Song of the Ascended Warrior-King

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Psalm 24

Psalm 22 asks the question “why” and Psalm 24 asks the question “who”?  This 24^th Psalm was written for the occasion when David returned to Jerusalem from battle with the Ark of the Covenant.  The Jews would carry the Ark out from the Tabernacle or Temple when they went off to war.  Numbers 10:33-36.  And when they came back from the Battle they would bring the Ark of the Covenant back to its proper resting place in Jerusalem.  Psalm 24 is the song which the Hebrews sang while the Ark was coming back into the Tabernacle/Temple.  Psalm 24 tells us something about what happens when the Lord and humanity cross each other’s paths.

The 24^th Psalm asks the questions “who is the Lord of Glory?” and “who will stand?” when He comes.  Let us explore what the Bibles says will happen when the 2 worlds of the human and the Divine collide!   

1. Who is this King of Glory? Verses 1-2 & 7-10
   1. He is the Creator of Creation-The earthly sphere is the direction in which the Lord is moving in this Psalm—and the Earth is the Lord’s because He created it.
   2. He is the Sustainer of Creation.  One Who brings order into chaos.  
   3. Illustration:  The Homeowner   
   4. Application:  Thus, the physical creation which the Creator has made is dependent upon His presence in order hold chaos at bay and continue to sustain order in our world.
   5. He is the True King
   6. He is the Lord of Hosts
   7. Interpretation:  The Lord has the power and presence to deliver His creation from all threats of chaos and He has the power grant salvation to those who seek Him.       
2. Who may stand in the King’s Presence? Verses 3-6.
   1. A Striking Question:  The question above is really what does the coming of the Creator Warrior-King mean for mere mortals?  Does the coming of the Lord of Glory require any changes on the part of humans? —The answer is Yes!
   2. A Transformed Life.  When the Lord comes He will be looking for His people to be living their lives out according to the profession they make.  The phrase: “he who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”  All of this refers to the “moral purity” of God’s Law.  The 10 commandments.
   3. A Holy Nation.     
   4. Bearing the name of the Lord.  Exodus 20:7-“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.  This is all about how we bear the name of the Lord to the people around us.  We are the representatives of the Lord just like Israel.
3. Application:  
   1. A Complete Obedience
   2. A Collision Course-Like a computer animated projection of an asteroid shooting towards Earth this great poem reveals an inevitable, inescapable conflict.
   3. A Conundrum
   4. A Cosmic Conflict-Like every good Clint Eastwood film, the Hero comes into town to face down the outlaws.  
   5. Christ as the King of Glory
   6. Uncompromising Holiness
   7. A Twist in the Plot-The N.T. tells us that when the Lord of Glory did come and He had all power, authority and sovereignty to take back what was rightfully His but instead of killing…He chose to be killed…“You who were once estranged and hostile in mind … he has now reconciled in the body of his flesh through death” (Col. 1:21–22)…But He has put death to death…“We have been buried with him by baptism into death … we have been united with him in a death like his, and we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom. 6:4–5).

Conclusion:  Who is this King of Glory?  Christ Jesus is this King of Glory!  Yet, He is not a Warrior-King in the way we think of.  He came to us meek and lowly—

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 

6. Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 
7. rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness. 
8. And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death—  even death on a cross! 
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name, 
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
11. and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.–Philippians 2:5-11