大衛之所在詩篇第十五篇一節中提出這些問題，毫無疑問，是因他關心如何建立對上帝的真正崇拜。大衛要肯定的是，上帝的子民在新建的會幕中對祂的事奉與敬拜會使祂感到喜悅，因為之前約櫃被搬到耶城時曾使得上帝不悅。（撒下6：1~11）。大衛任命利未人擔任凡是與會幕有關的職務，但是他了解，除了他們的家系外，事奉耶和華，到祂面前敬拜祂的主要條件卻是虔誠。

        大衛以肯定的語氣列出虔誠人的特質。他認為虔誠應該包括生活的每一方面：「行為正直」，不偏離真道（比較：箴28：18；賽33：15~17）；「做事公義」就是以行為實踐上帝的真理；「說實話」就是有純潔及誠實的動機（15：2）。真正的錫安子民是不會有狡詐或欺騙的，因為他的心裡有上帝，因而能依賴真道。與鄰居相處，他不會違反第九誡或第十誡（不會講假話，也不會貪心）。他是一個品德正直的人，以尊敬、憐憫、仁慈待人（遵守律法──利25：35~37；申16：19；27：25）。這一切美德都是來自：他敬畏（榮耀、尊敬、及順服）主耶和華。那些因接受耶穌，為上帝所生的外邦人，也是真正的錫安子民及上帝的祭司（約1：11~13；彼前2：9~10）。

        詩篇第十六篇也許是大衛在逃亡期間所撰，在那個時期，除了上主，他一無所有。他用美麗的詩文表達信心，並且開始時就指出一個信徒應有的表現：信靠耶和華，稱祂為主，高興看到別人生活在公義中，以及不敬拜偶像，也不與拜偶像的人來往（16：1~4）。

        這篇詩篇繼續說明一位信徒現在有的福氣。他最大的福氣就是以耶和華為他的產業。在詩人的那個時代，最重要的財產就是土地，因為他們倚靠土地而生活。不過，利未人是全然獻給上帝的僕人，所以進入應許之地時，上帝並沒有將土地分配給他們，因為他們的產業就是耶和華自己（民18：20）。耶和華既是信徒的產業，信徒的福份就是最完美的了；就好像他已經得到最好的土地，也就別無所求了。他的杯是滿溢的；他的飢渴已得了滿足。信徒在主的裡面得到了滿足、滿意、及安全（16：5~6）。大衛滿有信心地說：「我便不至動搖」，因為他已經將主擺在他的面前，因此，上帝，他的產業，就會與他永遠同在（16：8）。這種情形使大衛滿有喜悅、希望、及生命（16：9~11）。

        在同一節經文中，聖靈啟示出，上帝的「聖者」耶穌基督復活的奧秘，祂的身體必不會朽壞。使徒保羅與彼得證明這一解釋（徒2：25~28；13：35）。上帝藉著基督向我們顯明「生命的道路」，耶穌也說：「因為我活著，你們也要活著」（約14：19）。

        詩篇第十七篇是義人緊急的禱告，祈求上帝證實他的無辜，進行干預，拯救他脫離仇敵。這一篇詩篇也許是大衛在曠野逃亡時寫的。大衛對他自己的品格有充份的信心，因為上帝已經試驗過他的心，在夜間鑒察他、熬煉他，都找不到任何過錯（17：3）。因此，他深深相信，上帝會拯救他脫離仇敵的壓迫與不公（參撒上24：11~12）。

        大衛用下面的理由說明他自己的純潔：（1）他自己已下了堅定的決心不違犯上帝的律法；那是他深思熟慮後的決定，及（2）藉著上帝的話語（閱讀、思想、及遵守）與祈求上帝的幫助，他得著力量走在這條筆直的窄路上（17：3~5）。由於他忠心信靠上帝，他相信上帝會垂聽他的禱告，並且保護他。上帝慈愛的保護翅膀乃是他的唯一庇護所，可以使他躲避吼叫獅子的威脅（比較彼前5：8）。因此，他祈求上帝：「求您保護我，如同保護眼中的瞳人」（17：8），就是求上帝特別照顧他，就像一個人照顧他的瞳人一樣，那是人身體上極寶貴的部份。大衛在這個請求中，祈求上帝要注意他，好使他的生命能脫離惡人的威脅；惡人與他不同，在上帝那裡是沒有份的。世人是從他們的財寶和兒女身上得到滿足（17：14），但是大衛的最大滿足是來自：「得見您的形像就心滿意足了」（17：15）。

