LESSON 1, INTRODUCTION:

Today we begin a series of Bible Study Lessons analyzing and admiring Psalm 24, a particularly lovely jewel in the Bible's 150 chapter Hymnbook. Only 10 verses long, yet profound in many ways!

Here's our Text. Read it a few times to help familiarize you with its content. It is "loaded" with meaning, as is all Scripture.

After merely identifying itself as "A Psalm of David," this blessed little Holy Spirit inspired Poem continues:

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Amen!

This Passage is quite often labeled, among other things, the "Psalm of Ascension!"

Tomorrow, we begin our journey!

How exciting!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 1:

The first verse of Psalm 24 is interesting. "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Jewish thought, especially seen in the Book of Jeremiah, suggests that only "The Holy Land" is the Lord's. And only "The Chosen People" are His as well! Well, truth be told the Holy Land is the Lords! And Israel is "The Apple Of Our Lord's Eye," special in His sight, Lamentations 2:18.

But according to our Text today, there's more! "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Yes, the whole earth.

And everything in it, too!

Here God is said to have omni-ownership of all that exists!

Paul thinks of it this way, to those of us who are saved: "For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours. And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." First Corinthians 3:21-23, because we are "in" Christ Jesus and "in" God the Father through Christ Jesus!

Yes, the earth and its contents are His by virtue of His Creating it in the first place! Not counting the fact that He is Redeemer too!

Today's thought keeps one from overly dividing life into the "secular" and the "sacred" too.

If, and it is so ... "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" ... then it is also true that everything, land and sea and clouds and water, everything, has upon it the "touch" of God. Not that all things are "divine," far from it! But that all things are holy in the sense they are gifts from His Mighty hand!

Verse one here presents us a whole new philosophy with which to view the earth. No wonder some day ... "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9, simply a realization and actualization of what is already fact!

Indeed, He is Lord of all!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, STILL VERSE 1, SOME AUXILIARY THOUGHTS:

"The earth is the Lord's," so says Scripture more than once. Perhaps this sentence, this great statement, most noticeably rests at the beginning of Psalm 24, a little ten verse jewel from the pen of David, King of Israel.

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 24:1

God not only "owns," by means of Creation, the earth ... but also what is residing therein, human beings and animals and such. Listen to God, "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." Psalm 50:10

As for us, the living works of His Hands, people, He "owns" us to this extent! "The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright." Proverbs 21:18, illustrating how the Lord is willing to "trade" one crowd for another! He owns everybody, even to that extent!

But there's more!

Moses writes in Deuteronomy 10:14, "Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is." Wow, now God "owns" the stars and comets and planets! And the "Heaven of heavens" is no doubt His too! That's the Almighty's very place of Residence! Although He is too big to be ever contained, even there!

The "heart" of today's Lesson?

God owns it all!

He is that Big, that Great, that Wealthy, that Magnanimous, that Almighty, that loving! Not that He would just create everything ... but long to be a part of its ongoing life!

This God, folks, is King of kings! He is indeed Lord of Lords!

The wicked, in Psalm 12:4, ask this question, "Who is lord over us?" Now we know the answer!

Jesus is, truthfully, Lord of all!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 2:

The second verse of Psalm 24 is gigantic, at least in meaning. It's really a poetic description of God's great act of creation. And it agrees with the Genesis account too!

"For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." Again, the "He" is our sentence is God Himself. And the "object," the "result" of God's great "something out of nothing" deed ... is the "earth," as is obvious from the preceding verse.

Here are both together: "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." Psalm 24:1-2

Let's examine our words today, specifically this little  synopsis of Creation. "For He, God, hath founded it, the earth, upon the seas. And established it upon the floods."

The verb "hath founded" is "yasad" in Hebrew, meaning "to fix, to establish, to appoint," even "to ordain!" And once in the King James Version it's "to instruct!" Picturing God "teaching" the earth how to behave in her new environment!

And, if you remember, creation week in Genesis explicitly says God caused the dry land to arise out of the waters. Genesis 1:9, "And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so."

Wow!

The Psalmist here clearly knows Genesis, the Books of Moses! Of course the Same Divine Author has penned both accounts, God the Holy Spirit!

