We have taken time to consider two of the Shepherd Psalms. Psalm 22 presented Jesus as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:10, 11). Psalm 23 presents Jesus as the Great Shepherd who cares for His sheep (Heb 13:20, 21). We now come to the last of this group, Psalm 24, which presents Jesus as the Chief Shepherd who will one day come for His sheep (1 Peter 5:1-4).
This Psalm was likely composed because of the ark’s ascension from the house of Obed-edom to rest in Mt. Zion (2 Samuel 6). However, David’s thoughts went beyond this occasion to the day when Messiah would ascend to the throne.
We see in this psalm a three-fold privilege He has given His people. First, if you know Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you are a steward of His Creation (1, 2). The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Out of the entire universe, the LORD chose the earth as His special place: to populate, send His Son, bring salvation, and one day set up a kingdom
From the very beginning, God made it clear that the whole earth and all the peoples, not just Israel and the Jews, belong to Him. The fullness of the earth speaks of its: harvests, wealth, minerals, animals, vegetation, peoples… everything. The Lord has a right to dispose of the earth as He pleases. The world belongs to Him because He created it. We have been given the earth, not to abuse, but to use and replenish.
The second privilege given to those who know Him is that we are worshipers who experience His grace in redemption (3-6). 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. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek Him; that seek Thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
The hill of the LORD is Mt Zion, a part of Jerusalem, where God was said to dwell.
God’s people must be clean if they are going to worship and serve the LORD. Only Jesus can come into God’s presence in His own righteousness. We come by faith in the righteousness of Christ. Once saved, we receive many blessings from the LORD. How do we remain clean (righteous)? By daily by confessing and forsaking sin (1 John 1:9).
The third privilege is to be a victor who celebrates His Glory in conquest (7-10). Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory; Selah
When this psalm was read on the day of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, the Jewish people were not thinking of Jesus. In fact they rejected Him and soon He was crucified.
One day Jesus Christ will return in glory and enter the gates of Jerusalem. He will deliver the city from her enemies and establish His kingdom on earth. This psalm will be sung in truth and worship by all who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior!