It’s funny how things go sometimes. A couple of years ago I wouldn’t have started out preaching by making a political disclaimer but, given what’s going on today with the government shut down and caravans, I feel the need to be perfectly clear that what I am about to say is not political in any way, shape, or form. So … having cleared that up … I[m going to start out talking about walls this morning. Your see, for hundreds of centuries it has been a military and architectural truth that good walls make good neighbors … or at least protects you from the more hostile ones.
A city without a wall was … well, it was just unthinkable … insane. It left you vulnerable … exposed to your enemies and marauders. Walls were a symbol of strength. You were safe … protected … behind the wall until … well, until the enemy or attackers came over the wall or through the wall. And the easiest way to breach a wall or break through a wall was? Can you guess? Picture battering rams or burning bales of tar-soaked hay or wood. Yeah … the gate! So, an open gate signified “welcome” and a closed gate signified protection from danger, attack, or hostility.
In Psalm 24, the call to fling open the gates of the city heralds the arrival of the King of glory. Likewise, in Georg Weissel’s hymn, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates,” the call to fling open the gates of your heart heralds the arrival of the King of kings. An open gate … the sign of welcome and the sing of vulnerability.
After David was anointed king in 2nd Samuel 5, David defeated the Philistines and captured the city of Jerusalem. And David … now a king … does a curious and beautiful thing. When a city like Jerusalem was defeated, the conquering king would put on a big show of victory by riding through the main gate into the captured city amongst a great deal of music and praise and fanfare. King David, however, gives God the victory and signifies that by bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city with music and praises and great fanfare. The Ark was a testimony of God’s Presence with His people … and it served as a reminder to Israel that God is the One who saved them from their enemies, established them, and provided all that they needed. But the Ark and the Tabernacle … with all its sacrifices and celebrations and festival … were always pointing to something much greater. They gave God’s people a glimpse of what God would one day do through Jesus on the Cross.
In Psalm 24, King David is calling upon the people of Jerusalem to prepare for the coming of the Ark of the Covenant into the city … the Ark that was destined to reside in the Holy of Holies … the holiest part of the Temple … the Ark that represented the Presence of the Lord among the people. David is calling is people to open the gates of the city so that the Lord can enter in victorious … so that God can dwell among them and be the Lord of their lives.
In the same way, Weissel’s hymn, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates,” is calling us to open the gates of our hearts so that the Lord can enter in like a victorious King. Weissel is calling us to make our hearts a temple … a holy place fit for the Lord’s Presence … a place “adorned with prayer and love and joy” (stanza 2).
David begins his psalm by answering the questions: “Who is God?” and “Why should we serve Him?” To begin with, says David, the earth is God’s possession. Not just Jerusalem … not just Israel … but the whole earth! “The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” Not just the whole earth belongs to God but its fullness. All that is in it. All that it produces. All that it will ever produce. All of it belongs to God.
Our God not only owns the land, the water, the air, the animals, the plants, and the birds. He also owns and is sovereign over all the people … every man, woman, and child. His sovereignty is not just over Jerusalem … not just over Israel … but over the whole world. The world for “earth” and “world” in verse 1 are two different words in Hebrew. The word David uses for “earth” refers to the actual planet … the dirt under our feet. The word he uses for “world” refers to those who live on the earth … the inhabited regions of this planet. Everywhere that God has been pleased to allow people to dwell, He is to be acknowledged as Lord and Sovereign Rule of the heavens and the earth.
This has massive implications that should affect our view of the world and our view of worship. There is not a single nation, people, group, or place on the face of the earth that does not belong to God … whether they acknowledge it or not. Just because an atheist says it isn’t so, guess what? Doesn’t make it so. There is not a single moment of the day that is not His. He is the Lord … not just on Sunday but Monday through Saturday, amen? He is worthy of our worship and praise … not just here in the gathering of the church … but at home, at school, at work, in our neighborhoods, in our stores and restaurants … everywhere by everyone, amen? The world and those who dwell therein are the Lord’s! And He is worthy to be praised and worshiped by all people, don’t you think?
In verse 2, David explains that the earth is the “Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it” are God’s possessions because He created the earth and everyone who lives on it “for He founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers” (v. 2). All Heaven and earth must acknowledge that God is the Lord and Ruler over all.
