Psalm 24

Today's scripture is Psalm 24. Go here to read it in your preferred version.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
² For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
³ Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴ He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
⁵ He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
⁷ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye 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 ye gates; even lift them up, ye 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.

This is a psalm for the King of glory! This may have been written as the Ark of the Covenant was being brought to its resting place. 

Everything is God's. The earth, the world, and all of us on this earth. Even the fullness of the earth - fruits from trees, newborn animals, flowers on the branches... everything that springs up on this earth is His. This really should be comforting to us. If we're all under God, there is nowhere we can go from Him. We are not our own either - our souls are His.

1 Corinthians 10:26 - "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."

God founded and established this earth (verse 2). He made it, formed it, and made it perfect for our use. He has even established it upon the floods. Do you know anyone else who could build a world on a foundation of water? Only the One who controls all of those waters.

Psalm 89:11 - "The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them."

So who will ascend with God? What are the characteristics of the righteous?

1) Someone with clean hands - not that you have to be totally guiltless because that's impossible. But are you willing to admit you're wrong? Confess? Repent? Actually make some changes? These are ways we can have clean hands.

2) A pure heart. Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  It's not enough for our hands to look clean on the outside. We have to work to make our heart match.

3) They're not lifting up their soul to vanity. Not setting their eyes upon things of the world. A righteous person knows the things of the world are unstable and ultimately unsatisfying.

4) Doesn't swear deceitfully. They deal honestly. You must take the obligations of truth very seriously.

So this is the type of person who is blessed from God, the God who has given him this salvation. We have no righteousness of our own, only from God.

So in every generation there are some who are seeking God, seeking His face. I believe it is fewer with each passing generation. These people will work to climb that holy hill. They will take action. They will fellowship with other believers. One thing will I seek after:

Psalm 27:4 - "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." 

Verses 7-10 - When a king enters, the doors and gates should be flung wide open to greet him. With all of our reverence we must remember He is the King of glory. He is strong and mighty and will save His people.

Psalm 29:2 - "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

If you want to see how God is mighty in battle just read Revelation 19:13-16.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
  

Comments? Questions?