Universal Proprietor Series

Text: Psalm 24

Theme: Universal Proprietor

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.

Introduction: This psalm was penned upon occasion of David's bringing up the Ark of the Covenant to the place prepared for it.

David had witnessed the death of Uzza for touching the ARK. who can stand before him. Ancient rabbinical sources tell us that, in the Jewish liturgy, Psalm 24 was always used in worship on the first day of the week, Sunday.

The psalm 24 bears a three-part structure: The Lord as creator of all (Vv.1-2), the entrance of men into God’s sphere (Vv.3-6), the entrance of the Lord into the human sphere (Vv 7-10). It glorifies God as universal dominion. It describes the true Israel who communes with him; and it pictures the true Redeemer.

The Universal Proprietor (Psalm 24:1-2), the Universal Provincial or ruler (Psalm 24:3-6), and the Universal lover and redeemer (Psalm 24:7-10, John 3:16).

 The modern society, particularly this generation of kids, values earning, spending, and having fun. The older generation believed in earning, conserving, investing, spending, and accumulating wealth for generations to come.  We'll examine the importance of labour, hard work, wages, budgeting, savings, spending, sharing, and giving to God and poor. The theme for this month is “God shall Supply”.

The Universal Proprietor (Psalm 24:1-2):

Psalms 24:1-2 “THE EARTH is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the currents and the rivers.”

The world’s richest guys are Elon Musk- $252 billion owner of Tesla motors, Jeff Bezos-$209 billion owner of Amazon, Bernard Arnault - $185 billion owner of largest Luxury goods company, Mark Zuckerberg $169 billion owner of Facebook, Bill Gates $156 billion owner of Microsoft and computers. We have top billionaires in India are Ambani, Adani, Shiv Nadar and so on. Then, who is the owner? Now the race is who will own the world?

Here the psalmist recognises that God, the creator is the Proprietor of the entire universe. Genesis 1:1 says that the Lord has created ‘the Heavens’ and ‘the Earth’. So, God is the true owner of everything that we own (Psalm 24:1). We look after his resources as stewards (Matthew 25:14-30). He is the Owner of the Heavens and the milky ways, celestial beings but even the earth and the fillings of the oceans.

John Gill comments: ‘The whole universe, all the terraqueous globe, both land and water, and the circumambient air, and all that is therein; the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, all plants and vegetables that spring out of the earth, and metals and minerals in the bowels of it; all are the riches of the Lord” (Psalm 24:1, Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 50:11-12, 89:11). Abraham called YHWH as "Possessor of heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:22).

Blue letter Bible: ‘He made it, formed it, founded it, and fitted it for the use of man. The matter is his, for he made it out of nothing; the form is his, for he made it according to the eternal designs and ideas of his own mind.’ “We are not our own; our bodies, our souls, are not ours.” (Mathew Henry). How badly we are holding things of the World. God is the Universal Proprietor.

Barnes comments: He is the Creator of the earth, and therefore, he is the Proprietor. He is the owner, we are the Trustees of his properties.

The Bhagavad-gita, says, “He is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor of everything and anything within this creation, and the supreme friend of everyone. When one knows these things perfectly, he is always satisfied.” We are just guest in His house. We are not the proprietors.

There are a few false claims on the universe as their properties. Satan claimed that the World and its authorities are given to him (Luke 4:5-6). Many Kings in the history of the world claim it. But, in fact, nothing we own everything is the gift of the Lord.

Illustration: Alexander, the Great said, "I want the world to know the three lessons I have just learned." 1. "I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can cure anybody. They are helpless in front of death." 2. "I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people know that wealth is nothing but dust." 3. “I wish all to know that I came empty-handed into this world, and I will go empty-handed."

The Universal Ruler (Psalm 24:3-6):

Psalms 24:5-6 “He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah [pause, and think of that]!”