Gleanings in the Psalms

(Psalm 24)

This psalm divides itself into two parts: –

1. The procession as it approaches Mount Zion - "the hill of the Lord". This is found in verses 1 to 6.
2. The procession as it enters the gates of Jerusalem. This is in verses 7 to 10.

As you can see, both these sections close with the Hebrew world "Selah". This simply means that we are now to pause and consider the words that we have been listening to. That procession that was bearing the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the Earth could never be held back; not even by the gates of Jerusalem themselves: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in". Naturally, the doorkeepers on the other side of the gates want to know by what authority this command is given. "Who is this king of glory?" they enquire. "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle," comes the reply; "Lift up your heads, O ye gates …"

This is the HISTORIC setting of the psalm 24. But surely it points us with unfaltering finger to that day when our great "Captain of the Lord's Host led captivity captive" and ascended to the very gate of glory itself! "Lift up your heads, O ye gates … and the king of glory shall come in". And they were "lifted up", and could never remain closed against Him.

Can we not invoke that same, strong Name of Christ that in the time ahead open before us to the praise of His grace? Surely we can; for has He not said that even the "gates of hell" shall never prevail against His church. "Lift up your heads," then, "O ye gates …"

Verse 1. "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof …". Chrysostom tells us how he endured suffering under the Empress Eudoxia. "I thought: will she banish me? 'The earth is the Lord's'. Will she take away my goods? 'Naked came I into the world, and naked must I return.' Will she stone me? I remember Stephen. Will she behead me? John Baptist came into my mind". Thus it should be with every one that intends to live and to die with comfort. They must, as we say, lay up something for a rainy day. Store up promises and furnish themselves with experience of God's loving kindness.

John Spencer

Verse 2. "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods". Providence and creation are the two legal seals upon the title-deeds of the great owner of all things. He who built the house and bears up its foundations has surely a first claim upon it. Let it be noted, however, upon what insecure foundations all terrestrial things are founded. Founded on the seas! Established on the floods! Blessed be God the Christian has another world to look forward to, and rests his hope upon a more solid foundation than this poor world affords.

C. H. Spurgeon

AN INESCAPABLE QUESTION - Verse 3. "Who shall ascent into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place?

AN INESCAPABLE ANSWER - Verse 4. "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".

AN INESCAPABLE CONCLUSION – "Lord, no man of himself, then, shall ever stand at peace in Thy presence, for Thy Word has said that there is none righteous, no not one! None with clean hands; none with pure hearts."

BUT … … AN INESCAPABLE FACT – "ye are accepted IN THE BELOVED".

AN INESCAPABLE ENQUIRY – Am I Christ's and is He mine?

Verse 10. "Who is this king of glory …?" And Christ has a name written upon Him: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS".

"Selah." - Pause and consider.