The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalms 24 is a powerful hymn that celebrates God's sovereignty and majesty. It invites us to consider who is worthy to approach the Lord and anticipates the triumphant entry of the King of Glory. This psalm, traditionally attributed to David, resonates with themes of worship, righteousness, and the ultimate reign of God. Understanding its context and message enriches our appreciation for God's holiness and our role in His kingdom.
Context: A King's Procession
Psalms 24 naturally follows Psalms 22 and 23, creating a beautiful trilogy. Psalms 22 portrays the suffering of the Good Shepherd on the cross, Psalms 23 depicts the depths of His loving care for His sheep, and Psalms 24 unveils His return as the triumphant King. We see the cross, the shepherd's crook, and finally, the shepherd's crown. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, died for us (Psalms 22), cares for us (Psalms 23), and is coming again for us (Psalms 24). This psalm shares parallels with Psalms 15, which also explores the qualifications for approaching God.
Historically, Psalms 24 is often linked to David's procession bringing the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to Mount Zion (2 Samuel 6). Imagine the scene: a joyous procession filled with singing and music (1 Chronicles 15:2–28). It's likely this psalm was composed for a choir, with verses sung responsively between a leader and the people.
God's Universal Dominion (Psalms 24:1-2)
David begins by declaring God's absolute ownership: "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalms 24:1). This isn't just about physical possession; it's about inherent right. God is the Creator, and therefore, everything belongs to Him. The "fullness" of the earth encompasses all of humanity. As the one who created the world and established its form, God is rightfully considered the Master of everyone and everything. God's sovereignty extends to every corner of the earth because He "laid its foundation on the seas, and established it on the waters" (Psalms 24:2). He spoke creation into existence (see Hebrews 11:3), and that act establishes His claim over all things.
The Requirements for Approaching God (Psalms 24:3-6)
The psalm then shifts to a crucial question: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?" (Psalms 24:3). This section addresses the requirements for those who desire to draw near to God in worship. The answer emphasizes moral and spiritual purity: "The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god" (Psalms 24:4).
"Clean hands" signify righteous actions, a life free from outward sin. A "pure heart" speaks to inner integrity, pure motives, and a devotion unmixed with selfish ambition. It's a life that is clean inside and out. Those who meet these requirements "will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from God their Savior" (Psalms 24:5). Like Jacob, they will wrestle with God (see Genesis 32:24-30), but ultimately "seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalms 24:6).
The King of Glory's Triumphant Entry (Psalms 24:7-10)
The final verses are a powerful call to worship and recognition of God's glory: "Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in" (Psalms 24:7). This is a call to the city of Jerusalem to open its gates to the Lord! The exact same phrasing used in Psalms 24:7 is repeated in Psalms 24:9, emphasizing the poetry and importance of that moment.
A dialogue ensues, with a question echoing through the city: "Who is this King of glory?" (Psalms 24:8). The answer resounds with strength and power: "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle" (Psalms 24:8). This is not just any king; this is the Lord Almighty, the Lord of hosts (Psalms 24:10).
The historical context might be David's return from battle with the Ark of the Covenant, considered the Lord's throne (see Exodus 25:22; 1 Samuel 4:4; Isaiah 37:16). Above it was the divine King—the LORD of Armies—who was mighty in battle (Psalms 24:8, 10) and gave victory to Israel.
This passage also foreshadows the Messiah's future triumph. One day, He will defeat His enemies in the tribulation and establish His millennial kingdom.
Implications for Today
Psalms 24 calls us to reflect on the greatness of God and our response to Him. He alone can claim victory. We should not enter into his presence for worship in a careless or casual manner. He is the King of glory! If we fail to honor and worship him for who he truly is, it is to our detriment.
This psalm reminds us of several key truths:
- God is sovereign: He owns everything, and we are accountable to Him.
- Holiness matters: We must strive for purity in our thoughts, words, and actions to draw near to God.
- Worship is due to God alone: He is worthy of our praise and adoration.
- The King is coming: We eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ, the ultimate King of Glory.
May we live our lives in a way that honors the King of Glory, preparing our hearts for His triumphant return.