But who can approach and draw near to such a Holy and Mighty Sovereign? David asks this question in the context of the Old Testament Levitical priesthood who served in the Presence of God … first in the Tabernacle and then later in the Temple. But it is also a question that applies to us as well. The Apostle Peter describes us as a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people.” That we might “proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1st Peter 2:9).
“Who shall ascend the Hill of the Lord?” And who shall stand in His holy place?” (v. 3). David’s answer is found in the next verse, verse 4: “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, those who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.”
Those who shall ascend the Hill of the Lord … those who shall stand in God’s Holy Place … must meet these four qualification:
They must have clean hands …
They must have pure hearts …
They must not lift up their souls to what is false …
And they must not swear deceitfully.
“Clean hands” demands outward purity. Purity in our actions … purity in our activities. Everything we do and make must be clean. Everything we have and hold must be clean. Everything we grasp, everything we cling too must be clean.
A “pure heart” demands inner purity … purity in our thoughts … purity in our motivations. Everything we think, every reason we have for doing what we do … it all must be pure.
Not lifting up our souls to what is false demands purity in our devotion to God. We are to have a heart and life committed to seeking and serving only God. We are not to be ones who pursue idols or folly or vain ambition. The only way we can avoid pursuing what is false is to pursue what? Pursue God and His glory first in all things. You can’t chase idols if you’re chasing after God.
Purity in speech demands that we not swear deceitfully but that we always speak the truth. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Having clean hands, having a pure heart, forsaking what is false for the pursuit of God, speaking the truth in love … God has commanded these things and we are created for them. They are a statement of His law. We must have these things, do these things, if we are to ascend the Hill of the Lord … if we are to stand in His Holy Place. These are God’s high and holy standards for those who would draw near Him and serve Him and honor Him and Love Him.
But let’s get real here! Who can meet such high and holy standards? Who can attain such high and holy goals? If we honestly assess our own hearts, who among us can say that we have clean hands? That all we do and make and have and hold is clean? Who among us can say that they have a pure heart? That what we think is pure? That our every motivation is always done for the right reason? Who among us can say that they have never lifted their soul in the pursuit of vain and false things? That they hold God and His glory first in all things? Who here this morning can honestly say they have always told the truth and never lied? Who among us here this morning can testify that they have never done a deceitful thing or never sought to mislead or deceive anyone? Well … I’ll speak for myself. I can’t!
David knew this. He knew this about himself … and he knew that about us. In Psalm 14, David confessed: “The Lord looks down from Heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have come corrupt; there is none” … including the author of Psalm 14 … “who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:2-3).
If this is true of us … if we are left to ourselves to meet such demands … we are doomed. We can only despair as one who has failed in every part and are judged to be unfaithful. Our hands are not clean. They are corrupt and make misery and destruction. Our hearts are not pure. They are “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Our lives are not wholly spent in pursuing God. We are distracted … dulled … and in pursuit of vanity every day. Our lips are not pure. They are “full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14).
If Psalm 24 ended here, we would be without hope of ever standing before God. Our just end would be condemnation and death, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But, thankfully … praise God! … the psalm does not end here, amen? Verse 5 outlines the provision that God has made for those who come to Him. “They will receive blessing form the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation” (v. 5). Did you hear it? You might of missed it. Don’t feel bad … it’s kind of subtle. They will “receive.” To “receive” something it has to be given to you, amen? And, in order for it to be given to you, someone has to give it to you. We will “receive” blessings from who? The Lord! We will “receive” vindication from who? The God of our salvation!
Clean hands and a pure heart are not the works that earn God’s favor. They are the “result” of God’s salvation and the evidence of His grace. We receive God’s salvation. He gives it to us because of His grace. Our salvation is evidence of His grace, understand? God’s people do not ascend the Hill of the Lord to “give” Him our righteousness … but to “receive” His. Yes … holy living earns a sure blessing from God, but holiness must first be received as a blessing of God! As Charles Spurgeon noted: “There must be a work of grace in the core of the heart as well as in the palm of the hand … or our religion is a delusion.”
We cannot stand before God on our own … in our sin … and live. We need to be rescued. We need to be reconciled to God. Verse 5 promises blessing for those whom God has chosen to draw near to Him. We read in Psalm 65 … another psalm written by David: “When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple” (v. 3-4).
