Reflection: Psalm 15, Leadership, and International Development

WCIU Journal: Leadership Topic

July 2, 2017

by Beth Snodderly

This Reflection is part of the Scripture as International Development series.

Psalm 15 is one of the “Royal Psalms,” a ritual for installing a king, patterned after Ancient Near Eastern rituals. It serves as a template for leadership under the rule and reign of God. Those who demonstrate the conditions of godly leadership in Psalm 15 will lead societies and organizations that will flourish. The central climax of this Psalm shows that a godly leader recognizes evil and turns away from it. When this guideline is followed, those under that leader’s influence will be better able to experience transformation and development according to God’s will. Societies and organizations with leaders who are corrupt, undependable, untruthful, will demonstrate the opposite of the stability and righteous living described in Psalm 15.

Question:

(vs 1) Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?

Answer:

Positive Conditions:
(2) The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;

Negative Conditions:
(3) whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;

(4) in whose eyes a vile person is despised (ESV),

Positive Conditions:

but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;

Negative Conditions:
5a who does not put out his money at interest (ESV);
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Promise:
5b Whoever does these
  will never be shaken.
(NIV and ESV)

Beth Snodderly is a past president of William Carey International University and is the editor for both the William Carey International Development Journal and the Ralph D. Winter Research Center. She holds the degree of Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in New Testament from the University of South Africa.