Bible Study

I stand amazed at the beauty of God’s Word, the Bible. God’s powerful plan of redemption in Christ echoes on and on. As we reflect on Psalm 24, the rich layers of God’s Word reverberate with His unchanging glory, truth and majesty.

Let’s walk through this passage and ponder the wonders of His Word. Bible scholars believe the phrases of this Psalm were sung back and forth by two choirs. Imagine the voices, ringing with His praise!

Psalm 24 (ESV)

1The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

The Creator, God, Master and Sovereign Ruler of the universe.

The One who was, and is, and is to come.

Yahweh, the Great I AM.

He alone is God.

All the earth belongs to Him and all who dwell therein. He is our Maker. He established our world. He formed and fashioned every detail great and small. He knit us together in our mother’s womb.

This world is His. We are His. Every molecule, every atom, every breath is His idea, His design, His making.

God is Holy

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Given the opening verses of this Psalm that proclaim God’s magnificent power, what follows next is a logical, soul-shaking question, “Who is worthy to stand before the LORD in his holy place?“

Bible scholars agree, this Psalm of David was most likely written for the occasion of bringing the ark of the covenant back home to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6)

Try to envision the singing of this Psalm.

As they carried the ark of the covenant to the Tabernacle,

As the Levites, the singers and procession walked up the hill toward Jerusalem, the city of God,

Into the Tabernacle,

Into the holy place,

Into the holy of holies.

They knew God’s presence dwelled above the ark of the covenant between the cherubim. (Exodus 25:22)

Certainly these questions were not rhetorical.

Who could ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who could stand in his holy place?

Only those with clean hands and a pure heart. Only those who do not lift up their souls to what is false or do not swear deceitfully. In the Old Testament, God established the sacrificial system to provide forgiveness for sins. However, when Christ shed His blood on Calvary, His sin offering was once-and-for-all. (Hebrews 10)

All have fallen short of God’s glory. ONLY by faith in Christ as Savior and LORD, can we appear before God with clean hands and a pure heart, cleansed of all that is false and deceitful.

Those who have received forgiveness in Christ receive the full blessings of God. Righteousness and salvation. This is our inheritance.

This is the precious reward promised to the generation (or race/people/persons) who seek after the LORD.

Of special note in verse 6 are “those who seek the face of God.” The highest blessing is His presence, seeking to enjoy his glory, his goodness, the beauty of his holiness, his righteousness, his majesty.

Rather than seeking what God will give, the purest joy is simply seeking Him.

God Himself is the blessing.

Who is this King of glory?

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!

These verses are layered with profound and prophetic images. Pause and make a mental picture of the glorious gates in each scenario that follows:

• As David and the Levites brought the ark of the covenant into the Tabernacle, they called for the gates to be opened. The LORD was mighty in battle, going before them by His presence over the ark, defeating their enemies on every side. This mighty LORD was their refuge.
• As Jesus entered Jerusalem, on what is now known as Palm Sunday, He rode into the city on a donkey. The people cheered, “Hosanna” which means, save us! They welcomed their King. (Matthew 21:1-11)
• After defeating death and rising from the grave, Jesus stood on Mt. Olivet before ascending into heaven on the clouds. (Acts 1:6-12) The gates of heaven, which God had closed to the race of Adam, guarded by the cherubim at the Garden of Eden, guarded against sinful humankind- these awesome, holy gates were finally opened. The heavenly gates and ancient doors were opened for the King of glory, the One who defeated Satan, hell, sin and death. All of heaven flings open the gates for Jesus Christ and those who are made righteous by His blood.
• On an individual level, each person must open the doors of his/her heart to invite our King in, welcoming the gift of salvation in Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirit. (Revelation 3:20) The LORD mighty in battle is with us.
• Finally, when Jesus returns to set up the new heaven and the new earth, once again, the ancient doors will be opened for the King of glory, the Victorious One to rule and reign forever! (Revelation 21)

Who is this King of glory?

9Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!

Interestingly, this refrain is repeated. But notice this time there is a new answer to the question, “Who is this King of glory?”

He is not just the LORD strong and mighty, victorious in battle.

In verse 10, He is announced as the LORD of hosts!

This is the LORD of the heavenly hosts, the LORD of the angel armies.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is shown here as fully man and fully God. He is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS!

When darkness seems to blanket our world, let us remember the Gates will open and the Light of the World who has come… is coming again! He will take His rightful place, to rule and reign forever! The King of glory is coming!