man after God's own heart.

2. Israel
The nation to whom the Psalms were originally addressed, providing guidance on living a life pleasing to God.

3. The Innocent
Refers to those who are blameless or righteous, whom the psalmist warns against harming through unjust financial practices.
Teaching Points
Integrity in Financial Dealings
As believers, we are called to conduct our financial affairs with integrity, avoiding practices that exploit others, such as charging excessive interest.

Justice and Fairness
Upholding justice means refusing to accept bribes or engage in corrupt practices that harm the innocent. Our actions should reflect God's justice.

Stability through Righteousness
The promise of never being shaken is tied to living a life of righteousness. When we align our actions with God's standards, we find stability and security.

Trust in God's Provision
By not exploiting others for financial gain, we demonstrate trust in God's provision, believing that He will meet our needs as we honor Him.

Community and Accountability
Engaging in fair financial practices strengthens the community and builds trust among believers, fostering an environment of mutual support and accountability.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Psalm 15:5 challenge our modern views on lending and financial practices?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our financial dealings reflect the integrity and justice described in this verse?

3. How does the promise of "never being shaken" encourage us to pursue righteousness in all areas of life?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to avoid the temptation of accepting bribes or engaging in corrupt practices?

5. How can we support and hold each other accountable in our community to live out the principles found in Psalm 15:5?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 22:25
This verse prohibits charging interest to the poor among the Israelites, aligning with the principle in Psalm 15:5 about not lending money at interest.

Proverbs 28:8
This proverb warns that those who increase their wealth by charging interest will eventually lose it, reinforcing the idea of just financial practices.

Ezekiel 18:8, 13, 17
These verses discuss the righteousness of not charging interest and the consequences of doing so, echoing the themes of integrity and justice found in Psalm 15:5.
Sermons
A Man UnmovedJ. H. Jowett, M. A.Psalm 15:5
Of False Pretences to GodlinessAdam Littleton, D. D.Psalm 15:5
On Tranquillity of MindHugh Blair, D. D.Psalm 15:5
The Examination of UsuryH. Smith.Psalm 15:5
The Fixedness and Safety of the UngodlyA Parsons Penn.Psalm 15:5
The Lawfulness of Usury ConsideredThe Young ManPsalm 15:5
The Sins of Usury and BribeR. Turnbull.Psalm 15:5
Unclean Money EschewedJ. H. Jowett, M. A.Psalm 15:5
A Life Without ReproachW. Forsyth Psalm 15:1-5
A Question and an AnswerW. Boyd Carpenter, D. D.Psalm 15:1-5
An Ideal WorshipperA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 15:1-5
Dwelling on the Holy HillG. Downame.Psalm 15:1-5
Earth as Seen from the Holy Hill of Communion with GodG. Downame.Psalm 15:1-5
Practical ChristianityDean Farrar.Psalm 15:1-5
The Church MilitantR. Turnbull.Psalm 15:1-5
The Citizen of Zion DescribedT. Boston, D. D.Psalm 15:1-5
The Essentials of a Spiritual ReligionC. Short Psalm 15:1-5
The Good CitizenF. D. Maurice, M. A.Psalm 15:1-5
The Man in Undisturbed RestC. Clemance Psalm 15:1-5
The Soul of Man Turned Towards HeavenA. T. Pierson, D. D.Psalm 15:1-5
Who Shall Abide with GodR. Horsfall.Psalm 15:1-5
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Accept, Age, Bribe, David, Decisions, Doesn't, Innocent, Interest, Lend, Michtam, Money, Moved, Payment, Psalm, Putteth, Reward, Shaken, Silver, Taketh, Usury, Wrong
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 15:5

     5274   credit
     5289   debt
     5353   interest
     5389   lending
     5414   money, stewardship
     6604   acceptance, human

Psalm 15:1-5

     1461   truth, nature of
     8158   righteousness, of believers
     8278   innocence, teaching on

Psalm 15:4-5

     5329   guarantee

Library
Question of the Division of Life into the Active and the Contemplative
I. May Life be fittingly divided into the Active and the Contemplative? S. Augustine, De Consensu Evangelistarum, I., iv. 8 " Tractatus, cxxiv. 5, in Joannem II. Is this division of Life into the Active and the Contemplative a sufficient one? S. Augustine, Of the Trinity, I., viii. 17 I May Life be fittingly divided into the Active and the Contemplative? S. Gregory the Great says[291]: "There are two kinds of lives in which Almighty God instructs us by His Sacred Word--namely, the active and …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Perceivest Thou not How Much this Reasoning Aideth the Very Persons whom as Great...
2. Perceivest thou not how much this reasoning aideth the very persons whom as great game we make ado to catch by our lies? For, as thyself hast shown, this is the sentiment of the Priscillianists to prove which, they apply testimonies from the Scriptures exhorting their followers to lie, as though by the examples of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Angels; not hesitating to add even the Lord Christ Himself; and deeming that they cannot otherwise prove their falsehood truthful, unless they pronounce …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Wherefore, that which is Written, "Who Speaketh the Truth in his Heart...
14. Wherefore, that which is written, "Who speaketh the truth in his heart," [2400] is not so to be taken, as if, truth being retained in the heart, in the mouth one may speak a lie. But the reason why it is said, is, because it is possible that a man may speak with his mouth a truth which profiteth him nothing, if he hold it not in his heart, that is, if what he speaketh, himself believe not; as the heretics, and, above all, these same Priscillianists do, when they do, not indeed believe the catholic …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Thus Then what is Written, "The Mouth that Lieth...
31. Thus then what is written, "The mouth that lieth, slayeth the soul;" [2351] of what mouth it speaketh, is the question. For in general when the Scripture speaks of the mouth, it signifies the very seat of our conception [2352] in the heart, where is approved and decreed whatever also by the voice, when we speak the truth, is uttered: so that he lieth with the heart who approveth a lie; yet that man may possibly not lie with the heart, who uttereth other than is in his mind, in such sort that …
St. Augustine—On Lying

