Read Psalm 24:
A Psalm of David.
1 The 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.
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. Selah
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! 9 Lift 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! Selah
Understand Psalm 24:
Psalm 24 concludes a larger section asking, “What is required to worship the Lord?” (see 15:1) and a smaller section which points to the messiah as “Sufferer” (Ps 22), “Shepherd” (Ps 23), and “Sovereign” (Ps 24). Here, David declares three reasons why Jesus should be in charge instead of us.
I. Our Sovereign Creator Rules (vv. 1-2)
David draws on language from the creation account (Gen 1:2, 9; 2:10), then expands the Lord’s dominion to the populated earth as well (Ps 89:11). Every created thing whether land or water or person or creature belongs to the Lord because he made it. We live within his world and move beneath his sovereign hand. We speak because he spoke us into being (33:8-9). The whole earth is a massive temple ascribing worship and glory to the Lord alone (Rev 4:11).
So when you are tempted to seize control of your life (e.g. 1 Cor 10:25-26), remember that God sustains you by the power of his word (Heb 1:3). He knows what’s best for you because he designed you in the womb (Ps 139:13-16) and keeps the owner’s manual beside his heavenly throne.
II. Our Holy Judge Redeems (vv. 3-6)
Who can worship a holy God? (v. 3). Only the one who is holy in every aspect of his being: behavior (“clean hands”), character (“pure heart”), allegiance (“no idols”), and words (“honest speech”) (v. 4). Jesus alone could claim such sinless perfection. He had clean hands as the One who was tempted in every way just like us, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). Instead, his innocent hands healed the sick, served the poor, and were pierced by nails for you and me. Jesus had a pure heart though living in a fallen world. Yet the pure-hearted One became sin for us, “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus also placed full allegiance in his Father and not in idols, “entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23b). And Jesus always spoke the truth: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten” (vv. 22-23a). Jesus then received the blessings of the covenant and was declared righteous in his death (Ps 24:5-6). He lifted up his Father’s glory as he was lifted on the cross.
Then through the person and work of Jesus, Psalm 24 is now true for us. Jesus washes our blood-stained hands and purifies our sinful hearts. He removes our reliance on idols and teaches us to speak the truth. He blesses the righteous in society, in business, and in relationships. He grants the justification that comes by faith alone (Rom 5:1). Then he calls us to seek his face in worship.
You might not feel worthy to worship a holy God. And truth be told, apart from Christ, you aren’t. Yet because of Jesus you can stand before the Lord. Because of Jesus you can sing his praises and read his Word as a love letter to you. Because of Jesus you can seek his face and worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). You are declared, “Not guilty,” because he was declared, “Guilty” on your behalf. You are declared, “Blessed,” because he was made a curse for you upon the cross (Gal 3:13). You are declared, “Righteous” because God your Judge looks at him when deciding your fate. You are declared, “Christian,” because of your faith as a follower of Jesus Christ.[1]
III. Our Victorious King Reigns (vv. 7-10)
Psalm 24 ends with a note of joyous praise as Jewish pilgrims raised their voices in song and called forth the personified gates and doors of the city: “Look up, Jerusalem! Pay attention, O city! Celebrate the arrival of your God and King!” “To lift the head” was a mark of joy and unwavering hope which described a people who were looking unto God.
This psalm was first sung as David returned the Ark of Covenant to its rightful place in Jerusalem. His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem pictured God’s favor returning to his people (Num 10:33-36). Then, after the temple was built, Psalm 24 was sung on Ascension Day as each new king took the throne of Israel. As long as God’s chosen king sat upon the throne of David, it was as if God himself still ruled over his people. Yet after the exile, only the songs remained. So Psalm 24 would be sung on the first day of every week—Sunday morning worship in the temple rebuilt by Herod. It would be sung to remind God’s people of his presence in the Ark and in the kingly lineage. It would be sung as another King, the Greater Son of David, entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey (Matt 21:1-11). It would be sung by the very priests who would put that King to death at the same time people were singing his praises in the streets: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” (Mark 11:9-10; see Luke 19:38). It would be sung the following Sunday on the very day that King would rise from the dead. It is sung now in our hearts as we study this passage. And it will be sung for all eternity in heaven as we worship the King of glory forever and ever.
Psalm 24 reminds you that you are not in control, but that you know the God who is. So let the King of glory take charge and surrender your life to him.
Apply Psalm 24:
- Read about the different occasions when Psalm 24 was sung: the return of the Ark (1 Chr 13:5-8; see Ps 132), Ascension Day for the new kings (1 Chr 16; Ps 96), and Sunday worship in post-exilic Israel.
- How does the wisdom issue of eating meat offered to idols (1 Cor 10:25-26) relate to the conscience issues in our day? Why does Paul quote from Psalm 24 to make his point?
- How did Jesus fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 24? How do we share in that fulfillment as followers of Christ today?
- In what ways are you tempted to seize control of your life? How do personal and global crises increase this tendency in you?
- Prepare your whole self as you come before the Lord in worship: Behavior (clean hands), Character (pure heart), Allegiance (no idols), Words (honest speech).
- Is there anyone or anything you love, trust, and obey more than God? Examine your time, money, emotions, and attention to discern whether you carry any idols in your heart.
- Listen to Keith and Kristyn Getty’s, The King of Glory.
Pray Psalm 24:
- Lord, the whole earth is yours, and so am I (vv. 1-2).
- Prepare me to worship you in spirit and in truth (v. 3).
- Guard my actions, my heart, my allegiance, and my tongue (v. 4).
- You are the God of my righteousness and my salvation (v. 5).
- I rejoice in your triumph at the cross and soon-coming return (vv. 7-10).
Counsel Psalm 24:
We often find ourselves helping counselees who are trying to seize control of their lives by seeking idols (“what is false”). Learning to worship God as Creator, Judge, and King helps us cling in trust to the Lord. His sovereignty, holiness, and victory embolden us to let him take control.
[1] “Righteousness” (tsedekah) is the Old Testament expression of justification by faith, while “salvation” (yesha) refers to “deliverance, rescue, victory, help” and would also assume a redemptive significance (Pss 51:4; 67:2; 68:19; 79:9). Those who are justified by faith in Christ must then live out their righteousness by being sanctified by faith in Christ.
