The King of Glory
Psalms 24
January 27, 2019
Many have seen a SORT OF TRILOGY occurring here with these most recent Psalms we have studied.
• Psalms 22 reveals to us the Sacrifice for Sin
• Psalms 23 reveals to us the Shepherd of the Sheep
• Psalms 24 reveals to us the Sovereign King
Certainly all 3 are roles perfectly fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And certainly if we are to sing the blessing of His atoning sacrifice
And if we are to sing the blessing of His shepherding and care for us,
We by no means want to overlook His role
As our sovereign King and what a privilege that is as well.
Well tonight we are dealing with “A Psalm of David”
And no more background than that is given.
Yet historical tradition and certainly ever commentary I picked
Up are all in agreement that this is A PSALM OF ASCENTS
That being a Song to be sung while ascending the hill to Jerusalem
As one would go to worship the Lord.
Even more specifically than that, nearly everyone seems to agree that
This could quite possibly have been the song of David
On the day when he moved the ark of God to Jerusalem.
And I certainly have no argument with that application.
In fact I think it fits quite well.
I do think the backdrop to that event will serve us greatly in understanding
Perhaps what was going on in David’s heart when he wrote it.
So for a moment let’s examine some history behind David’s experience
In relocating the Ark of God to Jerusalem.
TURN TO: 2 Samuel 5
Backstory:
• Saul and Jonathon were killed in the final chapter of 1 Samuel (31) by the Philistines.
• Because many believed David to be the rightful King he immediately began to rule the tribe of Judah from Hebron
• Abner (Saul’s main general) anointed Ish-bosheth (Saul’s son) king over Israel.
• And for about 7 ½ years there was war between David and Ish-bosheth
• Until a peculiar series of events saw Abner defect to David, get killed by David’s general Joab, and Ish-bosheth get murdered in his sleep by a couple of rogue militia leaders.
• In 2 Samuel 5 David is king over all Israel
The first thing that happens after that
The Philistines try to maintain their dominance over the region
So they gather together to go to war against David.
It is David’s first real challenge as King,
And through it David learns unequivocally
That God is a necessary ally in battle.
(READ: 2 Samuel 5:17-21)
• David saw God as the One who can breakthrough his enemies.
But the Philistines weren’t done.
They arranged to fight with David again,
And God once again granted David the victory.
(READ: 2 Samuel 5:22-25)
• So there is little doubt that God has proven to David what a necessity He is in protecting the nation and delivering Israel from her enemies.
• David understands that he needs God on his side.
• And so, David makes a decision to move the Ark of the Covenant (God’s presence) to the capital city of Jerusalem. After all, who wouldn’t want God close?
But despite David’s desire for God,
It is clear that David may have failed to fully understand
Exactly who He was dealing with.
(READ 2 Samuel 6:1-11)
• If the story is bizarre to you that God would strike dead a man who seemed only to have the best intentions it shouldn’t.
• God had given specific commands as to how the Ark was to be transported, and David did it wrongly.
• Furthermore we must remember that God is not our equal, and His presence is not our right. His holiness is beyond us in every way, and we do not treat Him nonchalantly.
Perhaps David had grown a little too comfortable with the Lord.
On this day, his fear of the Lord was renewed
And David left the Ark at the house of Obed-Edom.
However, David observed exactly what had motivated him to move God’s ark in the first place; namely that God’s presence was a huge blessing!
Verse 11, “the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household”
And David still desires that blessing.
So, David once again sets out to move God’s Ark to Jerusalem.
And this is the occasion when many believe Psalms 24 was sung.
(READ: 2 Samuel 6:12-19)
And just from the background we can clearly see how David came to
• Desire the presence of God,
• Revere the presence of God,
• And do whatever it took to receive the presence of God.
And in Psalms 24 David sings about that truth.
So this is the song of those who desire to draw near to God
And to have God draw near to them.
There are 3 points to be made in this song.
#1 DOMINION BELONGS TO GOD
Psalms 24:1-2
I really like the way David begins this song.
It is a necessary reminder to all who would assume
That God’s presence is some tool to be wielded for our benefit.
I’m not saying David intentionally believed that.
• But perhaps after seeing how valuable it was to have God in his camp, David began to see God as a weapon to be wielded against his enemies.
• Perhaps David began to see God as a tool in his belt.
• Perhaps David began to see God as a blessed servant to his cause.
Perhaps David saw God as a deity to be recruited and owned
And commissioned out to fulfill our own causes.