Yes, God "founded" the continents, for sure!

And the corresponding verb, "established," is "kun," meaning "confirmed, prepared, ordered." It is written in Hebrew to picture God doing this energetically! "For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods."

The two verbs used here "build" in intensity! As if God is nearly "rushing" toward the "apex" of Creation, mankind, Adam and Eve! Human beings! Made in the "image" of God!

He may too be hurrying to His "day of Rest!" The seventh day, the Sabbath! Still "teaching" His Creation, no doubt!

Folks, there's a lot in one single verse here.

Much more than we have noticed today. But much less than I had considered a week ago as well!

Tomorrow, the Lord willing, more Psalm 24, verse by verse. What an amazing little chapter of the Bible, God's inerrant Word.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 2, COMPARING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE:

Just as we enjoyed two Lessons on the first verse of Psalm 24, so must we follow that same pattern for verse two! "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." Yes, God founded the earth upon the seas, Psalm 24:2. And the parallel expression, "upon the floods."

Years before these words were ever written, God asked the Patriarch Job, "Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Wow, more information that even our Psalm provides! But the Same Creator!

Now let's listen to God commanding the seas to "stay" in place, not to overrun the land He has created. "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" Job 38:11, which is Biblically buttressed by Psalm 33:7, "He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses." Poetic and lovely, but historically accurate too!

Also about our text verse today, "For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods," the two prepositions translated "upon" are spelled in Hebrew "al." And "al" means "above!" That is, "over, upwards!" This suggests that Almighty God is upholding the land masses today, stabilizing and supporting them via His Mighty Creation Decree. By fiat! By the Power of His Word!

Listen to Job 26:7 in this regard: "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."

Wow!

The continents, protected by God's Laws which are simply obeying His Commands! Vast blocks of land and rock and mountain, groups of nations we now call them, the whole earth folks ... established by the Lord, generally free from tsunamis and hurricanes and tidal waves!

Yes, God is still ruling the world!

We sang a song years ago, when I was just a little boy. Speaking of God, "He's got the whole world in His hand!"

Oh yes He does!

He did not create the world then forsake it. He created the world and still day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, maintains His work!

As Paul says in Colossians 1:17, speaking of Jesus Christ our Lord, "By Him all things consist." And "consist" here means "to hold together!" Nearly "to exist!"

Amen!

Truly Psalm 24:2 is majestic in the truth it reveals. "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods."

Again I say, Amen!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 3:

Psalm 24:3 asks a question, two questions really! Though they are quite similar, requiring the same answer.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?" The answer immediately follows, but that Lesson is for another day. Our Bible often does that, asks and answers an inquiry rather quickly.

Today's text, these dual questions, show the heart of a person who is "hungry" for God! They remind me of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:6, one of His Beatitudes. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

Somebody in Psalm 24:3, David according to the superscript, craves being in God's Presence! Wants to "stand" in His Holy Place!

The verb "ascend" is "alah" in Hebrew, "going up, climbing, rising." And then the term "to stand" suggests remaining in that lofty, sacred Place, never leaving!

By the way, our Verse also teaches us that God lives somewhere "up there!" An elevated existence! Psalm 11:4 helps us here: "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven."

We go "there" to love and commune with Him. Now spiritually, but some day literally, based on the truth of the Word of God.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?" One more thing today, no human, apart from the Blood of Jesus and forgiveness of sins, can ever qualify! None of us has the ability to so ascend, to so stand! Not on our own!

In fact, the only One Who has ever lived Who does indeed have access to the Hill of the Lord and Who is now residing permanently in the Presence of the Almighty, in His Holy Place, is the Lord Jesus Christ!

God the Son Who came to earth, lived sinlessly, died in our stead, was raised victoriously, ascended bodily, and is now serving as Great High Priest! He's coming back again too, some day!

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?" Jesus! And ultimately those of us who have been saved by the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ as well!

Wow!

What a verse. One could ponder it all day, meditate on it through and through, and get spiritual nourishment unending.

        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 4:

Psalm 24:3 asks two questions, meaning essentially the same thing. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place?" Then immediately the next verse answers: "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." Psalm 24:4

Today we notice that glorious answer!

Clean hands!

