The History of the World in Three Parts
Psalm 24 is an outline of the whole Bible. If you ever wanted to give someone an overview of the Bible, or, for that matter, an overview of world history Psalm 24 is a great place to start.
1. Psalm 24 begins by identifying God as the Creator of the heavens and earth, Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2. David then asks the question as old as mankind: How can mankind ascend to God and receive eternal life? Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? The history of mankind is the history of people trying to find both meaning in this life and immortality in the hereafter.
3. The Psalm ends by giving the answer: Heaven’s gates only open for the Creator, the King of GloryHimself, The Lord strong and mighty.
| Psalm 24 A psalm of David. |
A Hymn to the King of Glory |
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The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it: |
1. God is the Lord of all the Earth.God claims absolute ownership of everything on earth. Do you believe that claim? |
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For He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. |
The Bible often refers to the chaos that Satan causes on earth as churning seas: uncontrollable. But Christ calms the sea. Luke 8:22 |
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Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? |
2. The citizens of God’s Kingdom On Eden, the mountain of God, Genesis 2:10-14, Adam walked with God. From there he was to go out to populate and build a godly society on the earth. But Adam disobeyed God and was cast off and barred the mountain. |
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The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. |
Ever since then mankind has tried to work their way back to God. Most religions, remembering Paradise lost, have sacred mountains: Hindu – Meru, Greek – Olympus, Japan – Fuji, Buddhism – Kailash, Muslim – Hira, Algonquin – Katadin |
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They will receive blessing from the Lord And vindication from God their Savior. |
But who has clean hands and a pure heart?
None is righteous, no one understands, no one seeks God. Romans 3:10-12 |
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Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face, God of Jacob |
We cannot come back to God by our own efforts. We are barred from Eden. Our vindication is only through Christ.
By grace are you saved, not works. Ephesians 2:8-9 |
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Lift up your heads, you gates: Be lifted up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in. |
3. The Worship of God The gates of God’s Kingdom will not open for you if you are trying to get to God based on your own merit. All that we can earn with our attempted good works is death. Romans 6:23 |
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Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. |
Who is the King that opens the gates?
By the trespass of one man (Adam), death reigned … how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus. Romans 5:17 |
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Lift up your heads, you gates; Lift them up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in. |
I do not have a righteousness of my own … but a righteousness through faith in Christ – righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:9 |
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Who is this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory. |
Christ alone gives us admission back into the mountain of God.
You have come to Mt. Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22 |
Having brought us back onto His mountain, back into God’s Kingdom Christ tells us:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
What does a light do to the darkness?
So light the way for others!
Who does an ambassador represent?
Plead for the people you know to come to Christ’s Kingdom for the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life!
By Richard Loper
Song “Who is this King of Glory”
Return to “The Psalms”