We see this reality occur at times (and at times even in our lives)
• We begin to grasp the abilities of God and seek to be able to take advantage of those abilities for our own purposes.
Some of you will remember the sermon from previous mission meetings: “Ten Shekels and a Shirt” by Paris Reidhead.
It is the sermon where the question is asked: “Is God an end or a means?”
The basic idea being, is God the “end” that we seek,
Or is He the “means” by which we can obtain out of life all that we want?
In that sermon, Bro. Reidhead gives a personal story:
“But, oh, I know so many people that are trying to know the fulness of God so that they can use God.
A young preacher came to me down in West Virginia, Huntington, West Virginia. “Brother Reidhead, I have got a great church. We have got a wonderful Sunday school program, got a radio ministry, growing. But I feel a personal need and a personal lack. I need to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. I need to be filled with the Spirit. And someone told me God had done something for you and I wanted you to help me.”
…He was like a fellow driving up in a big Cadillac, you know, to someone standing at the filling station say, “Fill it up, Bud, with the highest octane you have got.” Well, that’s the way it looked. He wanted power for his programs. And God is not going to be a means to anyone’s end.
I said, “I am awfully sorry. I don’t think I can help you.” He said, “Why?” “I don’t think you are ready.” I said, “Well, suppose you consider yourself coming up with a Cadillac. You have talked about your program. You have talked about your radio. You talked about your Sunday school and church. It’s very good. You have done wonderfully well without the power of the Holy Spirit.”…And he had accomplished a great deal, admittedly, without God. Now he wanted something, power to accomplish his ends even further.”
http://www.heavenreigns.com/pdf/ten_shekels.pdf
And his point was simple.
• There was a young man who had accomplished a great deal of worldly success in the ministry,
• But he had been told about something called “The Baptism of the Holy Ghost” whereby he thought it would make his ministry even more powerful.
• So the young man set out to get it.
• His desire was to obtain God as a means to fulfilling his end.
I’m NOT SAYING that David was like this young man,
But I can certainly see how he could have been.
And regardless of whether David ever fell into that line of thinking,
I do know of the day when God emphatically reminded David
That He will not be an end to anyone’s means.
On the day when David first tried to move the ark,
And God struck Uzzah dead,
He emphatically learned that God is not to be solicited or recruited
To power anyone’s engine.
When God struck Uzza dead, David was reunited with his fear of the Lord.
And it is that fear that David is articulating here.
As he moves God’s ark to Jerusalem
The very first part of his song are to remind the people that
WE DON’T OWN GOD – HE OWNS US.
(1) “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”
To all the people in Jerusalem who are awaiting the arrival of God’s Ark,
• “If you had any thoughts of all regarding what God’s presence might enable us to accomplish as a people then scrap them right now.
• We are not bringing God here to accomplish our goals as though He were our servant.
• We are bringing God here as our Sovereign ruler so that we might serve Him.”
It reminds me of the day when Joshua learned this same lesson.
Remember he was planning to battle Jericho
And the angel of the Lord arrived:
Joshua 5:13-15 “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Joshua approached the LORD and asked if He would be on our side.
• And Joshua had it all wrong.
• God is not a tool in anyone’s belt.
God is the sovereign LORD
He is the creator of all things.
Everything was made by Him
Everything was made for Him
Everything will answer to Him
Of Christ we read:
Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
We do not seek Christ because
• We think His presence might help us get a bigger church
• Or be more successful
• Or have a better more emotional worship service.
• Or because we think He’ll help in raising money for a mission trip
• Or in securing safe travels.
He is not our dancing monkey, and He is not our slave.
We are His. We serve Him. We follow Him.
And we invite His presence,
Not for the benefit it will bring to our temporal plans,
But because He is infinitely glorious
And true delight is found in being near to Him.
Psalms 100:3 “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
That is basic theology everyone needs to get through their minds.
We are not God. God is.
We didn’t make God. He made us.
God’s primary role is not to serve us. We serve Him.
AND AS A MATTER OF FIRST PRIORITY
David is reminding the people of Jerusalem of this very fact
That I think David learned the hard way.
We are bringing in the presence of God, but it is not to satisfy our plans.
“The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”
I’m not certain what “upon the seas” or “upon the rivers” refers to.
The main thrust is that God is the founder and establisher of the world.
Perhaps it is a reference to creation where we read:
Genesis 1:2 “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”
It appears that the beginning of God’s creation was a formless void of waters
Out of which God brought forth the land.
David recounts that miracle here.
Ultimately reminding all of us just who we are dealing with.
He is not one we just nonchalantly seek or recruit
Because we think having Him around might prove beneficial.