Pure heart!

Having never done anything vainly!

Having never sworn deceitfully!

Who, humanly speaking, could ever claim such qualifications?

I suggest, Nobody!

Not you. Not me. We all have grievously sinned and come far short of the glory of God! Romans 3:23

No one meets this high stanndard!

Consequently this single verse ... forces me to see in this little Psalm the Lord Jesus Christ! Prophetically so of course, a thousand years before He is to be born of the virgin Mary.

He alone could claim such a lifestyle! Still can!

His Hands were never soiled by sin, not His Own sin. He had none! Rather, His Hands were reddened by His Own Blood, dying for you and me.

And His heart was never tilted any way except toward his Father! He even once said, "I do always those things that please my Father." John 8:29

Plus, He never dabbled in vanity, a word literally meaning "falsehood," but also carrying the idea of "emptiness." He never wasted a moment! Never squandered a second! He lived with purpose! At age twelve He was already about His Father's "business!" He was this deliberately resolute: "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed." Isaiah 50:7 has Jesus saying this, primarily in reference to Calvary, the Cross, His vicarious Death! Not looking to the right or left! But straight ahead!

And Jesus never swore deceitfully, never spoke a word in guile or trickery. He let His "yea" be "yea" and His "nay" be "nay," like He taught us to do in Matthew 5:37.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

Get ready, folks.

We are beginning a study of a "Messianic" Psalm, a little Sermon about Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Saviour!

Our, I might add, Perfect Saviour!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 5:

Psalm 24:3-5 presents a beautiful sequence of thought. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Wow!

First, the questions.  "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?"

Second, the answer. "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

Third, the benefits of such an arrangement. "He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Sounds wonderful.

But, again I assert, no one we know, no descendant of Adam, can claim such cleanliness of hands or purity of heart.

I suggest this is only true of Jesus our Lord. Of course via the New Birth it's also true of those of us who have been forgiven by the Power of His shed Blood on the Cross. But foremostly, preeminently, Jesus is the Subject here!

But just how are these "blessings" applicable to Jesus? "He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Dear readers, the most "blessed" One Who ever graced planet earth is Jesus, God's Virgin-Born Son! Undoubtedly so!

The verb "receive" used here is "nasa" in Hebrew, literally meaning "to lift up, to carry, to take!" The One being described is "equal" to God Almighty, it seems. Sounds like Philippians 2:6 indeed! Jesus is "equal" to God the Father!

The noun "blessing" is "berakah." Here in the singular. No One has ever been "blessed" of God the Father as much as Jesus. He is God's "beloved" Son, in Whom the Father is "well-pleased!" Just as Jesus "always" pleased His Father ... so did the Father "always" delight in expressing that Pleasure in His precious Son!

And Righteousness?  "He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

It's "tzsedaqah" in Hebrew, "absolute justice," that which is "straight" in the Eyes of God. Nothing crooked! Nothing perverse! Nothing "short" of God's Glory! Nothing out of the way of propriety!

What I'm saying is this ... Jesus never sinned! He is totally Righteous in all His Being, physical and spiritual. "Wholly Other," unlike any entity ... the new way theologians are describing Him! Altogether Perfect!

But why is God called Jesus' Salvation?

The Hebrew word is "yesha," actually the etymological basis for the names "Joshua" and "Jesus!" It means "deliverance." Even "rescue." Yes, after Jesus died on the old rugged Cross, died to save lost souls, God the Father "rescued" Him from Death! Raised his Son from the grave! Literally, on the third day, just as promised! That's deliverance, all right!

Now let's read the verses again, with Jesus clearly in mind. They now "fit" precisely! "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

The only way I can preach this text, this Psalm, is Christocentrically! Christ centered! As a Messianic Psalm. Surely, that's the way the Holy Spirit intended it.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, VERSE 6:

Psalm 24:6 is an interesting verse. It helps tremendously in interpreting the whole Passage as well. "This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." Quoted from the King James Version, of course.

Our Text, its first few verses, certainly apply prophetically to the Lord Jesus, the coming Messiah. Do keep in mind the Psalm was composed and sung a thousand years before the Virgin Birth!

