The King of Glory

There was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to the motor of his car. He cabled the Rolls-Royce people back in England and asked, “I’m having trouble with my car; what do you suggest I do?” Well, the Rolls-Royce people flew a mechanic over! The mechanic repaired the car and flew back to England and left the man to continue his holiday.

As you can imagine, the fellow was wondering, “How much is this going to cost me?” So when he got back to England, he wrote the people a letter and asked how much he owed them. He received a letter from the office that read: “Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce.” That is justification!

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. “Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”

“I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”

“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.” When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”

A fitting intro to today’s look at Ps. 24…and the connection there between the obedience of the King and the obedience of the people…especially concerning their ability to worship the Lord.

READ Ps. 24

Is there a historical setting to this psalm?

Could it be the entrance of the ark into Jerusalem?

Maybe, but probably not it’s full intent…actually certainly not. This Psalm clearly has a messianic theme to it. So, even if David wrote it about the entrance of the ark…the HS intention was far beyond that.

Jim Boice notes an interesting fact.

The ancient rabbinical sources tell us that in the Jewish liturgy, Psalm 24 was always used in worship on the first day of the week.1 The first day of the week is our Sunday. So, putting these facts together, we may assume that these were the words being recited by the temple priests at the very time the Lord Jesus Christ mounted a donkey and ascended the rocky approach to Jerusalem. The people who were outside the walls, who were approaching Jerusalem with him, exclaimed: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” "Hosanna in the highest" (Matt. 21:9)!

Inside the priests were intoning: “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.”

But the priests were not joining in the cries of acclamation for Jesus, and within days they would conspire to have him executed as a blasphemer. The common people, even though they hailed him as the Lord's Anointed on Palm Sunday, would be crying, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" before the week was out.

King of All Creation

Verses 1 and 2 seem out of place in the whole of the Psalm. At first glance they don’t seem to fit the theme of the following verses…so what are they doing there?

The bulk of the psalm describes the people of God coming to Jerusalem—we must assume that they are largely Jews—and God also coming to his city. It would be very easy for the people to conclude from this description that God is a Jewish God exclusively, that is, that he is for Jews only or somehow loves Jews more than other people. We know how strong that idea later became, because even in the days of the Lord Jesus Christ the disciples seemed unable to think of a worldwide kingdom but thought instead of an exclusively Jewish one. Thus, even after the resurrection they were asking Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6)? Their understanding of the kingdom was restricted ethnically (it was for "Israel"), politically (it was a "restoration" of the earlier kingdom of David) and geographically (it was to be centered in Jerusalem).

Jesus had to teach them that his was to be a spiritual kingdom which would extend throughout the world: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (v. 8).

The opening verses of Psalm 24 are an Old Testament expression of this truth. They tell us that, although for a time God did in a way tie his earthly presence to Jerusalem, God nevertheless is God of all the earth. "The world and all who live in it” belong to him. If you are a part of this world, as you are, you owe him allegiance as your true and rightful King. You have a great responsibility. But from it there also flows a great blessing.

Who May Come

Verse 3 brings us back to Jerusalem…back to the holy hill. For David…the hill in question was Mt. Moriah…just north of where his palace stood…the same hill Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac upon…the same hill where the ark would find a resting place…the same hill that later Solomon would construct a temple…the same hill that later Herod would expand and create the massive temple mount that still stands to this day. <<pics?>> The same hill that Jesus entered on Palm Sunday and was led away from carrying his cross on Good Friday.

But David’s question centers on worship…who may approach this Holy God in worship…who is worthy?

Verse 4 answers the question. But, I don’t know about you…that’s a concerning verse.

So, as we gather for worship today on the Lord’s holy hill, as we enter his throne room, his holy place, to offer our prayers and offerings, I ask you. Are your hands clean, and is your heart pure? Have both your every thought, that which you conceive inwardly, and your every deed, that which you have done outwardly, measured up to the standard of your heavenly father’s perfection, “Be ye perfect, as I am perfect.” Have you walked blamelessly this week? Have you committed no sins? Have you not failed to do anything required of you? Have you prayed without ceasing, loved without flagging, poured fourth your heart, soul, mind, and strength upon the altar of the Lord? Loved every creature in the world and all those who dwell therein? Glorified God for every moment of grace and blessing that you have experienced? Children, have you obeyed your parents? Always? Without delay? Without question? Have you been happy to do so, with honor and love in your heart for those who are in authority over you?

