Up until a year and a half ago, this question would not have meant much to me. But now, Linda and I can answer that we are able to dwell on Mount Zion. As you may have guessed, I am having a little fun with this. The question is actually a serious question found in the opening verse of Psalm 15.
Psalm 15 (NLT)
1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
Although the verse does not use the word designation, “Mount Zion,” it is Mount Zion that is being referenced by the words “tabernacle” and “holy hill.” Often in the Old Testament, Jerusalem and specifically where the Temple was in the city was called Mount Zion. Mount Zion became a symbol of the holy presence of God in the midst of the people. And so, David is asking, who can come into the presence of a holy God.
Although this Psalm has in view the earthly mount with the temple, I believe there is a more future idea. The book of Revelation calls heaven Mount Zion. Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000l who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14.1) And so the question could well be interpreted, “Who may dwell in heaven, in the presence of a holy God?” The answer comes in the rest of the Psalm.
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved And so, I encourage us all, to take some time to read these verses slowly and analyze or compare our life as Christ followers against these descriptive phrases. We do not go to heaven based upon works. But, if we are not living according to these verses it will 1) affect our rewards in heaven or 2) may indicate that we have not really committed ourselves to Jesus as our Savior and Lord. These types of good works are the evidence of our faith. James taught that faith without good works is a dead faith. James 2.17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Let us evaluate and then make the changes in our lives so that we can answer the question with, “I can.” In Christ Alone
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