Title: Make Way for the King
Text: Psalm 24
Topic: God’s glory; righteousness imputed; proper worship; kingdom reality.
Sermon Purposes:
1. That the listener will understand and acknowledge the sovereign right and rule of God.
2. That the listener will trust in Christ’s righteousness for salvation and work to become more righteous in his heart and actions.
3. That the listener will proclaim the coming of Christ.
4. That the listener will be encouraged knowing he will join in Christ’s victory and coronation.
Introduction
Illustration: When I attended the University of Kentucky I got a phone call from the Dean’s office asking me to put on my band uniform and to bring my trumpet to campus. A photographer with Sports Illustrated wanted me to pose for the cover of the magazine. Now, you can imagine what a flood of thoughts came to my head. “It’s about time trumpet players got some attention around here.” “They’ve finally recognized true greatness!” Of course, none of these were true an in my heart I knew that. I asked the Dean’s secretary why I was being photographed for Sports Illustrated. I was no world class athalete. My answer was both telling and humbling. I was getting photographed with Rex Chapman, an incoming freshman basketball legend to the university. I was to pose, heralding his entrance to the school. Frinds,I was never going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated by myself, but perhaps I could if I appeared with Rex, whose name curiously enough means "the King!"
1. In basketball, there is a progressing of sacred territory. The U.S.A. is the nation of basketball. In that nation, Kentucky is the sacred state of basketball. In Ky., Lexington is the holy city of basketball, and in Lexington, the Wildcat Lodge is the dwelling place of the kings of basketball. Only the players and those they invite to join them may appear there.
• Likewise, there is a progression of holy territory in the eyes of God as well. The Earth, Judea, Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, the Temple and the Holy of Holies.
Transition: Just like I had to appear with the king of basketball in order to be photographed for Sports Illustrated, we must know the King of Glory in order to appear before His holy dwelling. Psalm 24 has some good news for us today:
Background: Let’s begin with this magnificent ceremonial hymn written by King David for the entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem. David had established the governing city for Israel, the city of Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant had yet to be brought into the city and David looked forward to its delivery from Shiloh. Remember now, the Ark represented the presence of God. Psalms 24
The King of Glory and His Kingdom
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
Body
I. Yahweh May Approach the Seat of Authority? 7-10
As the parade approaches the gates of the city, twice the question is posed: “Who is this King of glory?” Who is worthy to have the gates opened for them?
A. Yahweh may approach because He is the King of glory. 1-2
1. The Earth Is Yahweh’s: 1-2
- Also, everything in the earth is His.
2. By virtue of His creation
- Parallel restatement in verse 2
Point of contact:
a. Any idea that God is not directly responsible for creation destroys any claims He has to rule over it.
b. Not until the last 100 years has this even been considered by society.
c. People reject God’s claim over creation because they want to reject God.
Illustration: Watch on a beach. Complexity of the human eye. The miracle of the Monarch Butterfly.
B. Yahweh may approach the throne because He is still mighty: 8,10
- He has strength and military superiority. 8
- He has an entire host with Him. 10
Point of contact: Those who picture a week wimpy Jesus fail to see the warrior He is. He was fully human and capable of great pain and suffering, yet He braved the ultimate battle and fought for us who could never win the fight ourselves. 2,000 years ago on a Thursday like today, He knelt down in a garden and prepared for the war of the ages. He boldly faced it and on a Sunday morning He proved the victory.
Illustration about My uncle Bob: Bob fought in the Marines in Vietnam. For years he would not talk about his experiences there. We did sneak and see some of his photographs as kids and the images of what he experienced were horrific. Recently, at a family Christmas gathering Bob talked about some of the horrible things he witnessed in that war. When we asked why he re-enlisted, he told us that he knew if he re-enlisted, his younger brother would not have to fight in Vietnam. He faced terrible hardships and horrors in place of his brother. That’s what the warrior Christ has done for us!
You never need to forget that…
He is able to save.
He is able to protect.
He is able to preserve.
He is able to meet our needs.
He is able to ascend to heaven’s throne.
He is able to take you with Him.
Transition: That’s right! You can ascend with Him. Don’t miss this! “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” Parallel question asked in vs 3. This is an important question! The answer has hope!
II. The Righteous May Ascend With Yahweh. 4-6
A. Only the Righteous May Approach His Holy Abode: 3-6
Psalm 15 has an expanded listing: Psalm 15
1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
A Psalm of David.
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent
The requirements for us to approach the holy abode of God as listed in Psalm 24 can be summarized the following way.
- Those who are pure in their actions. 4a Is that you?
- Those who are pure in motive. 4b Is this you? It certainly was not true of the religious leaders with Jesus.
- Those who serve only God. 4c Is there something in your life which you’re giving more attention to than Him?
- Those who relate rightly to others. 4d. Having any problems here?
o We all have fallen short in these areas. But there is good news still…
o Phil. 3:9 “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
- Those who seek find blessings from the Lord. 5
- Those who seek find righteousness from the Lord. This is the greatest blessing of all.
Ill. Recently, my brother in law was invited by a powerful friend of his to an exclusive banquet in Washington D.C. He would have never been accepted there on his own, but, he had a friend in high places. Likewise, we could never approach God on our own, but Jesus has the right to appear before His father and He invites us to join Him.
- “This is the generation of those who seek the face of Jacob’s God and hope to find Jacob’s blessing.” Can this be said of this generation?
Matt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Transition: When we seek God and His righteousness, all other things are added unto us. We can join in the chorus and approach the hill.
1. Today, God does not dwell in a tent but He desires to make your heart the holy place of His abiding. This Psalm was shouted out every first day of the week by the temple priests. Ironic that on Palm Sunday the Psalm sounded and the doors of the city were opened, but the hearts of the priests and the people did not open.
- Is there an area of your heart where you are not allowing Christ to reign? Name it and invite Him in.
- Are you religious on the outside but find your motives are impure? Confess it and seek His forgiveness and His righteousness.
Open up the gates and the King of Glory shall Come In!
2. It is curious that David wrote this Psalm. It was his city. He led the armies to victory, yet He said the hill was God’s and that the doors should be lifted for Him.
- Are we willing to acknowledge that though the name on the sign of the church is ours, the Glory is all God’s?
- Are we willing to humble ourselves as David did and worship the Lord?
- Are we ready to make sure our hands, hearts, relationship to god and our relationships to others are clean and right?
- Are we careful in how we approach this great king? We must acknowledge that He is awesome and we are nothing except for grace.
3. This Psalm has been lifted up on many occasions and will continue to sound. Christ is returning to earth and we shall rise to meet Him in the air.
- Anticipate His coming
- Herald His coming
Closing Illustration: Rex and I did not make the cover of Sports Illustrated, but you can be assured that the same Christ who entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and was heralded into heaven on his ascension will soon return and take us with Him. You can be assured you can join Him!
Why can we be assured?
Theme: The righteous ones will ascend with the Righteous One.