        我們的上帝啊，感謝您對僕人如此信實。願我們都能從大衛那裡學會，在絕望的深淵中讚美您；我們也感謝您所賜的平安與拯救。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        The questions David raised in verse one of Psalm 15 were no doubt prompted by his concern to establish the true worship of God. David wanted to be sure that God would be pleased with the service and worship to Him in the newly erected tabernacle (tent), especially since God had been displeased with the first attempt to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-11). David appointed the Levites for all the various duties in connection with the tabernacle, but he understood that, more than their family lineage, godliness was the key requirement to serve the Lord, dwell near His Holy presence, and approach Him for true worship.

        David firstly listed the qualifications of godliness in a positive sense. He saw that godliness must encompass every aspect of one's life: "walks uprightly" having no deviation from the truth (cf. Proverbs 28:18; Isaiah 33:15-17); "works righteousness", putting the truth of God into practice; and "speaks the truth", having pure intentions and honest motivations (15:2). There is no guile or deceit in the true citizen of Zion, for his heart is set on God, and he is thus dependent upon the truth. He does not break the ninth or tenth commandments (does not speak falsely, nor covet) regarding his treatment of a neighbour. He is an honourable man of integrity and one who shows respect, compassion, and kindness to his fellow man (obeys the law — Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 16:19; 27:25). All of this stems from the fact that he fears (honours, respects, obeys) the Lord. Those of any nationality, who are born of God by receiving Jesus, are the true citizens of Zion and the royal priesthood of God (John 1:11-13; 1 Peter 2:9-10).

        Psalm 16 was likely written during David's days as a fugitive in exile, when he had nothing except the Lord. It beautifully expresses the walk of faith and begins by showing the signs of a believer: one who puts his trust in God, declares Him to be Lord, rejoices to see others living righteously, and has nothing to do with idolatry or those who practice it (16:1-4).

        The psalm goes on to express the present blessings of the believer. The greatest blessing is to have the Lord as one's inheritance. In the psalmist's day, the most important possession was land, for they lived off their land. The Levites, however, as wholly consecrated servants of God, were not assigned an allottment of land for their inheritance when they entered the Promised Land, because their inheritance was the Lord (Numbers 18:20). Since the Lord is the believer's inheritance, the believer has the most perfect and pleasant portion; it is like having the best land and nothing more is desired. His cup is full and his thirst has been quenched. In the Lord, the believer finds satisfaction, contentment, and safety (16:5-6). David could confidently say: "I shall not be moved", for he had set the Lord before him, and therefore God, his inheritance, would remain with him (16:8). This brought David great joy, hope, and life (16:9-11).

        In this same passage, the Holy Spirit revealed the mystery of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's "Holy One", whose body would not see corruption. Such an interpretation was confirmed by the apostles Peter and Paul (Acts 2:25-28; 13:35). It is through Jesus that God shows us "the path of life", for as Jesus Himself said, "Because I live, you will live also" (John 14:19).

        Psalm 17 is a desperate prayer of the righteous for vindication, divine intervention, and protection from enemies. It was likely written while David was a fugitive in the wilderness. He was confident of his integrity, since God had tested, visited, and tried him, but nothing evil was found (17:3a). Therefore, he had no doubt that God would save him from the oppression and injustices of his enemies (cf.l Samuel 24:11-12).

        The reasons David gave for his purity are (1) he had made a strong personal resolution not to transgress the Law of God; it was a deliberate decision of his will, and (2) by the Word of God (reading, meditating, and following it) and through prayer for God's help, he had the strength to keep on the straight and narrow path (17:3b-5). Since he was a faithful and trusting child of God, he was sure that God would hear his prayer and protect him. His only refuge from the threat of the roaring lion (cf. 1 Peter 5:8) was to be found under the all-protective wings of a loving God. So he asked, "Keep me as the apple of Your eye" (17:8), that God might take special care of him as one would care for his pupil, a very precious part of one's body. In this plea, David was asking to be the center of God's attention, so that his life would be delivered from the wicked, worldly men who, unlike himself, had no portion in God. The men of the world receive their satisfaction from their material possessions and children (17:14), but David looks to a fuller satisfaction: "I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness" (N.I.V., 17:15).

        Thank You, our God, for Your great faithfulness to Your servants. May we learn from David the secret of singing Your praises in the midst of deep despair, for as we do, Your perfect peace and deliverance come.