PSALM 24 LIFT UP YOUR HEADS

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
1 The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may 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 them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory.
Selah

In the middle of peals of praise to our God is the question of what we must be in order to dwell in his presence. Other than desiring to dwell with God, the key to entering his “holy place” is not what we do but who we are. The righteous, those who are vindicated, have “clean hands” and “a pure heart.” As the Lord has brought order out of chaos in creation, those who seek him must allow his order to replace the disorder of sin in their lives. Both the way we live and the way we think need to be reordered to God’s original intention when he created humankind. In our lives, which are to be acts of worship in their entirety, we are to have eyes only for God and we are to be motivated only by his will.

Lest we be plunged into despair, this demand is bracketed by hymns of praise proclaiming God’s authority and strength over all creation including our lives. The “blessing” and “vindication” of dwelling in God’s presence comes not from us or our efforts, but from God. We must choose to turn to him, to receive God’s grace, by acknowledging who he is through a life of obedience to his will.

We know what David could only glimpse prophetically. The King of glory entered Jerusalem in human form and mounted the throne of the cross. By being lifted up he drew all people to himself, so that as they sought him, as they looked upon him in faith, they would “receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.” And from Mount Zion we are then led to the mount over the Sea of Galilee to hear his words, “Blessed are…” (Matthew 5:3-12).

O Lord, you are my Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, the righteous authority over all creation. Draw me to yourself throughout this day that I might not bow to any of the multitude of idols that surround me. May my thought will be directed by your thoughts so that I might dwell in your presence not just today but for ever. Amen.