Psalm 24 - The King of Glory!

A Psalm of David Commentary by Dennis Edwards

The Church of England would read Psalm 24 on the celebration of Christ’s Ascension. However, though the Ascension signified that Jesus had and has entered into glory, that glory is only now in the heavenlies. At His second advent, He shall come in power and might. He shall smite the adversary and take control of the world and all that dwells therein. We can visualize Psalm 24 as a victory celebration at the time of Christ’s Ascension 2000-years ago. However, the victory celebration will be more complete when, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15b. That will take place at Christ’s second advent, specifically at the Battle of Armageddon when the Lord returns with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgement upon all, Jude 14b-15a.

Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

God established the world in six days and it was very good. The earth was indeed the Lord’s. He gave it into the hand of Adam and Eve to tend and care for and have dominion over. However, Adam and Eve lost their dominionship through sin and the subtilty of Satan who robbed them of their stewardship and convinced them He was now in control.  

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, we read, “And the devil (or Satan) taking Him (Jesus) up into a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give unto You, and the glory of them: for it is delivered unto me; and to whosoever I will I give it. If You will therefore worship me, all shall be Yours,” Luke 4:5-7.

We see Satan claiming to have authority over the rulers of the world. Apostle Paul calls them, “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places,” Ephesians 6:12 edited. However, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, “He has spoiled principalities and powers, and He has made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it,” Colossians 2:15.

Psalm 24:3-4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

None of us are able to save ourselves. “There is none that does good, no not one,” Psalm 14:3b. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. We have all lifted up our souls unto vanity as Solomon has written, ”I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation (or trouble) of spirit,” Ecclesiastes 1:14.

But God has made for us a way out of our predicament. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:16-17.

Jesus is the way of escape. Jesus is He who can approach unto God, for He is the Messiah. “He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” Hebrews 4:15b. Therefore, because we have put on His righteousness, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16.

Psalm 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Because Jesus was obedient unto death, God has appointed Him heir of all things, and “has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-11. We that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. Jesus’ righteousness has been imputed unto us by God through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:22. We have put on Christ!

Psalm 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Your face, O Jacob. Selah.

The prophet Amos prophesized saying, “Behold, the days come, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst,” Amos 8:11-13.

During the time of the Vietnam War, a generation of young Americans sought the Lord and found Him in the famous Revolution for Jesus. However, false Christianity and the strong anti-God culture both in Europe and America have made it difficult for the youth today to find the Lord. High Schools and Universities teach their secular philosophies. Movies and music also often undermine faith in God, characterizing Christianity as a religion of morons and ignoramuses. God is dead is subtilty taught in the institutions of learning. “Just Do It!” Do Whatever you want that makes you happy. It’s all about “you,” and nothing about God and what He wants with our lives.

But God says, “You shall seek Me and find Me, when you shall search for Me, with all your heart,” Jeremiah 29:13. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, and knock and it shall be opened unto you,” Matthew 7:7. We have to do sincere seeking, for God is to be found of those that truly search for Him. As Blaise Pascal has so wonderfully explained in his reflections called Pensées: “God has willed to make Himself quite recognisable by those (who believe); and thus, (He is) willing to appear openly to those who seek Him with all their heart, and to be hidden from those who flee from Him with all their heart. He so regulates the knowledge of Himself that He has given signs of Himself, visible to those who seek Him, and not to those who seek Him not. There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition.” – Blaise Pascal’s Pensées 430.

Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be you lift up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

We have lifted up our heads, and our hearts, and our hands unto God, and opened the door of our hearts and He has come in, in the person of Jesus Christ. “For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:12b.

Psalm 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Jesus is the King of glory. At His second advent He shall descend from heaven with a shout. However, the Antichrist and his forces “will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers,” Revelation 17:14. Finally, as the period of the wrath of God closes with the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus shall come and physically take over the earth. He shall land in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion, Zechariah 14:4. For the armies which were in heaven shall follow Him. He shall smite the nations; and shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He shall tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 19:14-16.

Psalm 24:9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

If you haven’t lifted up your heart, your mind, your soul, your hands to Jesus; it’s not too late. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Whosoever hears His voice and opens the door, He shall come in, Revelation 3:20. Then you can begin the beautiful life of fellowship with God within your own heart and soul. Jesus said, “My doctrine is not mine, but God’s, who sent Me. If any man will do what I have taught, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself,” John 7:16-17. Jesus is making a very evidence-based claim. “Do what I say and you shall know if it is truly of God.”

Psalm 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

Jesus is the King of glory and wants to live within you and help solve your problems and mental and emotional anguish. He said, “If a man loves Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him,” John 14;23. Don’t you want the Spirit of the living God to come and abide within you? Call upon Him today. He’s just a prayer away!