Are these blessings beyond our reach because of our sin? No! For God Himself provides for us salvation in Christ and righteous not our own … Amen! We have hope because God Himself has provided a way for us to ascend His Hill … to stand in His Holy Place … to enter into His Presence.
Verse 6 concludes the first half of the psalm: “Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” In other words, verse 6 is telling us that God has provided a way of salvation for His people. There is no other way to approach God apart from His qualifications and His provision. For those who seek God and desire to worship Him, this is the only way!
Then David puts in a “se’lah.” A “se’lah” is a pause … a musical interlude … to give us a moment to ponder and reflect upon everything we’ve just heard. Who can ascend the Hill of the Lord? Again, in David’s context, these were the qualifications for the priesthood. How could they enter the Temple in Jerusalem and worship the Holy God? How are we … a people who are a kingdom of priests … how are we able to come into the Presence of a holy God? Who is able to stand in His Holy Place? Who has this salvation and righteousness from God? Who has clean hands and a pure heart? Who has not lifted up His soul toward vanity and what is false? Who has always spoken the truth of God?
Se’lah!
Let’s take a moment to let all that sink in. And then let’s find out who can ascend the Lord’s Hill. Let’s find out who has this salvation and righteousness. Let’s find out who has clean hands and a pure heart. Let’s find out who has never lifted up His soul toward vanity and what is false. Let’s find out who has always spoken the truth of God.
[Pause for a minute or two.]
Ready?
Let’s look at verse 7. “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors!”
Ready for it?
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors that the King of Glory may come in.”
Who can ascend the Hill of the Lord? Who can stand in His Holy Place? The King of Glory who made the earth and owns everything in it. Who can bless the world and all the people who dwell in it with salvation and righteousness? The King of Glory! “Lift up your heads, ye might gates; Behold, the King of Glory waits; the King of kings is drawing near; the Savior of the World is here” (stanza 1).
As the King of Glory approaches the gates of the holy city of Jerusalem, the guards on the watchtower call out: “Who is this King of Glory?” And the King’s men call back: “The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle” (v. 8). And the guards call down to the curious townspeople below: “Lift you your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors that the King of Glory may come in” (verse 9). “Lift up your heads, people, and open up the gates of the city to welcome our strong and mighty and victorious King!”
This is too good to sing only once! So, David has us sing it twice. Picture a motion picture camera panning from the King and His procession … to the guards on the watchtower … to the people down below in the city … and then turning the camera on you … and the guards and the people of the city looking at you singing: “Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts; He is the King of Glory” (v. 10).
Who is the King of Glory for us? Who stands at the “portals of our hearts” (stanza 2)? It is our Lord Jesus Christ! “As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill” (Psalm 2:6). Sound familiar? “Who shall ascend the Hill of the Lord?” The One whom God has set there. Verses 7 and 8 of Psalm 2 continue: “I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘you are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Again, sound familiar? “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).
Christ is the King of Glory. He is the One who ascends into the Presence of the Lord, to Whom God the Father has given the nations as His inheritance. Christ alone meets all the qualifications. Only He has perfectly fulfilled the Law in perfect righteousness. And only Jesus can ascend the Holy Hill. “No one has ascended into Heaven,” says Jesus, “except He who descended from Heaven, the Son of Man” (John 3:13).
Jesus. He alone has clean hands and a pure heart. He alone is free from idolatry. He alone only speaks the truth of God. He is the blessed one of God to whom the multitudes would sing as He entered the gates of Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).
Jesus. “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle” (v. 8). It is Christ who went to the cross and defeated our two greatest enemies: Sin and death! It is Christ who went to the cross and became our salvation and righteousness. It is Christ … our great High Priest … who entered the true Temple not made with human hands … the Heavenly Temple … the Holy Hill of God … to make lasting atonement for our sins.
Who is this King of Glory? Jesus … whose cross removed our guilt and shame. The Apostle Paul explains that God has forgiven us in Christ “by canceling the record of our debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside … nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Who is this King of Glory? Jesus! “Redeemer, come, with us abide; our hearts to thee we open wide; let us thy inner presence feel; thy grace and love in us reveal” (stanza 3).
As we close out the year 2018, my prayer for you is that you stand fast in the Gospel … not just in 2019 but for the rest of your life. As you came to Christ by the Gospel, trusting in Him fully, so walk and serve Him by the Gospel.
Let us pray …
