Bible Study — Psalm 24
The three disjointed sections of this psalm (vv. 1–2, 3–6, 7–10) give it the feel of a cut and paste job from the divine word processor.
Verses 1–2 at first sight seem to be an exhortation to look after the planet we live in, however if everything in the world is the Lord’s maybe that includes what we have made as well as the natural environment. I once heard a passionate Cypriot preacher, teaching on this verse and telling us how God owns everything: walkmans, mobile phones, computers, CD players and crescendoing to the deafening conclusion that “GOD OWNS ALL THE DOUGHNUTS”.
But I digress. In verses 3–6 we move on to stand in the presence of God. The only person who can do this is totally pure in heart. And who is? I may accept on a theoretical level that God owns all ‘my’ doughnuts but I will still feel very unholy towards someone who eats them all. The only one who fulfilled all the criteria in verse 4; and received God’s blessing and vindication was Jesus. And only through Jesus, is it possible for us to ‘ascend the hill of the Lord’ (verse 3)
The psalm ends with a call and response in praise of God, (verses 7–10) this psalm was apparently written by David to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the temple in Jerusalem. It is the most fantastic example of the kind of praise that only God, who owns everything, knows our imperfection and yet still blesses us, can inspire.