THE MPN HOME PAGE

INDEX PAGE for all MPN Psalms Bible Studies



Psalm 24 - King Of Glory



INTRODUCTION: This is a fairly brief psalm, but it has some very special expressions about the Creator God who is the King of Glory, above all other kings forever and ever. I used some cross referenced passages and a Hebrew lexicon as I composed my comments. The cross references helped me to think about the work of the LORD over the span of time before and after the life of David and the content he wrote. The Leeser translation was prepared by Isaac Leeser, an American Jew. He was his own publisher for his translation of the Old Testament, and it provided a slightly different perspective on the text.

NOTE: The verses for Psalm 24 are from the 1853 Leeser Old Testament, while the verses used in the comments are from the 1769 King James Bible.



A - ALL CREATION BELONGS TO THE LORD GOD

Psalm 24 "1 {Of David a psalm.} Unto the Lord belongeth the earth with what filleth it, the world and they that dwell therein; 2 For upon seas hath he founded it, and upon rivers hath he established it."



COMMENTS: This Psalm opened with David using the terms of land, seas, and rivers in a broad manner to describe the planet we call earth as the complete possession of the Creator god. Also the people who inhabit the earth, and everything else that exists as part of it, belong to the LORD. The first book of the Bible provided the firm Biblical foundation for belief in God for many centuries for Jews such as David. Genesis 1 "1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1 "10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1 "27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Asaph is identified as the author for this next verse as the LORD spoke. Psalm 50 "12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." The next verse is from a Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.�Psalm 89 "11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them." There is agreement among David and the other two authors that the Lord God created, founded, establish the world and all that fills it! These are the preparatory thoughts for moving into the next few verses of this Psalm.

As the first book of the Bible declares that all things were created by the LORD and everything belongs to him; so the last book of the Bible agrees with what was available to David as a basis for him to place his trust in the LORD. All of this is before those who live now to decide if we believe and will worship the LORD of Glory. Revelation 4 "11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."




B - ONLY THE LORD CAN REWARD WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS

Psalm 24 "3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? and who shall be able to stand in his holy place? 4 He that is of clean hands, and pure of heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, and hath not sworn deceitfully: 5 He shall bear away blessing from the Lord, and the reward of righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those that adore him, that seek thy presence, the sons of Jacob. Selah."



COMMENTS: The events that took place at mount Sinai were part of the Biblical record that the Jews new very well. It still presents a vivid image of the holiness of the LORD God and the reverence and care needed before approaching him. Exodus 19 "18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them."

From the time Israel came out of bondage in Egypt, all the way through the end of King David's reign, there was no temple building. David was able to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and place it into a tent of worship that he set for it, but the LORD would not permit him to build a temple. Mount Zion in Jerusalem was the location of the temple that was built after Solomon succeeded David as king over Israel. The following passages give appropriate prominence to mount Zion without specific reference to a temple building. Psalm 48 "1 {�A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.} Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." One of the latter prophets wrote of the promise of restoration by the LORD. Micah 4 "7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever."

David wanted to have the proper attitude before God as much as possible in his life, as another verse of his indicates. Psalm 143 "8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Those who want to approach the LORD must not consider falsehood of speech or action to be a small matter in his eyes. There should be no deceit in any vow they make, especially if they have accepted the LORD as Savior. That step of faith through grace is the only source of righteousness acceptable to the LORD God.

After many generations of kings in Israel, Jeremiah recorded evidence of egregious deceit in Jerusalem before the LORD. Jeremiah 7 "8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it , saith the LORD."

We should be overwhelmingly thankful that there is another great thing which belongs to the LORD. Psalm 62 "12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work." And that is the work of full faith and trust in God. Psalm 68 "20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death." Only the LORD God can give everlasting life that will overcome our physical death. Both Jews and Gentiles have the offer of this gift of eternal life. Isaiah 49 "6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."

Since the New Testament was completed many centuries ago, the further revealed truth of the gift of God that was somewhat hidden in the praise of authors of scripture such as David, has been available to many generations all around the world. John 10 "27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one." Romans 5 "19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."




C - THE LORD IS THE KING OF GLORY

Psalm 24 "7 Raise your heads, O ye gates; and be raised wide, ye everlasting doors: and let the King of glory enter! 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Raise your heads, O ye gates; and raise them up, ye everlasting doors: and let the King of glory enter! 10 Who is then this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."



COMMENTS: These last four verses have some very unique phrases that do not appear anywhere else in the Bible: "everlasting doors" and "King of glory." Those ancient and eternal doors are symbols that easily could represent timeless and limitless universal entry for the King of glory to be eagerly welcomed by those who have truly placed their trust in him. David declared that the King of glory is the one true God by the use of the Hebrew word Yahweh translated as Lord. Verses 9 and 10 could be taken as a refrain of affirmation and jubilation of verses 7 and 8 with slight variation for emphasis! In the next two Bible verses Yahweh is translated as LORD, and again it is declared that his reign is forever. Exodus 15 "18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever." Psalm 146 "10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD."

Centuries after King David's death, Isaiah wrote prophecy about the one to be born who rule on the throne of David forever, and this would be accomplished by the zeal of the "LORD of hosts" which is one of the phrases used in David's Psalm. Isaiah 9 "6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

Jesus is the embodiment of the King of glory David wrote about, and that has been true in the past, for the present and forever . John 8 "56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it , and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."And Jesus will return to reward all those who are prepared to receive him, but will reject those who have rejected him. Luke 9 "26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

The King of Glory and the Lord of glory are one in the same, and Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to know how mistaken the rulers of this world have been. 1 Corinthians 2 "8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Some hears later Paul also wanted Titus to keep this in mind as he ministered to believers in Crete. Titus 2 "13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

And the last book of the Bible gives assurance that believers in Christ can be confident that our Savior and King will return to make all kingdoms of this world to be under his rule alone. Revelation 11 "15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."



--- REFLECTIONS IN PRAYER ---

I thank you, Lord, for the written Word of God that has given me the knowledge of your glory. I believe that you are the Creator of the world and of everything within and upon it, and of all mankind. Your grace allows close fellowship with you, but sin in any person will require separation from your holiness. This Psalm of David has been a reminder to me to examine myself by your Word, and to always remember that approaching the LORD of Glory is not something to be taken lightly. I thank you that when I confess and repent of my sin before you, that by your grace you openly give me your love by restoring my fellowship in the Spirit. There is no designated mountain of the LORD to approach today, but believers all over the earth must remember that you are high and lifted up above all of your creation. I want to have the kind of emphasized expectation of your return as David expressed, when the gates are lifted up for the LORD of glory! Thank you, my Savior, that I will be among those in your eternal kingdom by your grace and mercy. Hallelujah, amen.



Published 14 August 2016