Between the ineffable spiritual truth and mere legalistic literalism is a place of moral commitment in the soul touched by eternity. In the Hebrew mind, spiritual birth was not necessary for obedience when the entire cultural slant assumes feudal obligations — everyone serves someone. Further, that feudal awareness includes a tacit understanding that one must be committed to God’s peace (shalom) in terms of social stability. So David describes here what makes for that moral peace of God through moral commitments.
Who would be welcomed as a resident foreigner in the tents of God? Who should be allowed to hang around Zion? This assumes David had already purchased the plot of land he dedicated for the future Temple. The person who is welcome in God’s domain is one who is morally solid, firmly committed to Jehovah as Sovereign Lord.
The earmarks of such a commitment would include several things. English translations vary, but the idea is confessing frankly what one has embraced. When you honestly care about God’s stated interests, you tend to operate accordingly. Sometimes speaking is a euphemism for action; if your actions and words don’t match, you have a problem.
This man has no political agenda. He’s willing to put up with unpleasant neighbors who aren’t outright criminals. He’s not a busybody trying to provoke the community or the authorities against someone for petty stuff. On the other hand, he won’t do many favors for someone who has rejected God’s moral standards. He reserves his resources for those who cling to God. This isn’t legalistic perfection as Westerns might measure such things, but a moral commitment that recognizes human frailty because he sees plenty of it in the mirror.
He’s willing to carry through on promises when his mouth overloads his capabilities. He loans without interest because he knows how destructive interest is. He’s willing to make loans he knows can never be repaid. He’s willing to engage in the social fiction to preserve the dignity of his neighbor when poverty forces that one to come calling for a loan. He doesn’t bother to record that loan, but trusts God to repay it. Indeed, money is just a tool for justice in his eyes; you can’t bribe him to lie.
People like this are God’s people. The whole world could collapse, but God would stand next to such a man.
