Psalm 24
Psalms 24 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 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.
This psalm speaks of the coming of the Chief Shepherd. Tradition says it was composed by David and sung when he brought up the ark from the house of Obed-Edom to mount Zion (2 Samuel 6:12-23). The ark, according to tradition was built by Bezalel for Moses in the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 37:1-9), signified God’s presence in the midst of His people. For seven months the Philistines had kept it under lock and key until finally, deciding it was too hot to hold, they returned it to Israel. It had resided with them on the western border of Benjamin in the rugged wooded highlands during the days of Samuel and Saul.
David himself had made one desperate attempt to bring it to Jerusalem after he had rested the fortress of Zion from the Jebusites. But now the time had come and the ark began its journey home. The historian tells us of the music and dancing, of the shouting and sacrifices which marked the triumphal entry of the ark into Jerusalem. And Psalm 24 gives us the anthem which heralded the ark along the way.
When the temple came to be built in Jerusalem various psalms were sung as part of the daily liturgy. On Monday it was Psalm 48, Tuesday Psalm 82, Wednesday Psalm 94, Thursday Psalm 81, Friday Psalm 93, and on the Sabbath Psalm 92. On the first day of the week they sang Psalm 24. The very day Jesus tore away the bars of death and marched in triumph from the tomb the Temple choir was scheduled to sing this victorious Psalm.
The psalm was sung in a responsive way, that is, one person or choir would sing and another would respond. It has been suggested that it was sung by the chorus and solo voices of the procession. Josephus, the Jewish historian, says that seven choirs of singers and musicians marched before the ark as it was brought to Mount Zion where David had prepared a tabernacle for it until the temple was built.
This psalm was part of the religious ceremonies held during the Jewish New Year to mark the entrance of the ark into the sanctuary. The ceremony was held year after year in such a manner that everyone could take part, from king to commoner, in a renewal of loyalty to God. This noble hymn is one of the most exalted and majestic in the Book of psalms and has found a home in the anthems and solos of Judaism and Christianity. It must have been wonderful to have heard this psalm sung in David’s day.
Some commentators connect Psalm 24 with our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. For years, some Christian denominations have assigned this psalm to be read on Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter. Christians see Jesus Christ as “the Lord of glory,” first of all returning to heaven after His passion (Ephesians 4:8), and then returning in glory to establish His kingdom (Matthew 25:31). This explains the repetition of “Lift up your heads” in verses 7 and 9.
It is a marvelous tribute to our Lord Christ! But it first came from the mind and heart of a man swallowed up in the zeal of worship to the Lord.
PRAY
Father, help me to have the same passionate zeal for you and your Presence that David held.