That is the central question asked of you by Psalm 24, and it is the question of the Law. The law does not inquire of your intentions alone, whether you want to please God, whether you are trying to. It asks how you have done, how you are doing. It asks about your heart, and your hands. And its standard is perfection. It offers blessing for performance, not intention. Reward for inward and outward obedience. That is the question of the Law, and that is the deal it offers you. Do these things, think these thoughts, and you will live.

I’m sure we’ve all heard sermons in the past…sermons that consisted entirely of these questions to the congregation. How have you done this week? Have you been blameless, have you been truthful? Have you honored the Lord? Can you try harder next week? You must. But, let’s be honest what comfort, what hope, was offered by those sermons, other than that Jesus is waiting patiently for your best effort. But we were never told whether our best effort would be good enough, though I somehow I think we all know that it wouldn’t. See, the problem with those try harder sermons is that they often lack the gospel. They call upon you to make yourself worthy without acknowleding your inability to do so.

As sinners our hands are never clean enough, hearts never pure enough…we often lift our souls up to what is false…we are often deceitful.

Don’t miss this…its crucial to understanding this Psalm

In Psalm 24 David asks us who can lead this procession? Who is worthy? And as he cries out, the great congregation responds in kind: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.” Remarkable, isn’t it, how this most ancient of biblical liturgies (remember this was part of the weekly readings by the priests) approaches the place of worship with the law on its lips, confessing their sins, confessing their need for a holy priest, a true prophet, and a mighty king to lead them into worship, just as much as they needed the Ark of the Covenant to lead them in victory on the battlefield.

This Psalm is crying out for Jesus! This psalm is dripping with the tears of unworthiness on the part of humanity and the need for one who will ascend the hill.

Yet, brothers and sisters…those of you who know Jesus this morning have ascended the holy hill of the Lord…you are right now in the midst of the holy place (not this building…but the body of Christ…his church) So, how did you get here? How did you become worthy to do so?

Verse 5 tells us...

This is justification by faith. See it? Blessing from the Lord…righteousness from God.

Remember justification is a fancy word for being right with God…for being forgiven for sin. David is saying here that the one who approaches God in worship with clean hands and a pure heart does so because he has received blessing from the Lord and his righteousness from God.

In other words, the worshipper is coming not on his own merits, but on the merits given to him by God…another’s merits.

This section of this Psalm is a great OT example of how to answer the question: How can a sinner be made right with God?

The answer is found in Romans 5:17-19

Romans 5:17–19 [17] For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (ESV)

We are justified by a righteousness that is not ours, but is someone else’s, namely Christ’s. Some older theologians called this alien righteousness. Meaning, it is righteousness that is foreign…that is not within us.

The amazing thing is…God both declares us righteous when we are not, but he also creates a new relationship…a new status for us whereby the realty of our justification is real. So, God creates the new relationship and declares it to be so.

The basis of our justification is not our faith, but the obedience of Christ credited to our account.

Saving faith is the instrument that takes hold of the righteousness of Christ, offered in the gospel as our salvation.

Justification by faith is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. Why? Because the very heart of the gospel is at stake. If justification is by anything else, then we do not need God’s grace…and if we do not need God’s grace, we do not need Jesus.So, why faith? Why would God choose faith to be the instrument by which we receive the merits of Christ on our behalf?Because the very nature of faith is trust in something outside ourselves. Faith offers nothing, but comes empty handed. We contribute nothing to our salvation, we come to Christ gripping onto him because we have nothing to give.It also matters that we understand our faith is not what saves us…and if I’m repeating myself it is because you really really have to get this. We are justified not just by faith…but by faith IN CHRIST. As one author said…we are not saved for believing but by believing. In other words, faith doesn’t manufacture our salvation…faith takes hold of it.

The King Has Come

The final section is the great culmination of the Psalm. It brings forth rapturous praise over the coming of the king…the coming of the one who is worthy.

One commentator pointed out to me:

Many of the psalms seem to have been arranged for antiphonal singing, one voice or one choir asking a question and another choir or chorus answering it. This psalm is quite obviously like this.5 I do not see how it is possible to get the true effect of his last section without approaching it in this way. It goes like this:

The chorus approaching with the king:

Lift up your heads, O you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors

that the King of glory may come in.

A voice from within the walls:

Who is this King of glory?

A spokesman for the King:

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

The original approaching chorus:

Lift up your heads, O you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

The voice from within repeating the former question:

Who is he, this King of glory?

Everyone:

The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.

Spurgeon wrote: “It is possible that you are saying, “I shall never enter into the heaven of God, for I have neither clean hands nor a pure heart.” Look then to Christ, who has already climbed the holy hill. He has entered as the forerunner of those who trust him. Follow in his footsteps, and repose upon his merit. He rides triumphantly into heaven, and you shall ride there too if you trust him. “But how can I get the character described?” say you. The Spirit of God will give you that. He will create in you a new heart and a right spirit. Faith in Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit, and has all virtues wrapped up in it.”

