Who is This King of Glory?

2017-11-18

A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath 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. 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 in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Unlike the previous psalm, these ten verses show the authority of God, and they should elicit fear and wonder in every mortal human being.

Everything in the entire universe belongs to God (Psalm 24:1) because He made it (Psalm 24:2). Most importantly, we belong to God (“they that dwell therein”). He made us for His purpose, not for our own desires.

The powerful waters that could sweep away the strongest man with currents and waves were nothing compared to God’s subduing power. We must recognize His power, and submit to Him.

The Christian rightly believes that, in the hour that we believe on the Lord Jesus, we receive His righteousness, and are justified. The psalmist tells us here who can enter into the presence of God: he who has “clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:4). I do not believe this is merely referring to be saved, but also true justification in practice. He will do the work in us to make us like Christ once we are saved (Psalm 24:5; Philippians 1:6).

The reference to the righteous seeking the nation of Israel (“Jacob”) in Psalm 24:6 has less to do with the physical nation, and much more to do with their King: The King of glory. The very gates and doors are to lift up at His coming (Psalm 24:7). This is more to do with the authorities that meet at the gates of the city (Ruth 4:1-2; Psalm 127:5). Any earthly authority must rise before the ultimate king over every authority in respect and fear. The day is coming when Jesus Christ will return to take the throne in His kingdom.

In Psalm 23, The LORD is the gentle shepherd that provides for His people. Here He is the strong and mighty warrior King, “mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8). The reference “the LORD of hosts” regards His command of the heavenly armies. The Lord Jesus Christ will come one day, and “every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7). He offers amnesty to every human being today, to trust in Him and His provision for our deliverance: His death for our sins, and His rising from the dead.