Psalm 24

PSALM 24

¹ The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

² for He founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who may stand in His holy place?

⁴ he who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

Wow! okay, so the only one who can ascend God's mountain or stand before Him in His holy place is a pure man, a righteous man...aka not us. BUT, Jesus, the only perfect, sinless Man, can! He took our place and because of Him, we become the man described in verse five. What a gift!

⁵ he will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Savior.

⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.

Selah

This reminds me of Philippians 3:8,9 which says: "⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." When God looks at us, He sees Christ's righteousness, not ours. Ours is as filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6). Thank God for Christ's death and resurrection!

⁷ Lift up your heads, O 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, O 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.

Selah

This is where i really love it. The following psalm is titled "Teach me Your Ways." How fitting! Psalm 24 proclaims God is Lord and then it shifts right into "i believe You are Lord, so i want to learn from You." This should be our attitude always--desiring to learn from the One who knows it all. He is Lord and He is the King of Glory!