The King and Kingdom of Glory

Psalms 24:1-10 

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face.

Selah

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

This song of praise greatly praises the King and His Kingdom.  Through David we first confess that all in existence belongs to the LORD, which includes the people on the earth and the universe built around we who inhabit the earth to marvel in.  All the fullness means everything on this world.  It all belongs to God; we are the stewards of His possession.  Creation is reflected on from Genesis, speaking about the land out of the seas which He established strict limits on after the flood to separate even more.  This land we love on is established by God’s word, and should put us in awe as we meditate on its wonders.  This reflection should lead us up the hill to worship the Lord in His high and lifted up place where He meets with us.  This was the physical temple in Jerusalem in David’s time, but now is twofold; we have His Spirit living in each of us (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19) as His temples (and corporately as it as well as Ephesians 2:22 says), and we know He reigns from His throne in the heavenly place unseen until we see Him face to face.  The ones allowed to worship there must be cleansed in holiness and righteousness to approach Him, not serving false gods or lying, with hands and hearts dirtied with sin.  Of course we know with the gospel revealed to us after Christ by His messengers that our righteousness is found in Christ alone, and our holiness is formed in our daily sanctification as we obediently walk out our salvation (Philippians 2:12).  He is purifying and has purified our hearts to make us worthy to stand before His presence in worship.  This salvation is received with blessing and righteousness by the LORD as David spoke of here in veiled form.  We thus seek His face as called to Him in such undeserved grace.  After a pause of selah to consider these things, praise erupts from David as it should from us.  The King of Glory enters His temple as Isaiah saw Him, high and exalted in that glory on His throne (Isaiah 6:1).  We let Him in our hearts to rule as the gates of Jerusalem’s temple were opened in welcome and rule worship.  This King of Glory is almighty and omnipotent over all.  By confessing these truths and bowing our hearts, minds, and lives to Him, we see His glory as high and lifted up as well.  Then we can follow in true worship, in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24) in light of who our Lord God is and what He does.  Let us keep the eyes of our hearts set on the King and kingdom of glory!