Psalms 24

1 By David. A psalm: The earth is ADONAI's, with all that is in it, the world and those who live there;

2 for he set its foundations on the seas and established it on the rivers.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of ADONAI? Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who don't make vanities the purpose of their lives or swear oaths just to deceive.

5 They will receive a blessing from ADONAI and justice from God, who saves them.

6 Such is the character of those who seek him, of Ya'akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)

7 Lift up your heads, you gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can enter!

8 Who is he, this glorious king? ADONAI, strong and mighty, ADONAI, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, you gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can enter!

10 Who is he, this glorious king? ADONAI-Tzva'ot he is the glorious king. (Selah)

Psalms 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Concerning the kingdom of Christ, and the subjects of that kingdom. (1-6) Concerning the King of that kingdom. (7-10)

Verses 1-6 We ourselves are not our own; our bodies, our souls, are not. Even those of the children of men are God's, who know him not, nor own their relation to him. A soul that knows and considers its own nature, and that it must live for ever, when it has viewed the earth and the fulness thereof, will sit down unsatisfied. It will think of ascending toward God, and will ask, What shall I do, that I may abide in that happy, holy place, where he makes his people holy and happy? We make nothing of religion, if we do not make heart-work of it. We can only be cleansed from our sins, and renewed unto holiness, by the blood of Christ and the washing of the Holy Ghost. Thus we become his people; thus we receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of our salvation. God's peculiar people shall be made truly and for ever happy. Where God gives righteousness, he designs salvation. Those that are made meet for heaven, shall be brought safe to heaven, and will find what they have been seeking.

Verses 7-10 The splendid entry here described, refers to the solemn bringing in of the ark into the tent David pitched for it, or the temple Solomon built for it. We may also apply it to the ascension of Christ into heaven, and the welcome given to him there. Our Redeemer found the gates of heaven shut, but having by his blood made atonement for sin, as one having authority, he demanded entrance. The angels were to worship him, ( Hebrews 1:6 ) : they ask with wonder, Who is he? It is answered, that he is strong and mighty; mighty in battle to save his people, and to subdue his and their enemies. We may apply it to Christ's entrance into the souls of men by his word and Spirit, that they may be his temples. Behold, he stands at the door, and knocks, ( Revelation 3:20 ) . The gates and doors of the heart are to be opened to him, as possession is delivered to the rightful owner. We may apply it to his second coming with glorious power. Lord, open the everlasting door of our souls by thy grace, that we may now receive thee, and be wholly thine; and that, at length, we may be numbered with thy saints in glory.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 24

\\<>\\. This psalm is thought by some of the Jewish writers {d} to have been wrote when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the city of David, and put into the place prepared for it by him, 2Sa 6:17; to which reference is supposed to be had in Ps 24:7-10; or after that David had built an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and had knowledge of the hill Moriah, as the place where the sanctuary was to be built; called the hill of the Lord, and his holy place, Ps 24:3; however, it was certainly written by David, under the inspiration of the spirit of God; and is a prophecy of Christ, and of the Gospel church, and describes the members of it. {d} Aben Ezra & Kimchi.