“WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” (Outline)
December 4, 2022 – Advent 2 – PSALM 24
INTRO: Psalm 24 asks the same question twice: “Who is this King of Glory?” There were many kings in biblical times. Most were not good. “Who is this King of Glory?” serves as good question theme for today. “Jesus Christ…went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him” (1 PETER 3:22). Good reminder: All authorities are subject to Jesus.
“WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” I. Creator. II. Savior. III. Warrior
“WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” I. THE KING OF GLORY IS CREATOR
A. Verse 1. “The earth is the LORD’s and everything that fills it, the world and all who live in it.”
1. The Lord God created everything. The whole earth (universe) belongs to him.
2. Humanity was the crowning glory of creation. Created man from what was created.
3. The Lord formed mankind from the dust of the earth. Gave people a soul. Special.
B. Verse 2. The Lord used great power by his word in creation. “Let there be…” And it was.
1. God created the basics needed for life. Earth needed light and water. Word created.
2. The Lord spoke everything into existence. “Let there be…” Creation. King = Creator.
C. Out of nothing the King of Glory created everything. This is the simple and powerful truth of God’s Word. Scripture gives us the definition of creation. “By faith we know that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what is seen did not come from visible things” (HEBREWS 11:3). It is only by faith that any can truly understand that the Lord made everything from nothing. People do not create. We use what is already created to bring our plans into being. We start with something. We need and use materials the Lord has already created. Or provided. Creative power belongs to our Creator.
D. To speak something into being is an absolutely, incredible display of divine power. There in nothing like it. This the same divine power changes our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. We are born sinners. Enemies of God. The power of the King of Glory, Creator, changes all that. “For the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ is the same one who made light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ” (2 CORINTHIANS 4:6). The Lord MADE his light shine in our hearts. This Light gives us the knowledge of the glory of God. Power.
“WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” II. THE KING OF GLORY IS SAVIOR
A. Verse 3. The Lord asks who can stand before him: on the mountain of the Lord, in his holy place?
1. Verse 4. Answer: Those with clean hands, pure hearts, and with nothing false can stand.
2. Hmm. Clean hands, pure hearts, no lies…includes...not one person. All are sinners.
B. Verse 5. Blessing from the Lord comes from the righteous God who alone saves.
1. This King of Glory forgives sins. Cleanses hands, hearts, and souls. Savior.
2. Verse 6. The Creator made his Light shine in hearts so people look to the Lord. Seek Savior.
C. Sin challenges today’s society. Our world does not want to talk about sin. Truthfully, no one wants to hear they are sinful. We do not like to be reminded that all our righteous acts are filthy rags. Like the wind our sins sweep us away. The Lord reminded Noah that man’s heart is only evil all the time. The Psalm writer declares there is not one who does good. Sin is real. Sin is soul-destroying. We need to hear about our sin. See our sin. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 JOHN 1:8). Knowing we are sinners moves us to realize our need for a Savior. King of Glory.
D. The Apostle Paul spent his early adult life persecuting followers of the Way. The Way of Christ crucified. Paul brought them to justice because they were not following the way of the church. On his way to Damascus for more victims the Lord made his Light shine in his heart. A new life in Christ was created. Paul confessed that everything in the world was rubbish in comparison to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith” (PHILIPPIANS 3:9). The King of Glory is our Savior. Our righteousness counts for nothing. The Law cannot and does not save. This King of Glory is our Savior. The Gospel: Our Savior Jesus is our only salvation!
“WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” II. THE KING OF GLORY IS WARRIOR
A. Vss. 7, 9. “Lift up your heads, you gates. Lift yourselves up, you ancient doors.” Large cities had walls.
1. The wall were thick. Guards would walk on the top of the wall to watch for enemies.
2. These walls also had doors and gates. They were shut at night for added security.
3. When opened the King of Glory could freely enter into the city.
B. Verses 8, 10. Who is King of Glory. There very few kings that were good or glorious.
1. Who…? “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
2. Who…? “The LORD of Armies – he is the King of Glory.” Armies = All the heavenly hosts.
3. No mistake about King of Glory. Lord of all creation. Warrior. Defender. Protector.
C. The King of Glory is on our side. The Lord God of Armies is the Warrior fighting against our enemies. We know that this Warrior always wins. It is important to recognize our enemies. Satan misdirects our attention from our real enemy—himself. The devil uses the wickedness in this world to distract us. Listen to the media (if you are brave enough). Many try to divide people against one another. Democrats are the problem. Republicans are the problem. Police are the problem. Our anger flares up. We fight with family members. Neighbors. They are not the problem. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (EPHESIANS 6:12). Our enemies are not the people. Our enemies are the dark spiritual forces driving people to dark, wicked actions. We are no match for evil spiritual forces. Not on our own. Our King of Glory is our victorious Warrior.
D. Focus on our loving, heavenly Father. This King of Glory Warrior defends us against the assaults of our enemies. This King of Glory Warrior protects us with divine power. Our loving, heavenly Father is our Victory. "The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (COLOSSIANS 1:13, 14). We are rescued from darkness. We are brought into God’s kingdom because of Jesus victories. Jesus defeated the devil. Jesus overcame the world and its temptations. Our last enemy to be destroyed is death. Every battle has been fought. Every victory has been won by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
CONC.: “WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” God the Father is the Creator. Our Creator. God the Son is the Savior. Our Savior. God the Holy Spirit is the Warrior by virtue of giving us faith to know the victory is ours. Many, all too many, are still in darkness. Let them know who is the King of Glory. Creator. Savior. Warrior. Born at Bethlehem. “Now to the King eternal, to the immortal, invisible, only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 TIMOTHY 1:17). “WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” By grace we know. We care. We share. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 2 rdgs.: ISAIAH 11:1-10; ROMANS 15:4-13; MATTHEW 3:1-12; PSALM 130
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