Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Psalm 24

I'm jumping around here a bit, but the words of this psalm came rushing into my mind yesterday. I’ve read and heard them many times, and thought I understood the general message of this psalm. But yesterday I began to see what this psalm is really talking about (and I don’t doubt that there’s still more to learn here).
Who shall ascend‍ into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy‍ place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is‍ the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Lift‍ up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come‍ in. Who is‍ this King‍ of glory? The Lord‍ strong and mighty, the Lord‍ mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them‍ up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King‍ of glory? The Lord‍ of hosts, he is‍ the King of glory. Selah.

I always thought this psalm was telling us to avoid sin and repent in preparation for temple attendance. It is that and more. Verse 3 mentions ascending to the “hill of the Lord” and standing “in his holy place.” This is not just the temple. The temple may be the precursor, but this is the real ascent, the Jacob’s ladder and Enoch-type ascent. This becomes clear from verse 6: “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face.” 

Who belongs to this generation that "seek him"? And who will ascend to where God is? Verse 4 answers, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” This dovetails right in with Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

After I pondered that for a bit, it suddenly occurred to me that this is the principle underlying the Book of Job.

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