Psalm 24 has several memorable parts starting with:
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. (Psalm 24.1, 2, NKJV)
“He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” takes us back to the first words in the Bible:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light… (Genesis 1.1 – 3, NKJV)
Then something reminiscent of Psalm 15’s answer to the question: LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
Here’s Psalm 24’s answer:
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24.3 – 5, NKJV)
We New Testament believers are tempted to say, “I can’t have clean hands and a pure heart, that’s why we have grace.” True at one level, but we shouldn’t let ourselves off the hook so easily. Jesus said,
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5.48, NKJV)
The Apostle Paul told Governor Felix:
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (Acts 24.16, NIV)
And, as we shared the other day, the Apostle John wrote:
All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3.3, NIV)
And we remind ourselves that no matter what is going on, the King of Glory is reigning:
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you 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 you gates!
Lift up, you 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 (Psalm 24.7 – 10, NKJV)
It’s worth the three minutes to listen to the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sing “Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates” from Handel’s Messiah from the magnificent 21,000-seat Conference Center of the LDS Church. (I attended a secular concert there about 10 years ago. It’s quite a spectacular building and for this song, reminds us of God’s majesty.)
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11.15 – 17, NIV)