A psalm of David
24
📚The earth is the LORD’s, and its fulness;
the world, and those
who live in it.
2 📚For he has founded it
on the seas,
and established it
on the waters.
24:1-2 The LORD Jehovah is the creator of the universe, therefore all things are His and every human being belongs to Him. Whatever we use in this world is not our property but God’s. Whatever we do to another human being we do to God’s possession. On the basis of creation alone we belong to the Creator. If we give ourselves to anything else – the world, sin, Satan’s power – we are denying God’s ownership of us.⚜
3 📚Who may ascend onto
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 a vain thing,
or sworn deceitfully.
24:3-4 Though the above is true, the fact is that man has given himself to sin and Satan, and so not everyone is going to ascend joyfully into the presence of God. He will not accept us into His holy heaven if our hands and hearts are filthy, if we practice deceit, or go after vain things. (In the Old Testament a vain thing frequently means an idol.) It is useless to boast of our religion if our lives are full of impurity, dishonesty, lying, and deceit. See also Ps 15. There is a fountain where such things can be washed away. The blood of Christ can cleanse us from all guilt and sin, and God’s Spirit can set us free (Zech 13:1; 1 John 1:7-9).⚜
5 📚He will receive blessing
from the LORD,
and righteousness from
the God of his salvation.
24:5 The believer cleansed from sin does not attribute this to himself. He knows God his Saviour has done it. Salvation, righteousness, and every blessing is a free gift from God above – Eph 2:8-9.⚜
6 📚This is the generation
of those who seek
him; who seek your face,
O God of Jacob. Selah
24:6 The righteous have sought God and will go on seeking and finding, and at last will ascend to His presence to be with Him forever. The meaning of this verse may be clearer if Jacob is placed earlier in the sentence – “This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face”.⚜
7 📚Lift up your heads,
O you gates,
and be lifted up,
you everlasting doors,
and the King of glory will 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 them up,
you everlasting doors,
and the King of glory will come in.
10 📚Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts 📖,
he is the King of glory. Selah
24:7-10 Many think David wrote this psalm for the time described in 2 Samuel chapter 6. He calls out in joy for Jerusalem’s gates to open for the unseen presence of Jehovah the King coming with the ark of His covenant. But the words surely have a prophetic meaning. They fit perfectly the time of the ascension into the heavenly Jerusalem of the Lord Jesus the King (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9; Eph 4:8-10). Observe in v 8 and v 10 that the King of glory is none other than the LORD (Jehovah) Himself. In the New Testament Jesus is the King of glory, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Matt 21:5; Luke 19:38; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 19:11-16). In other words, Jesus is the incarnation of Jehovah. See also Ps 23:1; 96:10-13; Isa 6:1; Zech 12:10; Gen 16:7; Ex 3:14. Note at Luke 2:11.
It is interesting to notice the connection between Psalms 21,22,23,24. In 21 we have the King, in 22 the suffering Saviour, in 23 the good Shepherd, in 24 the King in triumph entering His city again – the city He left to come to earth that He might be the Saviour and Shepherd of His people.⚜