Psalm 24 — King of Glory
Introduction: This is a fairly brief psalm, but it has some very special expressions about the Creator God who is the King of Glory, above all other kings forever and ever. I used some cross referenced passages and a Hebrew lexicon as I composed my comments. The cross references helped me to think about the work of the LORD over the span of time before and after the life of David and the content he wrote. The Leeser translation was prepared by Isaac Leeser, an American Jew who was his own publisher for his translation of the Old Testament, and it provided a slightly different perspective on the text.
NOTE: The verses for Psalm 24 are from the 1853 Leeser Old Testament, while the verses used in the comments are from the 1769 King James Bible.
A — All Creation Belongs to the Lord God
Psalm 24 “1 Unto the Lord belongeth the earth with what filleth it, the world and they that dwell therein; 2 For upon seas hath he founded it, and upon rivers hath he established it.”
Comments: This Psalm opened with David using the terms of land, seas, and rivers in a broad manner to describe the planet we call earth as the complete possession of the Creator God. Also the people who inhabit the earth, and everything else that exists as part of it, belong to the LORD. The first book of the Bible provided the firm Biblical foundation for belief in God for many centuries for Jews such as David. Genesis 1 “1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Psalm 50:12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” Psalm 89:11 “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
B — Only the Lord Can Reward with Righteousness
Psalm 24 “3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? and who shall be able to stand in his holy place? 4 He that is of clean hands, and pure of heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, and hath not sworn deceitfully: 5 He shall bear away blessing from the Lord, and the reward of righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those that adore him, that seek thy presence, the sons of Jacob. Selah.”
Comments: The events that took place at mount Sinai still present a vivid image of the holiness of the LORD God and the reverence and care needed before approaching him. Exodus 19 “18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.” David wanted to have the proper attitude before God. Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Those who want to approach the LORD must not consider falsehood of speech or action to be a small matter in his eyes. That step of faith through grace is the only source of righteousness acceptable to the LORD God. Psalm 62:12 “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” John 10 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
C — The Lord Is the King of Glory
Psalm 24 “7 Raise your heads, O ye gates; and be raised wide, ye everlasting doors: and let the King of glory enter! 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Raise your heads, O ye gates; and raise them up, ye everlasting doors: and let the King of glory enter! 10 Who is then this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”
Comments: These last four verses have some very unique phrases that do not appear anywhere else in the Bible: “everlasting doors” and “King of glory.” Those ancient and eternal doors are symbols that easily could represent timeless and limitless universal entry for the King of glory to be eagerly welcomed by those who have truly placed their trust in him. David declared that the King of glory is the one true God by the use of the Hebrew word Yahweh translated as Lord. Verses 9 and 10 could be taken as a refrain of affirmation and jubilation of verses 7 and 8 with slight variation for emphasis! Exodus 15:18 “The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” Centuries after King David’s death, Isaiah wrote prophecy about the one to be born who would rule on the throne of David forever. Isaiah 9 “6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Jesus is the embodiment of the King of glory David wrote about, and that has been true in the past, for the present and forever. 1 Corinthians 2:8 “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Titus 2 “13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Revelation 11:15 “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
Reflections in Prayer
I thank you, Lord, for the written Word of God that has given me the knowledge of your glory. I believe that you are the Creator of the world and of everything within and upon it, and of all mankind. Your grace allows close fellowship with you, but sin in any person will require separation from your holiness. This Psalm of David has been a reminder to me to examine myself by your Word, and to always remember that approaching the LORD of Glory is not something to be taken lightly. I thank you that when I confess and repent of my sin before you, that by your grace you openly give me your love by restoring my fellowship in the Spirit. There is no designated mountain of the LORD to approach today, but believers all over the earth must remember that you are high and lifted up above all of your creation. I want to have the kind of emphasized expectation of your return as David expressed, when the gates are lifted up for the LORD of glory! Thank you, my Savior, that I will be among those in your eternal kingdom by your grace and mercy. Hallelujah, amen.
Published 14 August 2016