Rev Zheng Biqing written in 14 August 2022
Psalm 24 is an enthronement psalm. It uses two questions to prophesize the wondrous salvation of God:
“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?”
“Who is this King of Glory?”
The hill of the Lord refers to Mount Moriah on which the temple stood. It also refers to Mount Zion, the city of David, and is often extended to mean the city of Jerusalem, as it is here.
The psalmist answered that only “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false” is worthy of ascending the hill of the Lord.
Who among us do not speak falsely, or have no hidden idol in our heart, or whose acts are always righteous? None! The only person who walks on earth with clean hands and a pure heart is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word Incarnate. He is faithful and compassionate and has never treated anyone wrongly. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He is the King of Glory who returns in sweeping victory! When he was here with us, he fought vigorously on the spiritual battlefield. Strong and mighty, he cannot be subdued by powers or fame. He entered the darkest domain, broke the chain of sin, and liberated God’s children,
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 2:6
It becomes clear that what Psalm 24 depicts is the heavenly scene of the ascension of Christ. Far above all heavens (Eph 4:10), angels open the twelve gates of the heavenly Jerusalem, with some of them standing in the city, some outside the city, and some at the city gates. At the blasts of the trumpets, in a loud and joyous acclamation, Christ enters the city gate and seated on the throne at the right hand of God! And he is not alone. We whom he has justified and vindicated with his blood ascend the hill of the Lord with him, enter the ancient gates, and stand in the heavenly sanctuary! What a glorious and marvelous salvation God has prepared for us! Praise the Lord! Yet the prophecy of this psalm is not fulfilled completely. At the end of age, when the last trumpet is sounded, and our resurrection is perfected with a new, glorious, and imperishable body, we will follow our glorious and victorious King into the new Jerusalem that descends from heaven! Nonetheless, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Rev 21:27) . Holy saints, “clean hands and a pure heart” is the image of our Christ and the virtue of the eternal Kingdom. It is the powerful testimony of the transforming power of the Gospel. Let us work towards having “clean hands and a pure heart”! Amen.
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