Who Is This King of Glory?

A few years ago there was a popular song that contained the line “come just as you are to worship...” The question I am forced to ask is, is that true? Can I come before the Lord no matter what state I am in and worship Him in spirit and in truth?

Consider with me for a moment how the OT answers this question. Did God care in the OT about the state of those who entered into His presence? Yes, at the burning bush what did Moses have to do (take off His shoes)? What happened to Nadab and Abihu when they offered a sacrifice that wasn’t in line with God’s instructions (they were killed)? Then we come to what is I believe the historical context of this Psalm. When David and the Israelites attempted to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from Kiriath Jearim (1 Chronicles 13:1–10). When the ark started to fall over, a man reached out and touched the ark to catch it, and he was immediately struck dead. Why? He was not one of the Levites God had authorized to serve in this sacred, reserved role (Deuteronomy 31:25; 1 Chronicles 15:2).

It may be difficult to understand such strict views regarding ceremony in our time, but these ways were part of how God revealed Himself as holy to the people of Israel. With the coming of Jesus, we find a fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17) and the curtain of the temple torn in two, offering direct access to God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:20). God continues to reign in perfect holiness, and all who come to Him through Christ are made part of “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).

But does that mean that God no longer cares about the state of our hearts when we come before Him in worship? Perhaps we should as Ananias and Sapphira or those in the Corinthian church who were abusing the communion table. In fact when we consider Paul’s statements in those passages perhaps we have our answer. 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

I believe that the biblical model is that the repentant sinner comes just as he or she is. There are no prerequisites for salvation, but the worshipper must come in humility and holiness.

Who We Worship

Yahweh - the I AM!

MPT: David a king presents Yahweh as the King.

Who is subject to this King? - The 3 “E”s

Everywhere - the world

Everything - the earth and everything in it

Everyone - those who dwell on the earth

Creator

v.2 answers the question why?

Note: Wed night study on Genesis

Not only did God create the world but we should remember how He created it. When we build something we claim ownership of it.

That is my car, my house!

Really, did you grow the trees that made the wood out of which your house is built?

Did you make the dirt upon which your home stands?

The first law of thermodynamics, thermodynamic relation stating that, within an isolated system, the total energy of the system is constant, even if energy has been converted from one form to another. This law is another way of stating the law of conservation of energy. In physics and chemistry, the law of conservation of mass states that for any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy, the mass of the system must remain constant over time, as the system's mass cannot change, so the quantity can neither be added nor be removed. Therefore, the quantity of mass is conserved over time. This universe that we live in is a closed system. However, I propose that that the only real logical explanation of the existence of this system is and intelligent designer that exists outside of it. I also propose that designer has revealed Himself to us in Word of God. And what is revealed to us is a God who speaks matter and energy into existence!

It is a popular thing today to say that you are deconstructing your faith. Modern “deconstruction” usually means replacing uncomfortable tenets with culturally or personally popular ideas. I just have a question for those that are doing this, just who do you think you are? Before you allow your pride to take you down that road just remember whose dirt you are standing on.

Who May Worship

v. 3 is essentially the most important question anyone can ask. “Who can be rightly related to God?” or “who can stand in His presence?”

Clean Hands

When we see these two categories together we might infer that we are looking at an external purity and an internal purity.

We see this combination a few different times in Scripture. The one that comes to mind from the NT is James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

When we think of having clean hands we are reminded that what we say and do matters to God.

Thus the first requirement to be in God’s presence is having a purified behavior.

The key question we ask ourselves is, over the course of my life has my behavior lived up to the standard of God’s holiness that I may enter enter into the presence of God on my own merit?

Pure Heart

When we move to the internal aspect of purity a couple of things are made clear. If you don’t have clean hands then you don’t have a pure heart.

Before you think, “well that is obvious”. It is quite amazing how many people think that God doesn’t care about our personal holiness.

I can look at pornography and still grow as a Christian.

I can live with my boyfriend and still grow as a Christian.

I can miss church whenever I feel like it and still grow as a Christian.

God doesn’t care that I smoke, or God doesn’t care how much I drink.

The second thing to consider here is that someone may have from external appearances perfectly clean hands, but Scripture is clear that no one has a pure heart.

For whatever reason Mother Theresa has become ubiquitous with goodness in our vernacular. Did she ever throw a temper tantrum when she was three years old?

Romans 3:10–11 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”

Once again we come to our key question that we have to ask ourselves. Has my heart ever been pure enough that I can confidently stand in the holy presence of God?

Summary

David declares in this Psalm that in order to be in the presence of God we must have clean hands and a pure heart. The examples he gives of what that looks like is:

He does not lift up his soul to what is false. - probably a reference to idolatry.

He does not swear deceitfully.

Positively he is blessed by the Lord, and his righteousness is from the God of his salvation.

He concludes by saying “This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” Probably the best understanding of this phrase that David is saying “this is the hallmark of those who seek God.”

We could summarize David’s point in these verses by saying that to be in God’s presence even in worship we must be righteous before Him.

At first we might be discouraged because when we examine ourselves we find that we do not have clean hands or a pure heart.

But when David describes the righteousness of this hypothetical person what does he say? That his righteousness is from the God of his salvation.

Where does our righteousness come from? The God of our salvation.

Thus the MPT is that we do not have to be perfect to come before God in worship because Christ is perfect. The type of sins that hinder our worship are on going, unrepentant sin.

Where We Worship

Jerusalem

As I said earlier the historical context for this chapter is most likely when the ark of the covenant is returned to Jerusalem.

The first time they attempted this it did not go well.

The second time it when much better because they did things according to God’s instructions.

What is the big deal with the ark of the covenant? What did it represent? God’s presence.

This is why there was such a celebration when they successfully brought the ark into Jerusalem.

It is why David proclaims “lift up your heads O gates!” and “be lifted up O ancient doors!” He is personifying the gates of Jerusalem in celebration that God’s presence will be known in Jerusalem.

The best understanding of v. 7-10 are the procession of a King entering his capitol. But in this case the King is not David. If the King is not David then who is it? David asks the question for us. Who is this King of Glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty

The Lord, mighty in battle

The Lord of hosts or armies

In the Presence of the King of Glory

Do we have to go to Jerusalem to worship?

Do we have to go to Jerusalem to find the presence of God?

No, don’t forget that with the death of Christ the veil has been torn.

MPS:

Don’t insult the holiness of God by attempting to come to Him in worship while indulging in unrepentant sin.

Rejoice that in Christ we have been made righteous so that even with all of our imperfections we can worship God appropriately. Never lose sight that all true worship is grace enabled.