1. Neiara Psalm 15:1-5 kopatopatomba?

 IN THE preceding article, we learned that Jehovahʼs dedicated servants can be guests in his figurative tent by cultivating a close, personal relationship with him. But how can we qualify for such a relationship? Psalm 15 has much to say on this subject. (Read Psalm 15:1-5.) This psalm offers practical lessons that can help us to draw closer to God.

2. Otï poko David ambïako tïwonuminga na Jehoba patayarï poko touranahomboto?

² Psalm 15 opens: “O Jehovah, who may be a guest in your tent? Who may reside in your holy mountain?” (Ps. 15:1) When mentioning Jehovahʼs “tent,” the psalmist David may have been thinking of the tabernacle, which was in Gibeon for a time. David also mentions Godʼs “holy mountain,” perhaps referring to Zion in Jerusalem. There, several miles south of Gibeon, David pitched a tent to house the ark of the covenant until a more permanent resting place for it could be built.—2 Sam. 6:17.

3. Oʼtonoʼme oʼto Psalm 15 wïkarï uputïse kïtaton? (Eneko eropa uʼkuho.)

³ Of course, most Israelites were never allowed to serve at the tabernacle, much less venture inside the tent where the ark of the covenant was kept. But all of Jehovahʼs faithful servants could be guests in his figurative tent by becoming and remaining his friends. That is something we all desire. Psalm 15 outlines some qualities that we need to develop and display to remain Jehovahʼs friends.

 Emendoha iʼchango juhïn poko eropa eʼcho

4. Neiara kïsupusaton kïwotuminʼgarïkon seha neroʼkon Jehoba weijï? (Isaiah 48:1)

⁴ At Psalm 15:2, a friend of God is described as “the one who is walking faultlessly, practicing what is right.” The terms “walking” and “practicing” imply action that is both constant and progressive. But can we really ‘walk faultlesslyʼ? Yes. While no human is perfect, Jehovah will view us as “walking faultlessly” if we do our best to obey him. When we dedicate ourselves to God and get baptized, we are just starting on our journey with God. Note that in Bible times, merely belonging to the nation of Israel would not automatically qualify a person to be a guest of Jehovah. Some called on him but not “in truth and righteousness.” (Read Isaiah 48:1.) Sincere Israelites had to learn about Jehovahʼs requirements and follow them. Similarly, to enjoy Godʼs approval today, more is required of us than getting baptized and associating with the Christian congregation. We must keep “practicing what is right.” What does that entail?

5. Oʼto ichaho na Jehoba amïʼcharï ijombo otïkon ta?

⁵ In Jehovahʼs eyes, “walking faultlessly” and “practicing what is right” mean more than regularly sharing in some activities at a place of worship. (1 Sam. 15:22) We must strive to obey God in every aspect of our life, even when we are alone. (Prov. 3:6; Eccl. 12:13, 14) It is important that we try to obey Jehovah even in relatively minor matters. Doing so shows that we truly love him, which endears us to him.—John 14:23; 1 John 5:3.

6. Hebrews 6:10-12 wïkarï paʼme, otï ambore tonesanme na penaro yako juhïngon poko kïweíʼmiasan koho Jehoba emamin ta?

 ⁶ Jehovah deeply appreciates what we have done for him in the past. However, past acts of faithfulness alone do not qualify us to remain as guests in Jehovahʼs tent. This is made clear at Hebrews 6:10-12. (Read.) Jehovah does not forget our past good deeds. But he wants us to keep rendering whole-souled worship “down to the end.” He will reward us with eternal friendship “if we do not tire out.”—Gal. 6:9.

Ipioro oweuranako owewanï weiniombo

7. Oʼto ichaho na ipioro kouranarïkon kowanïkon ta?

⁷ Someone who wants to be an approved guest in Jehovahʼs tent must be “speaking the truth in his heart.” (Ps. 15:2) This means more than not lying. Jehovah wants us to be honest through and through. (Heb. 13:18) That is important, “for Jehovah detests a devious person, but his close friendship is with the upright.”—Prov. 3:32.

8. Otï omeano kïʼwainie tïtoʼkamasepa na?

⁸ Those who ‘speak the truth in their heartʼ do not pretend to be obedient in public while breaking Godʼs laws in secret. (Isa. 29:13) They avoid acting deviously. A devious person may begin to doubt the wisdom of some of Jehovahʼs regulations. (Jas. 1:5-8) He may disobey Jehovah on matters that seem to him to be of little importance. Then if there appear to be no consequences for his disobedience, he may be emboldened to violate Godʼs laws further, and his worship would become hypocritical. (Eccl. 8:11) We, however, want to be honest in all things.

9. Otï poko kïtomepaton koromo Jesasʼwa Nathanael eporïhombo weinio? (Eneko eropa moro uʼkuho.)

⁹ We can learn about the importance of having a sincere heart from Jesusʼ first meeting with Nathanael. When  Philip brought his friend Nathanael to meet Jesus, something remarkable happened. Although Jesus had never met Nathanael, Jesus said: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” (John 1:47) Surely Jesus viewed his other disciples as honest, but Jesus saw in Nathanael an extraordinary sincerity. Like us, Nathanael was imperfect. But there was nothing artificial or insincere about him. Jesus admired that and commended Nathanael for it. What an honor it would be if Jesus could point that out about us!

