Psalm 24

Text: Psalm 24

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,”

The earth is the Lord’s: Declaration of Ownership

Israel’s Kingdom wasn’t great because of its people but because their God was Great. David was a noble, successful king – but of a relatively small and insignificant kingdom. One might easily think that the gods of the Egyptians or Assyrians were greater because those kingdoms were greater. Yet David rightly knew that the Lord, Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, was God of all the earth.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness: It wasn’t enough for David to say that the entire earth belonged to the Lord; he added that all its fullness also belonged to Him. It’s difficult to think of a more sweeping statement of God’s ownership.

There is a sense in which the “world” belongs to Satan.

Satan is called the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), He tempted Jesus with the promise of giving Him the kingdoms of this world, Jesus did not question the devil’s ability to do so. Yet Satan can only do anything at God’s allowance, so God’s ultimate ownership is true. This is an idea that Adam lost the authority of earth to the devil at the Fall. Just know that He lost any authority at the Cross because Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Paul quoted the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness twice (1 Corinthians 10:26 and 10:28) to establish the principle that no food is in itself unclean, and that there is in fact nothing that actually belongs to the false gods the pagans made offerings unto.

His Claim is established in Creation. (2)

For He has founded it upon the seas: God has the right to the earth and all who dwell upon it because He created both it and them. Specifically, David looks back to the creation account of Genesis 1 and remembers the creation of land in the midst of earth’s waters on the third day of creation.

And established it upon the waters: To the best of our knowledge, David had never ventured more than a few hundred miles beyond Israel, and had never seen a large sea other than the Mediterranean (perhaps also the Red Sea). David never saw a modern globe or earth projection. Yet he knew that the waters of the earth dominated the globe, so much so that it could be said that the earth is in the midst of the waters instead of the waters in the midst of the earth’s land.

Then David trains the focus of his lens. Not on the greatness of God but the one that God would accept. It is the set up. We are supposed to understand the greatness of creation the greatness of the Kingdom and the greatness of the Father. The greatness of God is undisputed. It is undeniable.

Who shall Ascend the hill?

It is a simple question and as you can imagine the answer stems all the way back to that creation first mentioned.

Who may stand in His holy place? David here clarified his previous question. David asked, “Who has the right to stand before God at His holy temple, in the holy place?”

Clean Hands - he has abstain from sinfulness.

Pure Heart - Mind and heart completely devoted to the Lord.

Sacrificed for Vanity - This is speaking of idolatry. We are often tempted to waste our life and resources and truly sacrifice this life for things that are worthless.

Dishonest in dealings. words are a great indicator of where our character is.

This encompasses actions, thoughts, and ambition. Anyone pure in these are fully acceptable by God.

Any takers no of course not we are polluted by sin. We are sinners. We are not sinners because we sin rather we sin because we are sinners.

Fully and completely engulfed in sinfulness. Completely engorged with a sinful nature.

SO then who could he be speaking of. Yes the Messiah. he is the truly blessed. no one could deny the blessing of the Father to his Son. He gave him the very Heaven and earth as his blessing.

And the Salvation of God is the very liberty from the grave. Acts 2:24

Consider with me verse 7…

Imagine the day that Jesus walked back into his rightful place into Heaven. Think of the Mighty, Lofty, and Glorious Gates. As the murdered, resurrected, and ascended Messiah approached.

You and I would have to be let in. Not the Glorified son. The watchmen have waited for this very moment. The horns began to sound for the returned and glorified Son of God. He didn’t have to knock the Gates of Heaven peeled back to bring in the acceptable sacrifice for all of man’s sin.

Can you hear as all heaven breaks into song as he enters the gates.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. vs 8 &10

You and I can sing that song even today. Who is the king of Glory. Jesus strong and mighty who won the battle for my soul. I found that he is strong in battle.

By the way that is our place in this Psalm. consider verse 6 is where you and I find our application.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (6)

Fortunately, God established a better covenant, a new covenant through the person and work of Jesus. Under the new covenant, we see that Jesus is the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, perfectly so. Jesus has neverlifted up his soul to an idol, and has neversworn deceitfully. In His righteousness, given to all who believe (Romans 3:22), we can ascend His holy hill and stand in His holy place.