Psalm 24
The King of Glory
In Psalm 22, we encountered our Saviour.
In Psalm 23, we were comforted by our Shepherd.
In Psalm 24, we will salute our Sovereign!
The Cross, the Crook and now the Crown.
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Saviour.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you 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, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty –
he is the King of glory.
This Psalm opens with a grand and glorious reminder that God is totally sovereign over the entirety of creation. Everything in the cosmos is under his rule and reign. There is no exception. No glitches in the system. No anomalies or abnormalities. From the duck-billed platypus looking after her eggs, to the strawberry ripening in Angus to Orion’s Belt in the velvet black sky, God is the supreme creator and owner.
All belongs to God. We are but temporary stewards of God’s good gifts. All we “own” is a mere temporary loan. We bring nothing into the world and we taken nothing with us out of it. Something might belong to us for a time, but ultimately everything belongs to God for all time and more. For he alone, by the Spirit and through the Living Word, created everything out of nothing.
At the founding of The Free University in Amsterdam, Abraham Kuyper, future Prime Minister of the Netherlands famously exclaimed, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”
And therefore the question of v3 is pressing and urgent. Who could ascend into the presence of One so matchless? Who could come before his blinding majesty and still stand? Who could honestly say they could step into the light of his blazing holiness?
It must be one who is unstained by the dross of the world. Not polluted by the vanity of chasing after empty idols. Not contaminated by the stench of false gods.
It must be one who is pure and clean. One whose heart and hands have been set apart to worship and serve the true and living God. Not mixed or blended with the folly of the world. Not following after the whisperer of lies. But one who is holy, righteous and virtuous in all they do.
That one will be vindicated in their service to God. They will be lavished with all the riches of heaven.
This is a picture of the King. The greater Son of David. The spotless and sinless Saviour. The Good Shepherd. Jesus.
All those who trust in that righteous King, will be led by him into the presence of the true God. Into the heavenly city, where darkness has been vanquished and light has triumphed gloriously!
And the Psalm climaxes with the people expectantly awaiting the arrival of the King of Glory. Who is he they ask? Well it is none other than the Great I AM. The Author and Architect of everything that has ever, will ever or now currently exists.
The language used to describe him is as a mighty and fearsome warrior (v8,10). He is returning in glory to reclaim what is his. To make it good once more. He comes in power to restore. And renew. He comes to conquer the evil so prevalent in this world. To root out sin and all that which opposes his good will and word. To re-establish the Kingdom of God here on earth and in our hearts.
Wonderfully, Jesus is both the pure-hearted one who is leading his people in ascending the mountain and also the LORD Almighty returning to the world. Jesus is God made flesh, the eternal King. He came in humility and will return in his full untarnished and dazzling glory.
Therefore, as we take this Psalm on our lips, we celebrate the total reign, perfect righteousness and certain return of the risen and triumphant King of Glory, Jesus the Lord Almighty.
Glory be to God the Father, who spoke all things into being and beauty through his powerful Word.
Glory be to God the Son, the King of glory and of grace.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who renews and purifies our hearts.
Ever three and ever One.