Psalm 24

 

1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall 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 you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

     Psalm 24 (NKJV)

 This psalm opens with the glory of God as Creator and Ruler of all. In light of His majesty and power, lowly man is wise to consider who can stand in God Almighty’s presence? Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart (also a New Testament requirement, see James 4:8). Yet we can’t measure up on our own.  Because of our sinfulness, we can never meet God’s holy standard. But when we trust in Christ as Savior, we are cleansed from our sin and clothed in His righteousness. Then we are accepted by God and receive His blessing.

 Tradition has it that this psalm marks the occasion when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem by David (see 2 Samuel 6:1-19). What a time of rejoicing that was because the Ark represented God’s presence to the Jews.  It’s as if the gates and doors of the city are personified as witnessing this grand event (vs. 7, 9) and lifting up praise as the King of glory comes in. And who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle (v. 8).  He is the Captain of all the angelic armies and all the hosts of heaven (see Gen. 2:1, Luke 2:13). 

 Twice in this psalm (vs. 6, 10) we are exhorted to “Selah,” meaning take time to meditate on the truths here.  Let us ponder our great God Almighty and bow before Him.

 

“Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts, eternal King,

By the heavens and earth adored; angels and archangels sing,

Chanting everlastingly to the blessed Trinity.

Since by Thee were all things made, and in Thee do all things live,

Be in Thee all honor paid; praise to Thee may all things give,

Singing everlastingly to the blessed Trinity.”

(Christopher Worsdworth, 1807-1885)

Being In It

 

 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.  Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.  John 16:7-11

 

What is the difference between being of the world and in the world?  They sound so similar.  I liken it to one of my favorite football players.  The player is ‘of’ the Miami Dolphins, which is my favorite football team.  The player is also ‘in’ the National Football League.  When you are of something, that is who you represent.  When you are in something, you are part of a similar but larger collective.  It’s a subtle but important difference.  We are all living ‘in’ the world, but we are ‘of’ the Christian faith.  But here is what’s important to remember.  All because a person is not ‘of’ the Christian faith does not mean that they are not ‘in’ our world for a reason.  In fact, one might argue God placed them ‘in’ our lives to introduce Christ to them.

We should always be conscious of the differences between people of this world versus in the world itself.  There are many times that I have heard others call people ‘evil’ and ‘of this world.’  I never truly bought into that, but I was not able to figure out why because people would commit sin and do things wrongfully.  It would make sense to call them evil or worldly, right?  But note what Jesus said here.  He said, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.”  He is not condemning an individual.  He condemned ‘the world’ or as it would be clearer The Devil.  Why is this important?  It means that no person can truly be judged by us as either ‘evil’ or ‘of this world.’  That’s not to say they won’t be sinful, commit evil acts, or either choose the world over Christ or refuse Him.  What it does mean is no one is beyond redemption.  In the book of Luke, Zechariah, prophesying the coming of Christ, said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:68) Our role is not to levy our standards on others (note what Jesus said about the ruler of this world).  It is to tell those the message of Christ for if they are given His truth, they too can distinguish between being in the world versus being of the world.

God loves us.  It’s not about what we feel about others.  It’s about how God would want us to respond to them.  It is clear what He would say, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  Let us focus on being the lover of God’s people and separate the evil of the world from the people who live in it.  Who have you wrongfully condemned?  Where can you replace judgment with love?  My prayer is that we show mercy toward others and recognize our opportunity to save those in the world to become of God's Kingdom.  Amen.