Psalm 24

God is worthy of praise as Creator, Redeemer and King

God summons the whole earth to offer a sanctified cacophony of praise to the Lord. But the Bible gives special attention and zeros in on the praise of men coming from His own covenant people. He dwells in the midst of His own, and He is especially enthroned by their praises. Jerusalem is the city of the King. The King is their right hand of victory—for their defense and shield.

 

Psalm 24 depicts the festive procession of the Ark of the Covenant to the gates of the city of Jerusalem, and we can mark the geographical movement in the psalm from location to location.

24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.


24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?


24:6 Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be
       lifted up, your everlasting doors!

David’s servants and the Levites and priests, along with his solders and the great throng who lined the streets leading to the city gates fixed their praise on the LORD who is Creator (vs. 1). All inhabitants of the globe should yield their praise. The parade of the Ark moved upward, climbing the hill. As the procession goes along, the question is asked, “Who is worthy to ascend the hill, to line the streets, to follow after the Lord’s presence to top?” 24:4 answers: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol…” Those near to the LORD must be washed and made pure. He as Redeemer provides this washing. Last, at the top of the hill, the Ark of the Lord is about to enter the city gates. Had men lost hope about God’s triumph? Had the anticipation of victory died out? Had the length of the wait for the return of the Ark lulled to sleep Jerusalem’s city dwellers? Wake up! God is faithful! 24:9-10 “Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you 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.”

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides the donkey down from the Mt. of Olives in order to reach the road to head up the hill into Jerusalem. The crowd takes off their coats and puts them down as a red carpet. The King is processing. Who is this King of glory? Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. Hosanna! “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’”

From the earth to the hill to the gates of the city, the name of the LORD is to be praised. He is the LORD mighty in battle.

G. Mark Sumpter