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalms 24 is a powerful hymn that celebrates God's sovereignty and majesty. It invites us to consider who is worthy to approach the Lord and anticipates the triumphant entry of the King of Glory. This psalm, traditionally attributed to David, resonates with themes of worship, righteousness, and the ultimate reign of God. Understanding its context and message enriches our appreciation for God's holiness and our role in His kingdom.
Context: A King's Procession
Psalms 24 naturally follows Psalms 22 and 23, creating a beautiful trilogy. Psalms 22 portrays the suffering of the Good Shepherd on the cross, Psalms 23 depicts the depths of His loving care for His sheep, and Psalms 24 unveils His return as the triumphant King. We see the cross, the shepherd's crook, and finally, the shepherd's crown. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, died for us (Psalms 22), cares for us (Psalms 23), and is coming again for us (Psalms 24). This psalm shares parallels with Psalms 15, which also explores the qualifications for approaching God.
Historically, Psalms 24 is often linked to David's procession bringing the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to Mount Zion (2 Samuel 6). Imagine the scene: a joyous procession filled with singing and music (1 Chronicles 15:2–28). It's likely this psalm was composed for a choir, with verses sung responsively between a leader and the people.
God's Universal Dominion (Psalms 24:1-2)
David begins by declaring God's absolute ownership: "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalms 24:1). This isn't just about physical possession; it's about inherent right. God is the Creator, and therefore, everything belongs to Him. The "fullness" of the earth encompasses all of humanity. As the one who created the world and established its form, God is rightfully considered the Master of everyone and everything. God's sovereignty extends to every corner of the earth because He "laid its foundation on the seas, and established it on the waters" (Psalms 24:2). He spoke creation into existence (see Hebrews 11:3), and that act establishes His claim over all things.
The Requirements for Approaching God (Psalms 24:3-6)
The psalm then shifts to a crucial question: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?" (Psalms 24:3). This section addresses the requirements for those who desire to draw near to God in worship. The answer emphasizes moral and spiritual purity: "The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god" (Psalms 24:4).
"Clean hands" signify righteous actions, a life free from outward sin. A "pure heart" speaks to inner integrity, pure motives, and a devotion unmixed with selfish ambition. It's a life that is clean inside and out. Those who meet these requirements "will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from God their Savior" (Psalms 24:5). Like Jacob, they will wrestle with God (see Genesis 32:24-30), but ultimately "seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalms 24:6).
The King of Glory's Triumphant Entry (Psalms 24:7-10)
The final verses are a powerful call to worship and recognition of God's glory: "Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in" (Psalms 24:7). This is a call to the city of Jerusalem to open its gates to the Lord! The exact same phrasing used in Psalms 24:7 is repeated in Psalms 24:9, emphasizing the poetry and importance of that moment.
A dialogue ensues, with a question echoing through the city: "Who is this King of glory?" (Psalms 24:8). The answer resounds with strength and power: "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle" (Psalms 24:8). This is not just any king; this is the Lord Almighty, the Lord of hosts (Psalms 24:10).
The historical context might be David's return from battle with the Ark of the Covenant, considered the Lord's throne (see Exodus 25:22; 1 Samuel 4:4; Isaiah 37:16). Above it was the divine King—the LORD of Armies—who was mighty in battle (Psalms 24:8, 10) and gave victory to Israel.
This passage also foreshadows the Messiah's future triumph. One day, He will defeat His enemies in the tribulation and establish His millennial kingdom.
Implications for Today
Psalms 24 calls us to reflect on the greatness of God and our response to Him. He alone can claim victory. We should not enter into his presence for worship in a careless or casual manner. He is the King of glory! If we fail to honor and worship him for who he truly is, it is to our detriment.
This psalm reminds us of several key truths:
- God is sovereign: He owns everything, and we are accountable to Him.
- Holiness matters: We must strive for purity in our thoughts, words, and actions to draw near to God.
- Worship is due to God alone: He is worthy of our praise and adoration.
- The King is coming: We eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ, the ultimate King of Glory.
May we live our lives in a way that honors the King of Glory, preparing our hearts for His triumphant return.