10. Oʼtonoʼme tuwaro kïweísheinie kïtaton oʼto kïkarïkon poko? (James 1:26)

¹⁰ Most of the requirements listed in Psalm 15 are related to how we treat others. Psalm 15:3 states that a guest in Jehovahʼs tent “does not slander with his tongue, he does nothing bad to his neighbor, and he does not defame his friends.” Misusing our speech in such ways could cause serious harm to others and disqualify us from being guests in Jehovahʼs tent.—Read James 1:26.

11. Moro ouranano slander oʼto ichaho na, oʼto eropa moro watonon tïrïkomba epoaton eʼpetakamahapai aʼtainie?

¹¹ The psalmist specifically mentions slander. What is slander? Generally, it is a false statement that can ruin someoneʼs reputation. Unrepentant slanderers are removed from the Christian congregation.—Jer. 17:10.

12-13. Otïkon ta wane ambïako koiʼye neroten kïnupïtïʼtorïkonme kïpanarïkon etï kïsanïʼmatomba? (Eneko eropa moro uʼkuho.)

¹² Psalm 15:3 also reminds us that Jehovahʼs guests do nothing bad to their neighbors and do not defame their friends. What might that involve?

¹³ We could unintentionally defame  someone by spreading negative information. For example: (1) a sister discontinues her full-time service, (2) a married couple no longer serve at Bethel, or (3) a brother is no longer serving as an elder or a ministerial servant. Would it be proper to speculate on the reasons why these adjustments were made and to share that opinion with others? There may well be reasons for the change that we are unaware of. Furthermore, a guest in Jehovahʼs tent “does nothing bad to his neighbor, and he does not defame his friends.”

Nuse eneko moʼkaron Jehoba amïʼchanamon

14. Neiara wane Jehoba patayarï ta weʼchonon amuro yaʼan toʼkaʼmatomba?

¹⁴ Psalm 15:4 says that a friend of Jehovah “rejects anyone who is contemptible.” How can we do that? As imperfect humans, we are not qualified to determine whether someone is contemptible. Why? We might naturally be drawn to some people based on their personality traits and be annoyed by other people. Hence, we should reject only those whom Jehovah finds “contemptible.” (1 Cor. 5:11) This includes those who unrepentantly practice what is bad, disrespect our faith and beliefs, or try to undermine our spirituality.—Prov. 13:20.

15. Otï oʼwin amu nuse Jehoba amïʼchanamon enerï enepotopo kïʼwainie?

¹⁵ Conversely, Psalm 15:4 asks us to honor “those fearing Jehovah.” We accordingly look for ways to show kindness and respect to Jehovahʼs friends. (Rom. 12:10) How? One way, based on Psalm 15:4, is that a guest in Jehovahʼs tent “does not go back on his promise, even when it is bad for him.” Breaking our promises could surely hurt others. (Matt. 5:37) For example, Jehovah expects his guests to live up to their marriage vow. He is also pleased when parents make earnest efforts to fulfill promises they make to their children. Our love for God and for neighbor will compel us to keep our word to the best of our ability.

16. Otï amu eropa nuse kïʼwainie Jehoba panarïkon enerï enepotopo?

¹⁶ Another way to honor Godʼs friends is by being hospitable and generous. (Rom. 12:13) Leisure time spent with our brothers and sisters helps us to strengthen bonds of friendship with them and with Jehovah. Moreover, by showing hospitality, we imitate Jehovah.

Oro roten moʼe osenako pïrata apokurume oweijï weinio

17. Oʼtonoʼme Psalm 15 neuranano pïrata poko?

¹⁷ We read that a guest of Jehovah “does not lend his money on interest, and he does not accept a bribe against the innocent.” (Ps. 15:5) Why is money brought up in this short psalm? Because an unbalanced view of money can hurt others and ruin our friendship with God. (1 Tim. 6:10) In Bible times, some took advantage of their poor brothers by charging them interest on the money lent to them. Also, some judges accepted bribes and then judged innocent  victims unfairly. Such practices are detestable to Jehovah.—Ezek. 22:12.

18. Otïkon oseke kïʼwainie kïwoturupotoʼkomba neiara kïʼwainie pïrata enerï upuʼtoʼme? (Hebrews 13:5)

¹⁸ It is good for us to evaluate our personal attitude toward money. Ask yourself: ‘Do I often find myself thinking about money and what it can buy? If I borrow money, am I slow to repay it, concluding that the person who lent it to me does not need it? Does having money make me feel important but make it hard to be generous? Do I judge my brothers and sisters as materialistic simply because they have money? Do I cultivate friendship with the rich and show little interest in the poor?ʼ We have received the grand opportunity to be Jehovahʼs guests. We can protect that privilege by keeping our life free of the love of money. If we do so, Jehovah will never leave us!—Read Hebrews 13:5.

Jehoba tapokurume tïpanarïkon enean

19. Oʼtonoʼme Jehoba ijomboro oʼto Psalm 15 ta ichaho paʼme kïweísheinie na?

¹⁹ Psalm 15 ends with the promise: “Whoever does these things will never be shaken.” (Ps. 15:5) Here the psalmist reveals the main objective behind Godʼs requirements. Jehovah wants us to be happy. So he gives us direction that will bring us his blessing and protection.—Isa. 48:17.

20. Otï Jehoba patayarï tanokon wohotopome na?

²⁰ Jehovahʼs approved guests can look forward to a bright future. The faithful anointed will have admission into the “many dwelling places” that Jesus prepared for them in heaven. (John 14:2) Those with the earthly hope look forward to what Revelation 21:3 promises. Surely, we all feel highly honored to have received Jehovahʼs warm invitation to be his friends, to be everlasting guests in his tent!