ENTERING WHERE GOD DWELLS
Opening Prayer
Lord, we recognize You as sovereign over all.
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
Thank God for those who have been generous and hospitable to you (particularly in church). In what ways might generosity and hospitality play a greater role in your life?
This processional psalm proclaims the sovereignty of God. We picture the pilgrims reaching the temple gates, singing this jubilant psalm responsively and then joyfully answering the questions chanted by the priest: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?” (3); “Who is he, this King of glory?” (10).
Jesus would have known all the psalms. In his day, everybody knew them! Matthew records that Jesus and the disciples were able to sing a hymn, either a psalm or Passover liturgy. Whatever it was, they knew it by heart. Nobody had word books; Scripture was painstakingly recorded on large scrolls. Few people outside the temple or the synagogues owned one, but people could recite large blocks of Scripture and sing all of the psalms. This is not unknown today. I have been in church in a remote Vanuatu village where the song leader simply started singing and without books everyone joined in. We might be surprised at how many songs we ourselves recall if someone would merely start to sing the tune.
This psalm would have been deeply meaningful to Jesus, confidently proclaiming the sovereignty of God, affirming our human identity, and declaring what God requires of humankind. “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?” (3) asks the same question as “Who can enter the kingdom of heaven?”—a question that dominated Jesus’ teaching. Matthew records the phrase “kingdom of heaven” fifty times. In this psalm, the person who can enter must have “clean hands and a pure heart” (4) and be loyal to God alone. Jesus may have used different imagery to make a point, but his teachings were the same. Those who would enter the kingdom of heaven must be poor in spirit, childlike, and willing to serve God above all else.
Apply
“Cleanse me from my sin, Lord, / Put Thy pow’r within, Lord, / Take me as I am, Lord, / And make me all Thine own.” (R. Hudson Pope, 1879–1967).
Closing prayer
Lord, continue to equip us for that point in time when we will leave this realm and enter the realm wherein You reside.
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