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Psalm 24

This psalm bears the subtitle "song of ascents," so called because it was sung while ascending Zion to the tabernacle (or later the temple).  It's use is very appropriate for producing an attitude of awe and reverence toward a holy God  a God Who could be approached only by worshippers who had clean hands, hearts, and minds.

The song begins trying to move the worshippers to think about Who it is they're approaching.  In a relatively quiet, awed voice the leader sings, "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."  The people are thus reminded, even as they approach, that they are the property of the sovereign Jehovah, and that all the earth around them belongs to Him as well.  He made it all, and everything and everybody are all His.

With these things in mind, the following question is more than appropriate.  The song asks the people what attitude they need to have when they come into the Presence of so majestic a God.  It's the question that ought to be on the mind of every worshipper.  At least for one moment, all the people are made aware that God sees them, that He CARES how they live, that every action and every thought passes before His all seeing eye.

He cares whether they have "clean hands and a pure heart."  He cares, in other words, what they've done with those hands, and He cares why they've done it.  Have those hands helped the needy?  Or have they robbed widows? To put it in modern terms, have they taken more money than they should really have taken for what they've done?  Have they sacrificially cared for those more needy than themselves?  Have they been completely honest in all their dealings? And what about their hearts?  Are they inclined to care about their thoughts as much as the Lord cares?  Simply put, do they first of all love Him with all their hearts?  Or do they perhaps aim to please someone other than God first (idolatry).  Do they desire things more than they desire to please God? In plain words, do they or do they not go about each day seeking to please Him?

If they pass these tests, then they "shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God . . . of salvation."  Such hearts and lives, sings the leader, characterize true Israelites ("Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him")

But then comes the realization that, in the final analysis, only the Lord Himself and His Messiah can pass these tests. Only He is truly holy, and He is, in fact, the very King of holiness, here called the "King of glory!"  He deserves all the people's praise as they come into His house. In fact, God's Messiah deserves to enter the gates first as the owner of the house!  As the "Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!"  Having sung such words, the people are then and only then ready to enter into the very Presence of that King.

So it is for us, too, whenever we come into our Lord's special presence among His people.  When you join the congregation for worship, how do you come?  Do you come quietly, with the realization that He is there?  Are you clean in the cleanness of Jesus Christ?

Do you in fact realize, as you open your eyes each morning, that you are even then in the very Presence of the Holy One of Israel? Do you realize that He actually cares what you do, what you think, and what's in your very heart of hearts?  Are you ready to come before Him, to pray, to worship, to live the day in His sight?  Oh how we should pray with our Lord, "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one, for Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen!"

How appropriate that you posted this particular Psalm today. Resurrection Sunday. to me it is a reminder that Jesus is the King of King and the Lord of Lords. All things were made by Him and for Him and He is worthy of our praise at all times. Neve should we forget to give Him All the Praise and All the glory.

AMEN MARILYN

When I open my eyes in the morning I thank my God that He has watched over me during the night and given me another day here on this earth that He created for me to live on. I love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my strength and all my soul and I will sing praises to Him and to Him alone every day for the rest of my life.

Oh that we might carry with us all day a sense of the wonder and majesty of the God Who cares for us - and about what we do and say.  Oh that we might walk through each day with Him.