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
"He that uttereth slander is a fool."--Prov. x. 18. General declamations against vice and sin are indeed excellently useful, as rousing men to consider and look about them: but they do often want effect, because they only raise confused apprehensions of things, and indeterminate propensions to action; which usually, before men thoroughly perceive or resolve what they should practise, do decay and vanish. As he that cries out "Fire!" doth stir up people, and inspireth them with a kind of hovering …
Isaac Barrow—Sermons on Evil-Speaking, by Isaac Barrow

Of Evil-Speaking in General.
"To speak evil of no man."--Titus iii. 2. These words do imply a double duty; one incumbent on teachers, another on the people who are to be instructed by them. The teacher's duty appeareth from reflecting on the words of the context, which govern these, and make them up an entire sentence: put them in mind, or, rub up their memory to do thus. It is St. Paul's injunction to Titus, a bishop and pastor of the Church, that he should admonish the people committed to his care and instruction, …
Isaac Barrow—Sermons on Evil-Speaking, by Isaac Barrow

Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness against Thy Neighbor.
This Commandment seems small, and yet is so great, that he who would rightly keep it must risk and imperil life and limb, goods and honor, friends and all that he has; and yet it includes no more than the work of that small member, the tongue, and is called in German Wahrheit sagen, "telling the truth" and, where there is need, gainsaying lies; so that it forbids many evil works of the tongue. First: those which are committed by speaking, and those which are committed by keeping silent. By speaking, …
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

Life of a Christian Man. Scriptural Arguments Exhorting to It.
This first chapter consists of two parts,--I. Connection between this treatise on the Christian Life and the doctrine of Regeneration and Repentance. Arrangement of the treatise, sec. 1-3. II. Extremes to be avoided; 1. False Christians denying Christ by their works condemned, sec. 4. 2. Christians should not despair, though they have not attained perfection, provided they make daily progress in piety and righteousness. 1. WE have said that the object of regeneration is to bring the life of believers …
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

How to Dwell in the Fire of God
'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.'--ISAIAH xxxiii. 14, 15. 'He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God'--1 JOHN iv. 16. I have put these two verses together because, striking as is at first sight the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The King --Continued.
The years thus well begun are, in the historical books, characterized mainly by three events, namely, the bringing up of the ark to the newly won city of David, Nathan's prophecy of the perpetual dominion of his house, and his victories over the surrounding nations. These three hinges of the narrative are all abundantly illustrated in the psalms. As to the first, we have relics of the joyful ceremonial connected with it in two psalms, the fifteenth and twenty-fourth, which are singularly alike not …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' Exod 20: 16. THE tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God's praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behaviour. God has set two natural fences to keep in the tongue, the teeth and lips; and this commandment is a third fence set about it, that it should not break forth into evil. It has a prohibitory and a mandatory part: the first is set down in plain words, the other …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Question Lxxxi of the virtue of Religion
I. Does the Virtue of Religion Direct a Man To God Alone? S. Augustine, sermon, cccxxxiv. 3 " on Psalm lxxvi. 32 sermon, cccxi. 14-15 II. Is Religion a Virtue? III. Is Religion One Virtue? IV. Is Religion a Special Virtue Distinct From Others? V. Is Religion One of the Theological Virtues? VI. Is Religion To Be Preferred To the Other Moral Virtues? VII. Has Religion, Or Latria, Any External Acts? S. Augustine, of Care for the Dead, V. VIII. Is Religion the Same As Sanctity? Cardinal Cajetan, …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms.
1. Beware of singing divine psalms for an ordinary recreation, as do men of impure spirits, who sing holy psalms intermingled with profane ballads: They are God's word: take them not in thy mouth in vain. 2. Remember to sing David's psalms with David's spirit (Matt. xxii. 43.) 3. Practise St. Paul's rule--"I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Cor. xiv. 15.) 4. As you sing uncover your heads (1 Cor. xi. 4), and behave yourselves in comely reverence as in the …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Election Confirmed by the Calling of God. The Reprobate Bring Upon Themselves the Righteous Destruction to which they are Doomed.
1. The election of God is secret, but is manifested by effectual calling. The nature of this effectual calling. How election and effectual calling are founded on the free mercy of God. A cavil of certain expositors refuted by the words of Augustine. An exception disposed of. 2. Calling proved to be free, 1. By its nature and the mode in which it is dispensed. 2. By the word of God. 3. By the calling of Abraham, the father of the faithful. 4. By the testimony of John. 5. By the example of those who …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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