The Scriptures concludes that all have sinned, that none do good, not even one. But The Lord nevertheless has chosen Zion, he has set his love particularly upon her. He has chosen you to be an heir of this heavenly city.

And this Lord does not bless every path to her precincts, but rather calls all peoples, all nations, to this place. He will receive blessing from the Lord who enters His temple to worship, You will not bring in your own righteousness, but will receive it from the Lord. This promise, this place, this people, is the source of your blessing.

Remarkable, isn’t it, that 54% of evangelicals disagree with the statement that “spiritual disciplines and regular church attendance are essential ingredients to becoming right with God.” Over half believe that personal devotion is more important than weekly church attendance is more important in the making of disciples,

and 92% agree that “getting saved has nothing to do with joining a church.” Sadly many have this disregard for public worship and “church,” this view that the formal things of religion are not only insufficient, but perhaps unhelpful, to faith and salvation.

Now, I want you to hear me very clearly…I am not saying that spiritual disciplines and church attendance are the cause of being right with God. I’m not saying you’re saved by coming to church. But what I am saying is that those who have been justified bear the fruit of that salvation, which does include a priority of worship and spiritual discipline…it does include being obedient to Christ by being baptized and joining a church…and regularly participating in the worship of the church…especially the ministry of the Word and the Lord’s Supper.

I hope you are not harboring such a low view of the church. Because the Psalm does not let us do so. As Calvin notes on this text, it is not as though the power and grace of God are shut up within the temple or the church, but rather that God has promised to meet us here, as he said to Moses in Exodus 20:24, “In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.”

Look, I’m not one for new year’s resolutions…but let’s admit it is a great time to reflect and perhaps even repent and set out in obedience. Maybe this morning you need to evaluate your committment to this church…because although church attendance can’t save you…it is a very good indicator of your spiritual health.

Being a part of the church is more than being a spectator…this isn’t a show put on weekly that you just come and enjoy. This is the family of God gathering to worship him.

Our BFC Principle of Order actually begin with a section on the Church and the duties of individual members. Maybe its been a long time since you’ve reviewed them. What does it mean to be a member of the local church?

To live in keeping with the doctrines and standards of the Church as found in the F&O

(2) To exercise willingly one’s spiritual gifts within the body

(3) To minister under the direction of the Church

(4) To bear the message of the Church to the outside world

(5) To pray daily for the elders and the ministries of the Church

(6) To support the program of the Church financially with the regular giving of

tithes and offerings

(7) To submit to those God has ordained as rulers in the Church

(8) To attend faithfully the stated meetings of the Church

(9) To observe the Lord’s Supper

(10) To demonstrate mutual care and concern for the other members of the Church

This isn’t a you need to do more sermon…this is a gospel sermon. None of these things above can save you…none of them on their own can make you right with God. But, every one of them is the fruit of your salvation…every one of them stands as evidence of what has gone on in your heart…and more than that they are ongoing means of God continuing to sanctify you.

Listen to me…you are here worshipping the One true God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. You’re not here on your own merits…the righteousness that makes your hands clean and your heart pure isn’t yours…you have been given an incredible indescribable gift in Jesus Christ and that should change you. I mention these duties of church membership not to harp on you but to remind you of the call of a disciple. Jesus didn’t purchase you for you to casually associate with his body. He purchased you for you to be all in.

None of us are the perfect disciple…every one of us going down that list of duties has massive progress to make…that’s sanctificaiton…that’s ongoing growth in holiness…but don’t let that be an excuse…instead understand the power that is yours in the gospel to really desire these things and humbly walk in obedience. How does God sanctify us? How does he grow us?

To live in keeping with the doctrines and standards of the Church as found in the F&O

(2) To exercise willingly one’s spiritual gifts within the body

(3) To minister under the direction of the Church

(4) To bear the message of the Church to the outside world

(5) To pray daily for the elders and the ministries of the Church

(6) To support the program of the Church financially with the regular giving of

tithes and offerings

(7) To submit to those God has ordained as rulers in the Church

(8) To attend faithfully the stated meetings of the Church

(9) To observe the Lord’s Supper

(10) To demonstrate mutual care and concern for the other members of the Church

Jesus has given you clean hands and a pure heart for a reason…how are you going to use them?

Do you have clean hands and a pure heart, or are you still defiled by your sin? Many would tell you to clean up your act…do good and God will reward you. Nothing could be further from the truth…our good will never be good enough. We need the goodness of another...