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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

10/7/10- Psalm 24 The King Comes

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who do not put their trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.

(Jesus enters Jerusalem- Harry Anderson d. 1996)

Thoughts: This Psalm connects the cleansing of the temple and the King's coming into the city (cf. Jesus' coming and cleansing Lk. 19:28-48).  Vss. 7-10 speak of the King of glory coming into the gates of the city.  Verse 3 talks about who may ascend the hill of the Lord- the one who is clean of hands and pure in heart.  The Psalmist and Jesus saw that worship was to be a clean, pure, holy thing.  When the King comes to his kingdom, cleansing is the order of the day.  So it is when Jesus comes into our hearts- He cleans us.  When we have a spiritual renewal, we are inspired to clean up and straighten up. 

Prayer: Come to me anew, O Lord, and cleanse me and make me pure that I may come to you.

John Calvin abridged: Though the sanctuary was open to all Jews, He was not near to all of them.  He was close only to those who fear Him and serve Him with sincerity.  All those whom God calls into his flock- He calls to holiness.  They are under obligation to be holy by their adoption.  Isaiah (1:12) rebukes those who come unworthily into his courts.  How vain it is to make an outward profession without the inward heart to match.  True purity has its seat in the heart, but its fruit in its hands.

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