THIS IS GOD!
When Solomon later consecrated the temple, we read his prayer:
1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!”
Solomon seemed to have a right understanding of just what was going on.
In Athens Paul preached:
Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”
That’s what we are talking about.
As one sets their heart to seek the presence of God
It is imperative that you understand exactly who you are seeking
And that you examine your heart as to why you are seeking Him.
We don’t invite Him here to serve us. We invite Him here to rule us.
Dominion Belongs to Him
#2 DEVOTION IS REQUIRED BY YOU
Psalms 24:3-6
This flows perfectly off of the truth we’ve just seen.
• We are dealing here with God!
• We are dealing with the Creator of all things!
• We are dealing here with the One who has the power to instantly zap a man dead just for touching the box that represents His presence.
Instead of just assuming you can recruit Him and place Him in a room,
You’d better start considering just what it means
If you do approach His presence.
And to that David asks a very important question.
(3) “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?”
In light of what happened to Uzzah, I think this is a fitting question.
It’s not the first time you’ve seen such a question.
Psalms 15 “O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.”
It’s a similar reality whereby a person is forced to examine
Just who it is they are approaching and what He requires.
Some of have seen this as a sort of RESPONSIVE READING type situation
(like in the back of our hymnals) where David would have the priests ask this question of the people, and they would respond with verses 4-6.
It was meant to force the people
To contemplate the danger in approaching God.
This is somewhat lost in our day because we have been given the right through Christ to boldly approach the throne of grace.
But our ease in this matter has perhaps caused us to fail to grasp
Just how marvelous the work of Christ has been on our behalf.
Approaching God is not easy.
Approaching God boldly was unheard of.
(Just ask Uzzah)
We do it now “in Christ” who alone was worthy of approaching God.
This Psalm helps us understand the requirements
Of what it takes for one to approach God.
Here is the answer:
(4) “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.”
There’s a mouthful.
“clean hands” refers to outward allegiance and compliance to the commands of God.
We certainly don’t believe that we are justified by works,
But a person who has no outward obedience to Christ
Certainly has no claim on salvation.
1 John 2:4 “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”
• If there is no obedience there is no access to God.
• If there is no obedience there is no evidence of salvation.
“a pure heart” of course reminds that outward obedience with inward devotion is nothing short of hypocrisy.
• We are aware that the Lord looks at the heart.
• We know that out of the heart comes “adulteries, thefts, false witnesses,
and slander”
• We know that to outwardly pray and give and fast, but to not love God inwardly
has no acceptance with Him.
Matthew 15:7-9 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”
We understand that.
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
“Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood” indicates devotion to God with the absence of idolatry.
• We are certainly aware that God is a jealous God.
• We are aware that we are to have no other gods before Him.
• We are commanded to worship God and serve Him only.
• We do not trust in other gods or other idols as our salvation.
If you think you can approach God in worship after worshiping in an idols temple, then you are gravely mistaken. God does not share His glory.
“And has not sworn deceitfully” has to do with our vows and devotion to God.
Psalms 78:34-36 “When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue.”
Jesus said:
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
We’re talking about false confession, and that person is not welcome.
Revelation reminds that all liars are cast into the lake of fire.
Now, if you take all those requirements together
It is easy to see what emerges and it is the issue of DEVOTION.
In fact, I think it is quite easy to see the Beatitudes here.
Matthew 5:3-9 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
The point being, we are dealing with God here
• You don’t recruit Him to come be your power supply,
• You don’t approach Him in hypocrisy without giving Him the glory due His name.
But for those who do approach rightly we read:
(5) “He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of His salvation.”
• There is great benefit to the presence of God.
• There is great blessing to the presence of God.
• Namely the blessing of JUSTIFICATION!
Those who come humbly and devoted to God
Receive “righteousness from the God of His salvation.”
And David goes on to say:
(6) “This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face – even Jacob. Selah.”
That is to say:
• The one who comes humbly and submissive and devoted…
• HE receives salvation
• THIS is what a true Israelite looks like
We are talking about people “who seek Your face” (not Your hand)
David wanted his people to understand
As they escorted the Ark of the Covenant into the city.
This is God, He is not a means to our ends.
• We are bringing Him here that you might seek His face for salvation, not His hand for the satisfaction of all your desires.
• He is not some pagan idol crafted by man to fulfill all of man’s wildest dreams.
• He is the God who created the universe.
If we are to receive the blessing of His presence
• Then we must humble ourselves and serve Him only.
Does that make sense to the church as well?
