Psalm 24 This psalm may have been written on the occasion of David’s retrieval of the Ark and its placement at Jerusalem (2 Sam. chapter 6).
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.
SECTIONS:
I- Processional song- worship of the Creator
II Consecration (questions inviting consecration and questions indicating consecration)
III State of Worshiping through Commemoration
QUESTIONS:
Why does the earth belong to the Lord?
Where else do we read about God creating the world?
Who may dwell in the Lord’s sanctuary?
Who is the King of glory?
Bible-studys.org
God created the world, and everything and everyone in it. We all belong to God in the sense that He created us. He can do with the world as He wishes. Genesis says everything in the universe was part of God’s creation, as does John, chapter 1. All mankind belongs to God. You were created by God, and for God. It really doesn’t matter how He created the world. It’s enough to know that He did. We know that even the wind and waves obeyed Jesus’ voice when He said to them, “peace be still” (Mark 4:39). All creation is subject to God.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” Mount Zion is called the hill of the Lord because it was the place designated for His worship, and the place of His abode. “Who shall ascend there with a view of abiding there? Who is worthy to dwell there?” The question is equivalent to asking, what is true religion? What is required? What will prepare a person for heaven?
Jesus opened the way to the Father by tearing down the veil of separation to the Most Holy Place. Before he did, if you entered it you died because only the High Priest could enter where God dwelt. Even then he could go only at certain times and there had to be the blood sacrifice of on animal as a substitute for sin. The only way any of us can stand in the Holy Place is when we’re covered by Jesus’ blood. We have the righteousness of Christ when we accept Jesus. He is the door we must enter. The King of glory is Jesus, who won the victory for us on the cross. He is mighty in battle, because He defeated Satan. He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Enduringword.com
David was a noble, successful king, but of a relatively small and insignificant kingdom. One might think that the gods of the Egyptians or Assyrians were greater because those kingdoms were greater. Yet David knew that the Lord was God of all the earth. There’s a sense in which the “world, ” temporarily belongs to Satan. Satan is called the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), and when he tempted Jesus with the promise of giving Him the kingdoms of this world, Jesus didn’t question his ability to do so. Yet Satan can only do anything if God allows it.
“He who has clean hands and a pure heart:” This speaks of a man or woman who is pure in both actions and intentions. God is concerned with the moral conduct of mankind. It’s easy to look at David’s list and see that my hands are not always clean or my heart pure. Idolatry can be both subtle and stubborn.
But, David’s principle is accurate under the New Covenant in this sense: the conduct of one’s life is a reflection of his relationship with God. 1 John 1:6 wrote: If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Under the Old Covenant a righteous walk was the precondition for fellowship with God. Under the New Covenant a righteous walk is the result of fellowship with God, founded on faith. Yet under both covenants, God cares very much about the moral conduct of mankind, especially those who identify themselves as His people.
We assume that King David wrote this psalm either for the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem or in commemoration of it.“When the King of England wishes to enter the city of London, through the Temple Bar, the gate being closed against him, the herald demands entrance. ‘Open the gate.’ From within a voice is heard, ‘Who is there?’ The herald answers, ‘The King of England!’ The gate is at once opened, and the king passes, amidst the joyful acclamations of his people.” (Evans, cited in Spurgeon)
SONG: I Will Enter the Gates with Thanksgiving