Chapter 3 · Encounter 28 of 48
The King of Glory
Prepare
Psalm 24 Psalm 24 Of David. A psalm. 1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. 3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. 7Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.Psalm 24
Read Scripture
Open each passage here without leaving this Encounter.
Psalm 24
Psalm 24
Of David. A psalm.
1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
6Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Ponder
- The psalm opens by declaring who owns the earth and everything in it. How does this opening shape the way we understand the rest of the psalm? What does it mean for your own life that everything belongs to God?
- The psalmist asks who may ascend God's holy hill and answers with clean hands and a pure heart. What does the question reveal about the seriousness of approaching a holy God? Where do you feel the weight of that question?
Look Again
Did you notice that the psalm ends with a question the gates themselves must answer? "Who is this King of glory?"
The answer, the Lord strong and mighty, repeats and deepens. Notice that it isn't just a king who is coming through the gates, but the Lord himself. What do the repeated calls to open the gates suggest about the right response to the arrival of God?
Practice
Return to Psalm 24:1 Psalm 24 Of David. A psalm. 1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;Psalm 24:1
Consider one area of your life that you ordinarily think of as your own—your time, resources, work, plans, or abilities.
In light of the psalm's declaration that everything belongs to the Lord, choose one concrete way to acknowledge his rightful authority over that part of your life today. Let your response become an act of worship rather than merely a duty.
Prayer
Worship God as King. Acknowledge that all you have belongs to him, then ask him to purify your heart so that you can draw near with honesty and joy.