Listen to the complaint of Jesus to the people He ministered to.
John 6:26-35
you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, ” I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
They didn’t want Jesus.
They wanted bread.
They missed the true blessing of His presence
Because they wanted the satisfaction of their stomach.
Beyond that, they weren’t willing to devote themselves to Him.
They weren’t willing to approach Him with clean hands and a pure heart pledging full commitment to Him.
By the end of that same sermon we read:
John 6:66 “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”
If you aren’t going to give us bread, then we aren’t interested.
• Do I want Christ because I think He can make all my plans go smoother?
• Do I approach Christ in submission or in arrogant pretense?
Do you see how David is teaching his people
The sacred privilege it is to receive the very presence of God?
Dominion Belongs to Him, Devotion is Required of You
#3 THE DECISION IS HIM AT ALL COST
Psalms 24:7-10
You have here a statement repeated 2 times,
Indicating the intensity and importance of what is being said.
(7) “Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!”
What does that mean?
• It is poetic language suggesting that the King who is coming is too glorious to fit through these tiny openings.
• If you are to fit this King through then you are going to have to rip out the gates and doors.
• They are going to have to stretch.
We have a greater King coming through than has ever entered before.
The same concept was preached before the coming of Jesus.
Matthew 3:2-3 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'”
David in effect here says the same thing.
You have no concept of the magnitude of the King who is entering.
Rip out the gates, rip out the doors “that the King of glory may come in!”
And to that someone might ask:
(8) “Who is the King of glory?”
David, what King could you possibly be talking about that can’t fit through the gates of Jerusalem?
“The LORD strong and might, The LORD mighty in battle.”
• I’m talking about the God who has the power of creation.
• I’m talking about the God who defeats nations.
• I’m talking about the God who overthrows kingdoms.
We’ve got coming here THE KING.
And grasping this is of such importance
That David has the people sing that stanza again.
(9) “Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.”
And again they ask:
“Who is the King of glory?”
He is “The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah”
It is the God of angel armies.
PONDER THAT!
David, ahead of the Ark, is preaching the message of John the Baptist.
You’d better clean this place up and make it fit for a king.
John the Baptist preached about mountains and valleys,
But John wasn’t actually speaking about the terrain of the roads.
John was speaking poetically of repentance.
So is David.
The issue here is this.
We have THE KING on His way.
• His very presence is salvation to His people.
What should we do that He might be willing to enter and dwell among us?
The answer: WHATEVER IT TAKES!
• If you have to rip out the doors, then rip out the door.
• If you have to throw down the gate posts, then throw down the gates posts.
• If you have pluck the idols of your heart then pluck the idols of your heart
• If you have to leave your sin then leave your sin
• If you have to crush your pride then crush your pride
Whatever it takes to receive the presence of THE KING!
This is the song of David as he went before the Ark seeking for the presence of God to enter Jerusalem.
This is the song of John the Baptist as he went before Christ seeking the presence of God to save Israel.
This is the song of the church as we go to the world proclaiming the salvation of Christ.
This is the song of the humble as we approach the Lord in worship each and every day.
This is the song of the redeemed as we plead for the return of our King to come again and reign on the earth.
We are talking here about grasping the magnitude of
The presence of THE KING OF GLORY in our lives.
Incidentally, Israel didn’t.
The book of Ezekiel follows this theme
• As the children of Israel offend God time after time after time
• And eventually Ezekiel records the very glory of God leaving Israel.
The book of Malachi Is after the exile and shows how little regard they still had for the presence of God.
TURN TO: Malachi 1:6-14
Still they dishonor His presence.
It’s no wonder the glory of God had departed and not returned.
• We know that for a time God’s glory returned as that baby Jesus was carried into the temple at 8 days old, but 33 years later Israel would once again reject God’s glory.
And now it won’t be until they do turn from their idols and seek His face
That His presence will ever return to them.
• Until they grasp that Jesus is God, the Creator of the world…
• Until they grasp that they must seek Him in humility and devotion…
• Until they grasp that He is the King of glory and they must tear down every idol…
• THEY WILL NEVER RECEIVE THE BLESSING OR THE SALVATION OF HIS PRESENCE.
And neither will any other person on earth.
Jesus is THE KING
And we do not take Him lightly are demean Him by relegating Him to some role as personal servant or genie.
• We honor Him
• We seek Him
• We submit to Him
• We trust Him
• And we do it for no other reason by the unspeakable value of His presence.
This is the song David taught to Israel
To teach them to never underestimate the God who dwells among them.
HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!
