The King of Glory
May 21, 2012 (Monday)
When David became King, he prepared a place for the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence. When the time was right, he brought it to that place in Jerusalem. According to scholars, Psalm 24 provided the song for that occasion and was sung as it was brought into Jerusalem. Imagine you are there and you hear the people singing to each other: “Who is this King of Glory?” “It is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts!” (verses 7-10).
Let’s take a look at the Psalm. What is its message to us? Let’s consider three main thoughts:
1. The Lord has the right to claim worship, because he has created us, redeemed us, and gives meaning and purpose to our lives. The earth is the Lord’s, and they that dwell therein (verse 1). The New Testament declares, “You are not your own; therefore, glorify God” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
2. The Lord lays down the requirements for worship. The basic qualifications are “clean hands” and “a pure heart” (verse 4). “Clean hands” means hands that have not been used to commit sin. “A pure heart” means a heart free of deceit and duplicity–a sincere heart. How can we worship God if we are willing to lie to God almighty, professing to obey his commandments but full of evil thoughts and living lives of willful sin? God wants virtuous lives and sincere hearts.
3. The Lord gives the blessings of worship. The true worshiper “shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (verse 5). True worship cleanses and strengthens. As Christians this means we have an awareness of the presence of Christ in our lives at all times. Worship strengthens that awareness.
Our worship of God needs to be warm and real.
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1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
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