Psalm 24

The Lord is High and Lift Up

Psalm 24

Introduction:

Most believe that this Psalm was written at the time that the Ark of the Covenant was brought back into Jerusalem and put in its rightful place in the Tabernacle

It was a time of celebration and a time of worship

Many believe that it looks ahead to the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  It may well do this, but as we have said about some of the other Psalms, David would not have understood it in this light, nor those to whom were reading it in his day.

This may have been read as a responsive type reading by David and the people.

I.                   The Lord is above all vv. 1-3

1.      The extent of what is His v. 1

      The earth and all that it contains

      The world and those who dwell in it

      Saw how it all points to the Lord in Psalm 19:1-6

      How important is it today for us to recognize this truth?

                  We belong to the Lord

                  All there is around us belongs to the Lord

2.      The reason that the Lord is above all v. 2

He founded it, He made it

It speaks of His sovereignty:  He has ultimate control and ownership

3.      The result of His position v. 3

      Not everyone can ascend into His presence

I think that it is significant that the people, and David, here recognize this as they bring the Ark in the Tabernacle.  What happened the first time they tried?  1 Chronicles 13:7-14

II.                 Who then is able to come into His presence?  Vv. 3-4

                        Psalm 15 is similar to this

1.      He who has clean hands:

Represents right work, actions before the Lord

Priest went about washing their hands to represent cleanness

See Mark 7:1-8

See James 4:7-8

2.      He who has a pure heart

See Matthew 15:19-20

We must have a heart that is right with the Lord

Goes much deeper than most care to today.  Many are only concerned with the outward appearances.

         *Pharisees were called whitewashed tombs

*They were concerned with how they looked to men (prayer, giving, fasting, etc.)

3.      He who has not worshipped an idol

Idea is one who has put the Lord first

The Lord is at first place in our lives or in not in our lives

We cannot serve the Lord and something or someone else at the same time

Those who came into the presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle could not go and serve idols.  Must worship the Lord alone!!

4.      He who has been honest

The Lord puts a premium on being honest before men

A lying tongue is listed in Proverbs 6 as one of the things God hates!

III.              The gifts God gives those who come to Him v. 5

1.      He shall receive a blessing from the Lord

Ask congregation:  How does God bless those who seek after Him?

2.      He shall receive righteousness from the God of his salvation

We are made right in the eyes of God today through Jesus

2 Cor. 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

IV.              The people invite the Lord into the Tabernacle vv. 7-10

                  Time of excitement and praise as the people sang to the Lord

                  Open the gates and doors wide and allow the Lord to come in

                  Who is the Lord?  “The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory!”