Creator and Lord of History (Psalm 24)

CONSIDER THIS

Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. Most recently, he served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary among other posts he holds across the global church. Julie is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.

Psalm 24 begins with a declaration that God is both the Creator and the Lord of history. Is there any greater affirmation of the sovereignty of God than the opening line of Psalm 24? “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (v. 1). There is not one square inch of the entire creation or one single person who has ever lived that is not under the providential sovereignty of God! He is Lord.

The heart of this psalm reminds us that we have no access to the holy presence of God. “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” (v. 3). The answer is only one with “clean hands and a pure heart” (v. 4). The supreme crisis of the human race is captured in this solemn reply. Even the New Testament picks up on the solemnity of this verse when it declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The only way to bridge the great gulf between heaven and earth, between God’s holiness and our sinfulness, is through a divine condescension whereby God himself bridges the chasm and takes on human flesh and walks among us. This is the heart of the good news of Jesus Christ. He alone is the one who has lived with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps. 24:4).

This psalm also foreshadows a segment of history not seen by human witnesses: the entrance of the ascended, victorious Christ into heaven. “Lift up your heads . . . that the King of glory may come in” (v. 7). The initial ascension of Christ was observed by his disciples (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9), and we now know that he is seated at the right hand of God the Father. What was not observed by any human eye was the glorious entry into heaven after the work of redemption was accomplished. The early church saw in Psalm 24 a marvelous foreshadowing of that great event: “Lift up your heads O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (v. 7). The gates of the Lord joyously ask, “Who is this King of glory?” The triumphal refrain comes back, “the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle” (v. 8). The refrain is repeated to add to the triumphal victory of the whole scene (vv. 7–10). This is the great theme of the ascension: Jesus is the victor who, after his suffering and humiliation, has been crowned with glory and honor!

For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent

THE HYMN

Sing Psalm 24 with the Seedbed Psalter today. I suggest the tune LYONS (“O Worship the King”). You can hear the tune played online by Julie Tennent here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, I will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below. 

1   The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world and all those within its domains.
2   He founded it upon the seas by His hand;
Established it firm on the waters to stand.

3   O, who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Or stand in the holy place of our God?
4   The one with clean hands and pure heart without stain,
Who lifts not his soul to an idol in vain.

4/5   The one who won’t swear with falsehood and lies
5   will blessing receive from the Lord on high.
He’ll be vindicated by his Savior God—
6   Such are those who seek for Your face, Jacob’s God.      Selah

7   O lift up your heads, you doors and you gates;
To enter, the King of glory awaits.
8   This great King of glory, O who can He be?
The Lord, strong and mighty in battle is He!

9   O lift up your heads, you doors and you gates;
To enter, the King of glory awaits.
10   This great King of glory, O who can He be?
The Almighty Lord, King of glory is He!      Selah

P.S. Get the Resources

If you would like to have the meditations and the metrical psalter in a beautiful two-volume set—which I highly recommend— you can order those through the Seedbed store.