Bible Commentaries
Psalms 24

Verses 1-10

1. Intro:
   1. Ps.22 = The Cross; Ps.23 = The Crook; Ps.24 = The Crown.
   2. Background: Jewish tradition says that this psalm was written to commemorate David’s returning the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (1 Chron.15). What a wonderful spectacle it must have been!
      1. The Philistines had the ark for 7 months until they finally decided this ark was “too hot to handle”!
      2. Yet the eye of the psalmist looked beyond the upgoing of the ark & to the upgoing of the King of Glory!
   3. How it was sung:
      1. The choir would sing vv. 1-2, a voice would respond with v. 3, and then another voice would answer with v. 4. Then the chorus would sing vv. 5-6. As people entered the gates of the city, the chorus would sing out vv. 8-9, and the voice would ask again, “Who is this king of glory?” Then the entire group would shout, “The Lord of hosts! He is the king of glory!”
   4. Outline: Who is the true God? Who is the true Israel? Who is the true Redeemer?
2. WHO IS THE TRUE GOD? (1,2)
   1. We’ve charted at least 100,000 light years(186,282 mps) from rim to rim of world! - 600 million billion miles of stars...all His! (John Phillips pg.180,181)
      1. In the midst of the millions of galaxies, we have one galaxy called Milky Way. In the midst of which we have one star(we call sun), with its baby planets following close by. It takes this little solar system 200 million years to get around it one time!
      2. In the midst of this vast galaxy we have our little solar system, in the midst of which we find one planet different from all planets…earth!
         1. Q: Why is the Earth so important to the Lord? – It is because of what has happened here!
         2. The Placement of man – the Fall of man – The Redemption of man!
         3. Earth has been chosen…not abandoned!
         4. Help is on the way! – “The earth is the Lord’s!”
      3. See Ps.50:10-12
      4. Every nook & cranny is His!
         1. Especially a little plot of land in the Middle East He lays special claim to, called Israel.
         2. It’s small, you could lay it over the map of Lake Elsinore to San Diego.
         3. It is not owned by the Palestinian Arabs nor the PLO, it is His land in which He deeded to “Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob/Israel”.
            1. To Isaac the Jew, not Ishmael the Arab.
         4. And in the midst of this land a city Jerusalem, in the midst of a city a hill “Mount Zion”, in the midst of a hill the Holy Place!
   2. Good stewardship is one of the great responsibilities of the Christian.
      1. We are stewards not owners! – Christians we do not “own” anything, God owns everything!
      2. He doesn’t only own the cattle on a 1000 hills, but as Warren W. said, “He owns the Cadillac’s in a 1000 garages!”
      3. God owns what you possess. That brings humility, not pride!
      4. Jn.3:27 “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”
   3. (2) founded it, established it - This shows “why” the world belongs to Him, because He created it!
      1. Talk about carrying a “Title” on a piece of property beyond all dispute.
   4. Upon the seas/waters – It is God who lifts the earth from out of the seas.
      1. Gen.1:9,10 “…let the dry land appear"; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”
3. WHO IS THE TRUE ISRAEL? (3-6)
   1. Who have we here but a people purified to dwell with the Lord Himself.
   2. (3) Questions!
      1. ​​​​​​​I picture an uphill lifelong mountain climb. After years of scaling towering risky heights, with a sense of getting to the top, then you’re faced with a 90 degree slick vertical face stretching straight up into the heavens, which no human climber could possibly climb!
      2. How impossible it is any time man tries to reach God…yet, how simple for God to reach down to man!
   3. Nobody but the Lord J.C. can meet God’s qualifications to live in His holy place.
   4. (4) Answers!
   5. Vs. 4 describes Him as the perfect Man, the perfect King.
      1. The only king to qualify is J.C.
      2. He has flung open wide the dates to the Temple & has torn the veil to the Holy of Holies!
      3. So, those who may ascend the Lords hill & can stand in His Holy Place are those who…
      4. He who has: (purity of conduct & character)
      5. Clean hands – that’s the outward life!
         1. What monarch would have servant’s w/filthy hands to wait at His table?
         2. 2 questions: How to Get them clean? How to Keep them clean?
         3. If our hands are now unclean, wash them in the basin of Jesus’ blood!
      6. Pure heart - that’s the inward life!
         1. God brings the hands & the heart together because “we do what we do because we are what we are”. (John Phillips)
         2. True religion is Heart-work! (Spurgeon Ps.24)
         3. “The pure in heart shall see God!”
         4. “Dirt in the heart throws dust in the eyes!” (Spurgeon Ps.24)
      7. Christians today rush into God’s presence without cleansing themselves of the sins that rob them of God’s blessing. - Is it any wonder that our worship is often an empty routine and that the power of God doesn’t come to our meetings?
      8. He who has not:
      9. Lifted his soul up to an idol –
      10. Sworn deceitfully (NIV, swear by what is false) – What kind of relationship exists w/dishonesty?
          1. He is looking for trustworthy & dependable people, who can be taken at their word. Their yes is yes & their no is no!
          2. God will have nothing to do with liars! – Rev.22:14,15 “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
      11. (5) Results!
          1. ​​​​​​​Blessing & Righteousness
             1. ​​​​​​​We ascend the hill not as givers but as receivers! - Not wearing our own merits, only a received righteousness!
             2. Holy living ensures a blessing from the Holy God!
                1. He wants to deck His saints with jewels!
                2. How glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sindethroned!
      12. (6) This is true Israel, those who seek Gods Face & Favor!
          1. Illustration: In wintertime, Starbucks(Ynez) windows often gets steamed up. Standing in line I watched one sitting at their table waiting for a friend to show. They had to keep wiping the window clean so they could have a clear view of their friend they were waiting for!
             1. If you long to see Jesus, keep the mist clear from the window!
4. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​WHO IS THE TRUE REDEEMER? (7-10)
   1. ​​​​​​​5 times the H.S. speaks of Christ as “the king of Glory” here!
   2. Our Lord Jesus Christ could ascend into the hill of the Lord because His hands were clean His heart was pure.
      1. Look unto Jesus who has climbed the Holy hill!
   3. (7-9) Wow! - Some see this spekaing of Jesus Resurrection; some as His Ascension; others about his 2^nd coming into Jerusalem.
   4. This implies a king that went out to battle & returns in Victory!
      1. He will come as one who is fresh from battle, for he will have defeated the nations of the world at Armageddon.
      2. This is the battle cry for the church & for His entry into the New Jerusalem to reign forever!
      3. Read Rev.19:11-21
      4. This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war song, and prepare for to-morrow’s fight.
      5. Note “everlasting” – not just speaking about David & the ark!
   5. The 1^st time He came in tears & humility, then next time in power & great glory!
   6. (10) Note His Lordship over the heavens(hosts) establishes His Lordship over the earth!