But our Text also applies to believing followers of the Lord God Almighty too. Those whom today we might called "born-again" ones!

"This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." The noun "generation" incorporates the idea of a "group" of things, all piled up together. A "collection" of here, families and their descendants, many obedient children of God. From Grandfather to Father to Son to Grandson likely.

"Seeking" God, in Hebrew "darash," here means "to search" for Him! To "enquire" about Him and for Him. Twelve times it means "to require" Him, to of necessity crave Him!

Then the second occurrence of "seek" in this short verse utilizes another word, amazingly! And "baqash" even means "to beg" once in our Bibles! The "seeking" process portrayed here is intensifying, I think!

More and more "hungry!"

And just Whom are they seeking?

Our Great God, no doubt.

But look at His Name here! "This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob."

"O Jacob?"

Yes, God here condescends to human level and takes our very names upon Himself! He identifies with humankind to that degree! This may even be a faint hint of the Incarnation, dear readers, the Incarnation of Jesus!

God as "Jacob," mercy!

Jesus as "Man!"

Sounds a lot like John 1:14, an echo anyway. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Wow!

Yes, through the Grace of God, we who have believed, trusted in Jesus and His finished Work on Calvary ... can be pure! Can "stand" and "commune" in the Presence of God our Creator and Redeemer!

Psalm 24, loaded with truth!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, VERSE 7:

Today we notice one of the best known verses from the Old Testament Book of Psalms, likely so anyway, Psalm 24:7. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

These words have been applied to a number of historical situations. First we consider the "gates" here as those of literal Jerusalem. And David the King bringing the captured Ark of the Covenant back home, finally! Oh, the rejoicing involved! Second Samuel chapter six describes the scene in detail. And as the entourage, led by David himself, approaches the City, someone calls out,  "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." Yes, the Ark symbolized the actual Presence of God! Here entering its, His, Home Town!

But these same words are most often used of another, even more thrilling historical occasion. The Day Jesus ascended, the Crucified and Buried and Resurrected Jesus, back to Heaven! And as He approached Glory, voices pealed loudly through the universe, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." That's where He is right now, too! At the Father's Right hand, earnestly praying for you and me!

Amen!

And personally, I think these same words may be used yet again! When Jesus literally comes back to earth, His feet actually returning to the Mount of Olives, thereafter walking toward the City of Jerusalem! And crowds, yea multitudes, of new Believers yelling, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Wow!

And He will "come in."

And begin a Reign of Righteousness unlike anything the world has ever previously experienced!

Praise the Lord!

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Sounds like the Lord Jesus belongs in that City!

Within those Gates!

Behind those Doors!

The Psalms, what a precious collection of worship material!

They appropriately "fit" the past, the present and the future, perfectly so!

Amen!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, VERSE 8:

They are called "Messianic" Psalms. Because they speak of Israel's Saviour, Deliverer, Messiah! The noun "Messiah" means, literally, God's "anointed" One!

Scholars yet today debate which Psalms fit into that category, Messianic, and which ones do not. Bit I hardly see how there can be any question about Psalm 24, it's ten verses.

In fact, verse 7 lays a strong foundation giving "proof" that Jesus is in view here. Watch this: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." A King is coming! He is entering His City, triumphantly! Obviously a Victor in battle!

But Who is He?

Verse 8 answers! "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

Clearly, this is our Lord!

"LORD" here, in the King James Version anyway, is a translation of the majestic Hebrew noun "Jehovah."

This is God the Son!

And He is "strong," spelled "izzuz" in David's day. It means "powerful!" It is derived from a root verb meaning "to prevail," to win in battle. "To be hard, firm, resolute!"

Then the adjective "mighty," a synonym, is "gibbor" in Hebrew, a "chief" or a "champion" among men! It suggests great "bravery" also.

And the noun "battle" is the common word used by the Israelites for "war." Not just one skirmish, the whole thing! It comes from the word that means "bread" really! "Eating" something until it is consumed!

A Psalm written three thousand years ago!

And as alive and thrilling and reverent as ever!

To Believers in Jesus, everywhere, today worship your Redeemer!

Rejoice that some day, some day again, this Lord Jesus Christ will enter His City, victoriously!

Triumphantly!

And this time, eternally!

