The words of this psalm are a processional hymn that was likely sung at particular times in Jerusalem by choirs of singers along the route to the house of the Lord. They are looking beyond the tribulation to the time our Lord Jesus Christ comes in glory. All His enemies will have been defeated, and He will enter Jerusalem as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This grand procession will leave onlookers speechless as the great glory of the Chief Shepherd is seen in contrast to the humiliation and suffering of the Lord Jesus when He came to Jerusalem before.
This processional hymn begins with praise and honor to the One who owns the earth. He made it, and He is the Sovereign God who allows humans to be stewards of His property. Its "fullness" contains all the wealth that has been found and all that is hidden. In the ground beneath our feet lies the "fullness" of food waiting to be brought forth to meet the needs of all humanity. Even the people who populate the earth exist because of the "fullness" of life He gives. He "founded" it because He is its Creator and Owner. The words of this hymn, sung by groups of people, will set the tone of the ascension of our Lord to the place where He sits on the "throne of David," fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.
The following four verses set forth the prerequisites of worship at the "hill of the Lord." There are moral requirements for approaching God. Some ethics characterize those who are genuine in their faith and righteous in their lives. The character of worship is not a casual stroll into the presence of God, more or less indicating that now I am here, let worship begin, and a rousing song is sung. In true worship, there is recognition of the One who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Upholder of all things. There is holy reverence and respect for the Person and the place where He dwells with His people.
"Who shall ascend?" or "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?" sets the standard for worshippers. Those in fellowship with the Lord have that fellowship because they have been made righteous. "Clean hands" refers to those who are righteous and practice righteousness through right actions. To be blameless is not something that is beyond the area of our responsibility. "Pure hearts" are in those who are truly sincere in their actions, are uncorrupted in their minds, and maintain their integrity despite all that goes on around them. Their right motives identify these.
Dishonesty and falsehood in communication hinder relationships. There can be no real relationship with our Lord without openness and honesty. True worshippers do not practice falsehood. They mean what they say when they sing a hymn, pray, and testify to God's grace towards them. Openness and honesty go together. Hidden agendas usually indicate reservations because of questionable motives. Those who are worshippers do not pervert justice. Their hands, hearts, and souls are right before God and righteous before people. It is those who receive blessings from the Lord. They are honestly and openly seeking to worship the Lord. Those are the people who will live with the Lord in the millennium. The born-again believers of the Jews and the redeemed of the Gentiles will all be there with the Lord and can enter the kingdom because they have been "born again."
The last four verses describe the divine entrance of our Lord to the place of honor, glory, and authority from which He will reign. The processional hymn declared His sovereignty in the past and will in the future. The prerequisites of worship are recognition of the Creator-God to whom all honor is given. Now, we can look forward to the actual presence of God with His people in His kingdom. The leader of the procession, like a herald, indicates that the tops of the doors are too low for the Great King, the Chief Shepherd of His people. To "lift up" means to enlarge and also to stand erect. When the city guards reply with a challenge to identify who the King of Glory is, the whole city and world will know. "The Lord is strong and mighty. The Lord is mighty in battle."
Right there in that city, the most important battle ever fought on earth occurred. The Mighty Victor, who defeated sin, death, and hell when He suffered in Jerusalem, is back. Now, He comes as the Mighty Conqueror over all the armies of man and nations that we allied against Him, whom He defeated with the word of His mouth, "the sharp two-edged sword." "The King of Glory" is the Chief Shepherd of His people, and He has come to bring peace on earth. Likely, the exchange of greetings and challenges will affect even the children, giving them a lesson about who our Lord Jesus Christ is. "Mighty in battle" means He has defeated all His enemies. "Lord of Hosts" means He is sovereign over all the world and the hosts of heaven. What a day it will be when God is here, dwelling among His people!! No wonder the psalm concludes with the word "Selah." We are wise when we stop to consider the future. Even though we see only glimpses of what lies ahead, we should take the time to ensure we are ready for the future events these prophetic psalms and scriptures foretell.
PSALM 24. The Chief Shepherd. THE KING OF GLORY
Everything belongs to God, the glorious, eternal King. We worship Him and welcome His reign of glory. The psalm looks at the Lord's triumphant ascension into Jerusalem at His return in glory. The world looks on as the One who startled many nations, suffered, and was despised and rejected by men, now moves into the height of His glory.
v. 1-2. THE PROCESSIONAL CHORUS “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Because the earth is the Lord’s, we are stewards or caretakers. We cannot claim it or any part of it because it will all eventually pass away. Many writers say this psalm was sung as they brought the ark to Jerusalem from the house of Obed-Edom.
This is a statement of divine ownership and Christ’s full right to reign. He has that right because He made the world and everything in it. He is the One who gathered the waters together. He is coming to claim what is His own. It has been denied Him for many centuries, but now He is coming to take back what is His own.
v. 3-6. THE PREREQUISITES OF WORSHIP “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place?” A description is given of those who will enter and enjoy the kingdom reign of 1000 years of peace and prosperity. The believing remnant of Israel, who have been born again, will enter the kingdom of God. Along with them will go the redeemed Gentiles, who have been born again, and will accompany them to the Temple to worship. These are those who, through the Great Tribulation, have had their robes made white through the blood of the Lamb. There are four character traits given to these people.
- They have clean hands: their actions are righteous and blameless.
- They have pure hearts: their motives are sincere, and their minds are uncorrupted.
- They do not commit falsehood in any way: idols are anything that takes the place of God in one’s life.
- They do not pervert justice by swearing to what is false: this means not telling lies under oath. God greatly values honesty. Dishonesty comes easily when complete truthfulness might cost us something, make us uncomfortable, or put us in an unfavorable light. Without honesty, a relationship with God is impossible.
Their hands, hearts, souls, and lips are all righteous. These are the kind of people who will be subjects in Christ’s kingdom. They were ridiculed and despised by the ungodly. Now, they are vindicated by God. They are citizens of the Millennium. These are those who seek the face of the God of Jacob. They have received the grace of God, who loves those who are unworthy. They have been singing the words of the first six verses as they cross the Valley of Kidron and draw near to the gates.
v. 7-10. THE DIVINE ENTRANCE “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” The herald at the head of the column calls out his command. The question comes back from the watchman at the gates of Jerusalem. The King of glory, the Lord of hosts, the Commander of the armies of heaven, the Messiah Himself is there – eternal, holy, and mighty. The command and the question are repeated, and the loud reply from the people who are His loyal subjects is repeated. The gates swing open; the King enters to take the scepter of His kingdom. Again, God’s people have the presence of God among them, reigning and ruling as His right. This whole psalm would teach the children the important lesson concerning the Coming of the Lord to reign.