Psalm 24

⁰³             Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

who may stand in His sanctuary?

⁰⁴          He who has clean hands

 and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to vain things,

and does not swear by what is false..

⁰⁵          He will receive blessing from the Lord.

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

₀₆          Such is the generation of those who seek Him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

                                                                                Selah

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Who May Enter?

For the Lord’s Day:  the 16^th of January 2005

Introduction:  Our Psalm today has a special meaning in the context of 2 Samuel 6: 1-19.  There is textual evidence that this Psalm fits the occasion of the Ark's coming up into the Holy City of Jerusalem and David's jubilant celebration of that event.  Let us try to visualize the scene described in Scripture.  The old Jebusite fortress of Jerusalem had recently been captured by David.  This fortress was on top of a very steep hill.  And in the traditions associated with this Psalm, the long procession of people followed the Ark of the Covenant in the grand celebration of God’s enthronement among His chosen people.

 

Derek Kidner writes that “traditionally this [Psalm] is sung on Ascension Day, and has inspired some of the great hymns for that occasion.  Delitzsch however has pointed out that the theme is better seen as that of Advent, the Victor’s arrival to possess the citadel He has conquered, just as David and the ark transformed the Jebusite stronghold into the hill and city of the Lord.”

 

Personally, I have always preferred to use this Psalm on Palm Sunday in celebration of the Lord’s coming into Jerusalem a week before the crucifixion.  If we are to fully understand just who it is who may enter into the earthly sanctuary of the Creator God and King – we should ponder carefully the focus of this wonderful hymn.  Is it not true that the only person who can approach the throne of heaven, and the presence of God Himself must be the Son of God Himself, or at least some lesser human covered by the blood of the Lamb?

 

This comprehension should give us pause in assuming that we somehow or another may qualify on our own recognizance to enter into the holy real estate, described in this wondrous psalm.   After all, the opening verse of this section demands an answer:  “Who May Enter?” Delitzsch ponders “the character of the man, who is worthy of this privilege.”    And then he goes on to observe that such a one shall acquire blessing and righteous from the God of his salvation.  And further, that righteousness, or conformity to God “appears here as a gift.”

 

Calvin tells us that while “It is well known that it was of pure grace that God erected his sanctuary, and chose for himself a dwelling place among the Jews, David makes only a tacit reference to this subject.  He insists principally on the other point contained in the verse, that of distinguishing true Israelites from the false.”

 

Development:  Verses three and four of this psalm must be our focus for today as we worship the awesome and mighty Triune God of heaven and earth.  And well might the words in these two verses echo through our minds and hearts in times such as our own! 

 

The two questions in verse three:  ”Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?” and “who may stand in His sanctuary?”  are a warning that those who come before the Lord have no secret sins beyond His searching out and knowing full well.  And before we come into His house and offer Him worship we must humble ourselves and confess our sinful need for the atonement of the only One who may ascend and stand in the near presence of His Father God.  That is where our understanding must be today, ever since the coming of Jesus Christ. 

 

In the Old Covenant revelation where they did not have full knowledge of the King of Glory: Jesus Christ, the saints struggled with understanding their relationship to that king.  But ever and anew, the prophetic, priestly and kingly writers of the sacred revelation perceived, correctly but dimly through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the necessity of someone who could stand in the awesome holiness of their God and King.

 

In this Psalm, the Lord God Jehovah had come into His own people and city.  Now we may not assume that the rest of the world is left completely outside, in the first two verses we read the assertion that the whole world is indeed His.  The glory of God will not be confined to one place, just as it is not confined to one denomination or Christian group today.  

 

Yet, those who know Him and what He has done are very likely to have sympathy with the crowd of Israel on that historic day long ago.  And just as Israel meditated upon those two questions during the processional music accompanying the singing, so are we to consider these two questions in our own time.

 

The first deals with our understanding of our obligations and duties.  And it is asked in two phrases:  "Who may ascend?" and "Who may stand?"  The ark that the Israelites were bearing up the steep slope had brought disaster to Dagon's temple, where the Philistine lords had wondered who can stand in His presence?    The one requirement for us as for Israel is purity.  This requirement may be deduced from the majesty of God as it is described in verses one and two.  This is the vision of the whole Psalter and indeed of the whole Bible.  The truth that must lay upon our hearts here is that which is implied.   The character of God determines the character of His worshipers.  In pagan times, a god of war would have warriors, a god of lusts would have sensualists.  In a like sense, we must offer to our great God that which He desires.  We must worship Him in spirit and in truth as Jesus instructs.  And in the sense of this Psalm today we are required to consider what it means to be pure.

