Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-164 Sunday 07 Sep 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 24 – THE KING OF GLORY

‘I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.'(Isa 42:8)

We’ve seen that Psalm 15 is an ‘entrance liturgy’. Psalm 24 also contains such a liturgy (in a briefer form), but as part of something larger. The opening verses (vs 1,2) are a hymn to God as Creator. The ‘entrance liturgy’ follows, in which the worshippers ask who is worthy to stand in the presence of God (vs 3-6). This is followed by another series of questions and answers in which entry to the sanctuary is demanded for ‘the King of glory’.

The language of this last section suggests that the King is represented by the Ark of the Covenant. Here God is depicted as a mighty warrior (v 8). In the early days the Ark was taken into battle as a symbol of God’s presence.(Num 10:35,36; Josh 6:6,7) The title ‘the LORD Almighty’ (v 10, literally ‘the LORD of hosts’) appears associated with the Ark.(2 Sam 6:2) Psalm 24 seems to have been used when the Ark was carried in procession and brought into the Temple. Maybe it was used at the dedication of the Temple.(1 Kings 8:3-5)

The theme of the psalm is the kingship of the Lord. He is the Lord of creation. Everything belongs to him because he created it. We ought to recognise this lordship in our daily lives, in what we do, think and say (v 4). The link with the Ark and Israel’s battles reminds us that he is also the Lord of history.

People sometimes say they go to church to receive a blessing. Verse 5 says that those who will ‘receive blessing from the LORD’ are those for whom the lordship of the King of Glory is a reality in their daily lives.

In Sunday School I learnt the saying, ‘If God is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.’ Is God the Lord of all of your life?

– Ernest Lucas

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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