FLING WIDE THE GATES!
Opening Prayer
King of Glory, come in.
Read Psalm 24
Psalm 24
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 Savior.
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.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If you can, listen to Psalm 24 as a song, or sing a version you know.This passage can be used to remember and celebrate Jesus riding into Jerusalem, the Holy City, as King. He rides on a donkey and thus fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy (Zech. 9:9). On this occasion the crowds welcome him with words from Psalm 118:25,26 (all recorded in Matt. 21:1–11). As we have been reading over these last few days, the jubilation will soon change to hatred and loathing; such is the fickleness of humans.
In today’s psalm David is declaring that God is King over all the earth and everything in it. He then ponders the question: who can enter into this holy God’s presence? Only those who are holy, like him. Notice the emphasis on cleanliness and purity. Does anyone qualify? I certainly do not.
Then comes the call for the doors of God’s dwelling place to open up (7–10). Is this so that God can come out? No, it is so that the King of Glory can go in! Because Jesus entered Jerusalem as King many years later and went to his death on the cross, he is the one who ensures that we can enter God’s presence. Jesus is the King with clean hands and a pure heart. He is our forerunner, going ahead of us and making our acceptance by our heavenly Father possible.
Apply
Read Hebrews 4:14–16 and ponder on your relation to God as given through Christ.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Jesus, for making the way for me to come into God’s presence.
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