(Our study with Psalm 15 is available here)
When we “abide in thy tabernacle” or “dwell in thy holy hill” of verse one of Psalm 15 we are blessed to find ourselves in a place where we will learn to “dwell with everlasting burnings” spoken of in (Isa 33:14).
Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
It is the fiery trials of this life that we endure through by the grace and faith of Christ that enable us to cease from sinning and fulfill those things which are spoken of in the very next verse of Isaiah (Isa 33:15).
Isa 33:15 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;
Christ told the Jews that “believed on him”, “If ye continue (abide) G3306 in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”(Joh 8:30-31).
G3306
μένω
menō
men’-o
A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): – abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.
Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
This Psalm 15 really focuses in on the fruit of the lives of those who have been blessed in this age to be weaned from the milk or who are abiding, and enduring in the word today. The type and shadow in the life of Jacob (Gen 21:8) who had to endure with the angel through the night in order to have his name changed is a prophesy for our encouragement (Gen 32:24-25 , Gen 32:28 , Rev 3:12 , 1Pet 1:12).
Gen 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Few are being nourished with strong meat today which is what is needed to go unto maturity, bringing forth the fruit of that mature tree of a mature Christ within “and this will we do, if God permit” (Gen 21:8 , Isa 28:9 , Heb 6:1-3 , Heb 5:14 , Luk 6:44)
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
The message of “and this will we do, if God permit” of (Heb 5:14) is the same as saying that we will go into “such a city” in this case Jerusalem above the mother of us all (Gal 4:26), and continue there Lord willing a year, and buy and sell, and get (spiritual) gain.
Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
That gain spoken of in (Jas 4:13) is the same gain being discussed in Psalm 15 which we learn that God is forming in those who He grants to become comfortable in the fire today. The fiery trials produced in that fire are needful in order to put off the flesh by way of the love of God (Rom 5:5) and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9) which makes it possible to accomplish this.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
God leaves no room for the flesh to boast as He is the one accomplishing this production of fruit within us, both the willingness and the active doing part, all accomplished through Christ. The mature fruit of our life can only come about by being given to abide in the fire with Christ which event will burn up all conceit, lust, pride and vanity, leaving only Christ our hope of glory standing and setting us free (Rom 3:27 , Php 2:13 , Col 1:27 , Joh 8:36).
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(Our study with Psalm 15 is available here)
"His Branch" 