 

Then, in verse four there are four brief points to consider.  The first one about “clean hands” indicates that our actions, our practice of the faith must not be polluted with things that are unacceptable to the Lord.  It may be easy for us to presume that our congregational life is well under the regulation of our Christian brethren and the ecclesiastical structures erected to preserve the peace and purity of Christ’s Church.  However, we need to go on and bring the daily work of our hands under the authority of our Lord and Savior as well.  Of course in this secular culture of today, there may be difficulties in doing our work to the higher expectations of our God and King.  Yet, if Joseph, Daniel, Esther and the rest of God’s saints who served earthly kings could manage in more difficult situations, we should be able to do at least as well in less threatening times!  

 

A second point involves a “pure heart” which concerns our attitudes and inward desires.   More and more as I pass through public places indoors, I see an increasing number of males wearing hats.  Just a generation ago, no self respecting male would wear a hat inside.  This tradition is traced back to the code of Chivalry in the Middle Ages where armed knights who expected trouble would tramp in wherever they wanted and dare any one to insult their honor.  As a minimal code of gentlemanly conduct was established, those who wanted to avoid trouble, removed their helmets as a sign that they came in peace.  From that gentlemanly agreement came the once common habit of removing hats whenever males entered a building.  Whenever I am charged with managing a secular classroom – I invoke the traditional rule and when asked to explain, I insist that the attitude of the person is really more important than the actual baring of the head.  Of course, a hat is a minimal thing which declares for all to see the condition of hearts refusing to submit to any concept of authority! 

 

How goes it with your heart today?  Are you willing to admit that your body is a living temple for the Holy Spirit to declare the righteousness of the King of Kings?  Or are you more like the worldly who proudly presume that the body is not a temple but an amusement park fit for every wild ride that presents itself?

 

The third phrase in the Hebrew involves our longings after the “vain things” of this world instead of giving first place to God.  Yes it is difficult in our grossly material world to not consider the worldly desires of our hearts.  This year’s car, next year’s computer system, a three hundred thousand dollar house instead of what we can better afford!  Once, I was asked a contractor what was the  real difference between a $189,000 house and a $289,000 one.  You could be surprised that here really isn’t much more space involved and not necessarily a better neighborhood, unless the most expensive homes are grouped together and their acreage doubled or tripled.  What really sets an expensive home apart from a lesser home is the quality of the woodwork which decorates the floors, stairs and trim!  The cost of that material and its correct installation is a major driving force in refining the price of homes! 

 

Vanity of vanities, well did Solomon know what he was doing when he purchased whole Lebanese forests from his father-in-law!  But, before we leave this idea, there is one more home building technique that drives up the cost, and that is the design of the entryway where in many cases 10% of the value of the home is consumed to present a proper image!   How much more ought we be to be concerned with the sanctity of our soul, the transgressions of our habits and our inner prayer life!

 

The fourth point about not “swearing falsely” is pointedly aimed at the truth of our words and going on to be honest law abiding citizens.  Yes, there is in the last phrase an obvious calling to be more honest than our peers!  But any visible corruption is no worse than the inner corruption of our souls.  So even if we pledge our public allegiance to Christ our King, but live a furtive life apart from the kingdom in our private lives, we are thereby living a lie that God sees and understands all too well.

 

Application:  Now, let us be very careful to realize that the premise of the Psalm is to give us all pause, as we come into the sanctuary of our God.  And thereby, we are better fitted to confess our sins and shortcomings before the merciful throne of our God and King.  After all, as Calvin assesses the tone here, “there is an implied contrast between true Israelites and those of them who were degenerate.”  Further, he encourages us “that there is nothing more desirable than to be numbered among the flock of God, and to be members of the church.”  And as members of Christ’s Church, we in all humility, are better able to appreciate the blessings and salvation received from the Lord God of heaven and earth.

 

The essential point in this matter is very much like the Reformed understanding of the Sermon on the Mount.  There in the recitation of the beatitudes, the very fact that we have known personally the blessings and benefits recited – that indicates the State of Grace in which we find ourselves by the mercy of the Triune God.  Calvin gets at the same point when he observes “that it is not to be expected that the fruit or reward of righteousness will be bestowed on those who unrighteously profane God’s sacred worship.”  And further, “that it is impossible for God to disappoint his true worshippers; for it is his peculiar office to give evidence of his righteousness by doing them good.”

 

“Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.”  Thus, it is not the outward signs that give a proper witness, but only those whose hearts are humbled before their Maker, those who kneel before Him and gladly , freely, give Him their worship, adoration and thanksgiving: in return for the great gift of salvation they acknowledge and accept by grace alone. 

 

“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord [and] who may stand in His sanctuary?”Our Lord and Savior:  Jesus Christ – or course.  And just as in the procession following the Ark of the Covenant into David’s city – so too are all of those elect pilgrims who follow in the train of worshippers in every day and age.  Blessed be the Lord for numbering us in that vast array of saints: of those who have followed Christ down through the ages.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Kidner, Derek.  Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries:  Psalms 1-72.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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