Psalm 24

Psa 24:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "OF DAVID. A PSALM".

BACKGROUND: A processional psalm for the bringing of the Ark to Zion (2Sa 6). For other psalms of the same occasion, see Psa 15, 30, 68, 87, and (poss) Psa 132.

PARALLELS TO LUKE 21: "Sea and waves" (Luk 21:25/Psa 24:2); "stand" (Luk 21:36/Psa 24:3); "lift up heads" (Luk 21:28/Psa 24:7,9).

EARTH: "Eretz": may read "The Land (of Israel) is the Lord's". Cp v 2; at last all 12 tribes were consolidated into one Kingdom under David, and God's sanctuary was established at Jerusalem.

THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND EVERYTHING IN IT: Cited in 1Co 10:28, though omitted by most modern texts. This v brings strong reassurance to those who are seriously concerned about pollution of air, soil, or water, or of over-exploitation of the world's resources. There is no need to fear, for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. No matter how desecrated it may become, He will take care of it in His good time -- and when He does, it will be instantaneous and absolute! Indeed, David quotes his v 1 from Deu 33:16 (see also Exo 9:29), where the context links strongly with the promises of God. And in turn this v is quoted in Psa 89:11 in a strong Messianic context.

Psa 24:2

FOR HE FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS: A difficult idea. But this could read "beside the seas" -- very suitable to a Jerusalem situated between seas on the east and west. The "eretz" is founded "beside the seas": The seas sym wicked men and nations (Isa 57:20) that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of Israel (cp Job 38:8-11), but that will eventually be no more (Rev 21:1). By CT, Israel -- the land and its people -- are established forever (Jer 30:11), like the sun, moon, and stars (Jer 31:35-37).

Psa 24:3

WHO MAY ASCEND THE HILL...?: Could also be read "Who shall offer burnt offering on the hill...?" Either way, an expression of special care, and even anxiety, as to the qualifications to be sought for this divine duty. The stroke of God upon Uzzah adequately explains all this: 1Ch 13:2,9,10. So vv 3-6 may be read as applicable to 1Ch 15:12-16, where -- on the second attempt to bring the Ark to Zion -- the Levites prepared themselves properly for the task.

THE HILL OF THE LORD... HIS HOLY PLACE: The site of the sanctuary in Jerusalem was called his holy place (v 3) before the ark ever arrived there -- because of its association with Abraham and Isaac: Gen 22:2; 2Ch 3:1. The hill of the Lord (v 3) is a name which dates back to Abraham: Gen 22:14.

WHO MAY STAND?: Sig to stand erect or approved (Psa 1:5; ct Jos 7:12,13), and is commonly used for resurrection: eg Mar 5:41.

PLACE: "Maqom", commonly sig a sanctuary or altar: Gen 22:3,4,9,14; 28:11-19; Deu 12:11-21; Psa 26:8; 132:5; Isa 60:13; 66:1.

Psa 24:4

HE WHO HAS CLEAN HANDS AND A PURE HEART: This perfect man receives his real righteousness from God!

A PURE HEART: Cp Psa 17:15 and Pro 22:11.

WHO DOES NOT LIFT UP HIS SOUL TO AN IDOL: "Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity" (AV), ie "what is false" (RSV), or -- more specifically -- "an idol" (NIV). See how this esp suits the context of 1Co 10.

OR SWEAR BY WHAT IS FALSE: As did Saul: 1Sa 19:6; 24:16-22; 26:21,25; ct 2Sa 9:1. Here LXX adds "to his neighbor", as in Psa 15:3, making the Saul allusion even more pointed: 1Sa 15:28. The ct between "swear falsely" (v 4) and "receive the blessing" (v 5) is the ct between the two sides of Jacob's character: Gen 27:19,20 (the deceitful use of the Divine Name) and Gen 28:13-15,20-22; 32:26,29.

Psa 24:5

BLESSING: Equated, often, with forgiveness of sins: Gen 22:17; Psa 72:17; Mat 25:34; Luk 6:28; Act 3:25,26; Gal 3:8,9. This leads to an imputed righteousness (Rom 3:21-25; 4:3,5,7,8,22; etc).

Psa 24:6

Stephen alluded to this occasion and this psalm when he spoke of David finding favor before God, and desiring to find a place for a tabernacle for the God of Jacob (Act 7:46).

SEEK... SEEK: In Heb, two different words: (a) inquire of; (b) serve. To seek the face of someone is to seek his favor or blessing: Pro 7:15; 29:26.

WHO SEEK YOUR FACE, O GOD OF JACOB: Per the LXX (and most modern versions): with ref to Gen 32:30,31; cp Hos 12:4. This makes good sense and is certainly appropriate to the context. (A similar ellipsis occurs in Isa 44:5.)

YOUR FACE: In Psalms, always ref God's presence in ark/tabernacle/temple: see VL, Psalms, God's face.

SELAH: Very appropriate here to David's offering of sacrifice: 2Sa 6:12,13. See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 24:7

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O YOU GATES: But gates do not have heads! However, gatekeepers and porters and watchmen do. This is the idiom, as in Isa 14:31; Jer 14:2; Joh 10:9 (door for doorkeeper); Rev 22:14 (clearly sym); Psa 84:10; 2Sa 18:26 (porter = "gate" in Heb). // Luk 21:28.

YOU ANCIENT DOORS: Were these the gates, the "ancient doors" (NIV, RSV), by which Melchizedek had entered his city of Salem such long years before? More than this, these gates are the doors to eternal life (see on Psa 133)! But JT translates: "ye doors of the future age (olahm)". And they are everlastingly open: Isa 60:11; Psa 132:14.

THE KING OF GLORY: Rev 22:14. Four times this wonderful title of King Jesus is used. First, the King will enter, and then the "righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in" (Isa 26:2).

Psa 24:8

STRONG AND MIGHTY... MIGHTY IN BATTLE: Certainly relevant to the intensive campaigns in the early part of David's reign: 2Sa 5:17-25; 2Sa 8.

Psa 24:10

THE LORD ALMIGHTY: Also referred to in 2Sa 6:2,18. Looks back to Mahanaim (Gen 32:1,2) and also Peniel (Gen 32:30). Patriarchal allusions, because David saw the bringing of the ark to Zion as the end of the pilgrimage of his forefathers? Also because the psalm celebrates the glorious fulfillment of the promises to the Fathers in the future reign of the true King of Glory?

See Lesson, Selah.