Who Is This King of Glory?
By Sarah Ivill, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Psalm 24:8
When our view of God is too small we grow anxious instead of remembering He is almighty. When we think He isn’t big enough to handle our problems, we attempt to solve them on our own instead of remembering He is our Savior. When we grow bored with the same truths we’ve heard repeatedly, we rob God of the worship due His name. Psalms 20-25 remind us to remove our eyes from the chaos around us and look to our Creator and King. Today, we will focus on Psalm 24.
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah.
David begins by speaking of the King of creation (Psalm 24:1-2). The God of Israel is also the Creator of all. He is over all peoples, all places, and all things. He established it and orchestrates all things for His glory. God the Father created the world through His Son, the Word that became flesh, revealing God’s glory. As we go about our days we are to acknowledge the creativity of the Creator, worshiping Him, working amidst His creation, and witnessing to others as we steward the earth’s resources for His glory and use them to proclaim the kingdom of God.
Next, David speaks of the King of holiness (Psalm 24:3-6). Justification has always been by grace alone through faith alone. But we cannot draw near to God unless we are holy. This is why Israel had to offer sacrifices to atone for their sins. Such sacrifices foreshadowed the greatest and perfect sacrifice to come, the Lamb of God. Christ’s clean hands and pure heart on our behalf enable us to stand in God’s presence. In Christ, we receive every spiritual blessing that accompanies salvation. In gratitude, we should strive for holiness. God’s work of sanctification renews transforms us into the image of His Son by the Spirit, the completion of which will occur when we see our beloved Savior face to face.
Finally, David speaks of the King of glory (Psalm 24:7-10). The King of all creation, out of His free love, chose Israel as His special people and Jerusalem as His special place to meet with them. Therefore, the city was to welcome her king. David portrays the Lord as the mighty warrior leading the victorious army home after battle.
The Jews of Jesus’s day didn’t give such a warm response. They were looking for someone mightier than a babe in a manger and a man on a cross. Nevertheless, Jesus’s resurrection and ascension proved them wrong. Jesus was lifted up from the earthly to the heavenly Jerusalem and crowned with glory and honor as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is coming again to save those eagerly waiting for Him and to judge those wanting nothing to do with Him. Will you lift up your head today to the King and welcome Him into the gate of your heart?
PRAYER
Father, help us to recognize you as the King of creation, the King of holiness, and the King of glory. Help us to not lift up our hearts to the false gods of this world, but to lift our hands and hearts to You. Amen.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.