The King of Glory and His Kingdom
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 24, penned by David, is a majestic hymn that celebrates God’s sovereignty, holiness, and triumphant kingship, likely written during a time of great celebration in Israel’s history, possibly when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). This event was a pivotal moment, symbolizing God’s presence among His people, and the psalm reflects the joy and awe of that occasion. The opening verses declare that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord because He created it, founding it “upon the seas” and establishing it “upon the waters.” This imagery harkens back to Genesis 1:9-10, where God separates the waters to form dry land: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear’; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” This reminds us that God’s ownership is universal, a truth that speaks to all people—whether ancient Israelites or us today—calling us to recognize that our lives, resources, and world belong to Him, urging humility and stewardship over pride and possession.
The psalm then shifts to a probing question: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” This refers to the temple mount in Jerusalem, the sacred space where God’s presence dwelt. The answer—those with “clean hands and a pure heart” who avoid idolatry and deceit—sets a high standard for approaching God. Historically, this reflected Israel’s covenant relationship with God, where purity and faithfulness were required to enter His presence. For all people, this speaks to the universal need for integrity and sincerity in our relationship with the divine. No one is perfect, yet the psalm offers hope: those who seek God’s face will receive “blessing” and “righteousness” from the “God of his salvation.” This points to a deeper truth: God’s grace transforms us, making us fit to stand before Him. The reference to “Jacob” as the generation that seeks God connects to Israel’s identity but also invites all who seek truth to become part of God’s people, a theme echoed in Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
The final section of Psalm 24 is a triumphant call for the gates to open for the “King of glory,” depicted as a mighty warrior returning victorious. Historically, this may have been sung as the Ark entered Jerusalem, symbolizing God’s kingship. The repetition of “Lift up your heads, O you gates!” and the question “Who is this King of glory?” builds anticipation, answered with “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” This imagery resonates deeply with Jesus, who is the ultimate King of glory. Christians see this psalm fulfilled in Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) and His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). The gates opening for the King mirror Jesus’s victory over sin and death, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus embodies the “clean hands and pure heart,” being sinless, and through Him, we receive the righteousness promised in verse 5.
The call to purity in Psalm 24 connects to Jesus’s teachings, particularly His parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14, where a man is cast out for not wearing the proper garment: “So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” This parable underscores the need for a transformed heart to enter God’s kingdom, aligning with the psalm’s demand for purity. Similarly, Jesus’s parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) emphasizes readiness to meet the Bridegroom, echoing the psalm’s call to prepare for the King’s arrival: “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” These parables reinforce the wisdom of Psalm 24: only those who seek God with sincerity and prepare their hearts will enter His presence.
For all people, Psalm 24 offers timeless wisdom: God’s sovereignty demands our reverence, His holiness calls for our transformation, and His victory assures our hope. The psalm invites us to live with integrity, to seek God’s face, and to welcome the King of glory into our lives. Jesus fulfills this psalm as the one who makes us clean through His sacrifice, as Hebrews 10:19-22 declares: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Through Jesus, the gates of heaven are opened, and we are invited to ascend the hill of the Lord, not by our own merit, but by His grace. Psalm 24, then, is not just a song of ancient Israel but a call to all humanity to recognize God’s kingship, seek His righteousness, and prepare for the coming of the King of glory, who is Jesus Himself.