PSALM 24
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, 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, 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.
Psalm 24 is a call away from idols (verse 4) to worship of the Lord. The declaration of verse 1, the repeated question in verses 8 and 10, the entire Psalm, is a call away from idolatry to worship of the Lord.
Idols aren’t just made with stone and wood. Success can be an idol. Popularity can be an idol. People can be idols. Anything or anyone that takes the place in our hearts of the one true God is an idol. A pure heart, says verse 4, does not worship idols.
Paul quotes the opening verse of this Psalm in a discussion about food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 10:26): “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” As with Jesus’ quotation of Psalm 22, Paul is probably quoting the opening verse as an invitation to readers to recall the whole Psalm.
The Corinthians had an idol problem. They idolised people. It wasn’t the idols before which this food was sacrificed that they ultimately worshipped. They idolised their leaders, with “I follow Paul” and I follow Apollos” mantras (1 Corinthians 1:12). More profoundly still, they idolised themselves. In the idols discussion of chapter 10 Paul twice quotes their most favourite mantra of all, “I have the right to do anything” (1 Corinthians 10:23): idolising self, glory to self, self as king (see 1 Corinthians 4:8).
The two questions of Psalm 24, verses 8 and 10 smash into the two “I have the right to do anything” mantras of the Corinthians. So Paul concludes: “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). He says, “I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1). Jesus’ death has purified our hearts. He alone is the king who deserves our worship.
Head: What have you learnt about Jesus from Psalm 24? What have you learnt about yourself?
Heart: How does it make you feel that Jesus has purified our hearts to worship him alone?
Hands: In what ways might you be tempted to pursue your own glory today? How might remembering the cross help you turn from that temptation?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that Jesus’ death has purified my heart. Yet I confess that I am tempted to turn to idols. Please show me by your Spirit the idols that I’ve placed in my heart. I confess that I am tempted to pursue my own glory not yours, to seek my own good not the good of others. Please strengthen me through the cross to turn from all idols and to live instead for the glory of King Jesus, loving others with his love.