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

Amen!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, VERSES 9 AND 10:

One Bible Teacher just called Psalm 24 "The Psalm of the Crown!" Many also believe that the whole chapter, all 10 verses, are meant to be sung in some type worship service, initially in ancient Israel.

Others say, accurately I think, that the Psalm divides itself into two halves. Verses 1-6 are the words of the "companions" of the King. And verses 6-10 describes the "coming" of the King! A "King" and a "Crown," see the relationship!

Today we have finally arrived at the last two verses, which really constitute a "chorus," a "refrain," for the whole piece.

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah." They merely repeat verses 7-8, obviously.

In other words, here are the Psalm's last four verses. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

See?

The Coming of the King!

Surely this great Scene pictures what happened when Jesus, as He ascended back to Heaven in a glorified Body, having conquered Death and the Grave, what our dear Lord experienced!

Heaven rang loudly, welcoming Him Home: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

And many believe, me included, that this very scene will again be enacted here on earth when Jesus comes again! As He marches toward Jerusalem to begin His millennial reign: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Yes!

Psalm 24 is Messianic to the core!

And how does the chapter end?

"Selah!"

Which is likely a musical mark, really a "pause," meaning "stop" and "think" about what's just been sung or said or thought!

Wow!

"Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13, THE WHOLE PSALM:

Having noticed all ten verses of Psalm 24, I'd today like to mention overall the structure of the entire Poem. In other words, how the Holy Spirit "built" these thoughts.

Seems that the consensus is as follows. The Psalm is "separated" into sections, even while presenting one main Truth. And these sections are to be sung, musically and harmoniously and reverently, by various choirs or choruses, as part of a sincere worship service, rendering praise and honor unto the Lord!

For example ...

The chief musician, the choir leader, would sing the opening lines: "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods."

Then the choir would immediately sing in response: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

Then back to the song leader to sing the next few words! Literally a "psalm" that is a "song!"

And as the procession ... Psalm 24 being thought to have been written and instituted as David and his army were bringing the once-captured "Ark of the Covenant" back to Jerusalem ... neared the gates of the City, the choir again sings: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Then back to the chief musician: "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. " The Ark of course representing the very Presence of God, of the King of Kings!

Then everybody joins: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Wow!

Psalm 24, sung that long ago in the history of Israel, truly celebrating the Lord God Almighty!

And probably sung in Heaven the Day the ascending Jesus, recently risen from the dead, stepped through the very Gates of Glory!

And likely to be sung yet again when Jesus returns to earth, entering Jerusalem to reign there a thousand millennial years!  "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Amen!

What a Poem, what a Psalm, what a Chapter of the Word of God!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let all of us today, each person reading here this New Year's Eve, praise the Lord Jesus too! Thank Him for being an ascended Saviour, praying for you and me right now! And thank Him He's coming back again some day! To finish fulfilling every promise God ever made! Yes, He is the King of Glory!

LESSON 14, CONCLUSION:

Psalm 2 is quoted in the Bible's last Book, Revelation. Yes, Psalm 2:9 is used again in Revelation 2:27, specifically. Also Revelation 15:3 quotes a Psalm from the Old Testament, through one recorded in Exodus 15:21. My point: Psalms, Bible Psalms, can have prophetic tendencies. Can point to the Second Coming of our Lord!

And thus does Psalm 24, for sure! Watch its last verse again. "Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory."

Look what He's called. "The Lord of Hosts," and the "King of Glory!" That exact term "Lord of Hosts" is in Hebrew "Jehovah Tzsaba," translated in the New Testament "Lord of Sabaoth." It's this way in Romans 9:29 and James 5:4.

The name means, literally, the God of the armies! The Lord of battle! The Lord of victory!

See what I'm saying?

Psalm 24 will again, in the future, be used in regard to Jesus! When He comes back to earth, leading the armies of Heaven! To battle and defeat anti-Christ and the Devil in all finality!

Jesus will be hailed, acknowledged, worshipped, as just this, "Lord of Hosts!" Or to put it another way, "Commander in Chief!"

We might best keep Psalm 24 in mind. Be familiar with its pretty phrases and truths! We will be using it again some day! "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Amen!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell