Bible Commentaries
Psalms 24

Verses 1-10

Psalms 24:0

Introduction - After reading of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I asked the Lord why all Christians are not blessed with the blessings of Abraham the way this blessing abounds in Genesis? Psalms 24:4 and following were the Bible verses that the Lord showed me in order to answer this question.

Outline Here is a proposed outline of Psalms 24:0.

Psalms 24:1-2 - Everything belongs to God

Psalms 24:3-6 - The righteous man can find God

Psalms 24:7-10 - Let him be Lord in your life

Psalms 24:1-2 Everything Belongs to God - God (YHWH) is the owner of the earth (Psalms 24:1) because He created it (Psalms 24:2).

Psalms 24:1 (A Psalm of David.) The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalms 24:1 “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof” Comments - Psalms 24:1 is quoted by Paul in 1Co 10:26 ; 1 Corinthians 10:28.

1 Corinthians 10:26, “For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.”

1 Corinthians 10:28, “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:”

Psalms 24:1 Comments - YHWH is the owner of this planet earth, and all of its fullness and every person and creature who dwells in it.

Psalms 24:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

Psalms 24:2 Comments - The pronoun “it” is feminine in Hebrew, so that it refers to “earth” in Psalms 24:1. We know that deep beneath the earth are many underground rivers.

Genesis 7:11, “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up , and the windows of heaven were opened.”

NASB, “all the fountains of the great deep burst open.”

In Genesis 8:2 God stopped these deep fountains.

Genesis 8:2, “The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;”

Job 28:11 (a) describes Genesis 8:2.

Job 28:11, “ He bindeth the floods from overflowing ; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.”

See also:

Psalms 95:4, “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.”

Psalms 136:6, “To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Proverbs 8:28-29, “When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:”

Ezekiel 26:19, “For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;”

Psalms 24:2 Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Job 38:4, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.”

Job 38:8-11, “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?”

Psalms 93:1, “The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.”

Psalms 96:10, “Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.”

Psalms 104:5-6, “Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.”

Psalms 119:90, “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

Proverbs 30:4, “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?”

Jeremiah 5:22, “Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”

Jeremiah 10:12-13, “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.”

2 Peter 3:5, “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”

Psalms 24:3-6 The Righteous Man Can Find God Psalms 24:3-6 is similar to Psalms 15:0 and Isaiah 33:14-17 in its description of who can come into God's presence. Although the whole world and all of its people belong to God (Psalms 24:1-2), only the righteous have the privilege of coming into the presence of the Creator.

Scripture References - Note other similar verse on this topic:

Psalms 15:1-5

Psalms 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

Proverbs 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”

Proverbs 28:9, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

John 9:31, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”

1 Peter 3:7, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered .”

1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Psalms 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Psalms 24:3 Comments - What follows Psalms 24:1-2 is the marvelous wonder that we can actually come to the most high God and find His blessings.

Psalms 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Psalms 24:4 “He that hath clean hands” Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Psalms 26:6, “ I will wash mine hands in innocency : so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:”

Isaiah 1:15, “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood .”

Matthew 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”

Psalms 24:4 “who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity” Scripture References - Note:

Psalms 94:11, “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”

Psalms 24:4 Comments - Psalms 24:4 refers to the whole man, spirit, soul and body. “Clean hands” refer to the outward actions (flesh, or body). A “pure heart” refers to the inward intents of the heart (spirit). “not lifted up his soul unto vanity” describes a mind not seeking God first, thus the soul of man. “sworn deceitfully” means that someone speaks and does not fulfill his word, thus a reference to the tongue of man. So, here we have the body, spirit, soul and tongue. This has to be a perfect, complete man, with no sin in any area of his life. Of course, we understand from the New Testament that no earthly many qualifies for access unto God except the Lord Jesus Christ. We now come into His divine presence through the blood of Jesus our Redeemer.

Note verses that are very similar in describing the heart and hands of a man in approaching God:

Psalms 73:13, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.”

James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Psalms 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalms 24:5 Comments - Why are all Christians not blessed as in Deuteronomy 28:1-14? Because they do not strive to fulfill Psalms 24:4 in their lives, in living a pure life.

Psalms 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Psalms 24:6 “the generation of them that seek Him” Scripture Reference - Note:

Psalms 14:5, “There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous .”

Psalms 14:6, “Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge .”

Psalms 24:6 “that seek thy face, O Jacob” - Comments - Why “Jacob”? Perhaps because God had in mind Genesis 32:30, where Jacob wrestled with an angel and met God face to face. He sought God and was blessed. This follows the idea of NASB, “who seek your face - even Jacob.”

Genesis 32:30, “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Note alternative readings, “Who seek Your face, O God of Jacob” ( LXX), or, “Who seek Your face, as Jacob did.”

Psalms 24:7-10 Let Him be Lord In Your Life - In her book Caught Up Into Heaven Marietta Davis describes in her heavenly vision the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven after His Resurrection. [39] In this vision, several voices from Heaven declare the words to Psalms 24:7-10. We often think of doors being in front of us, but she sees these as the open doors of Heaven inviting their King into glory. In other words, she sees this passage as a prophecy of Jesus’ Ascension.

[39] Marietta Davis, Caught Up Into Heaven (New Kensington, Pennsylvania: Whitaker House, 1982), 174-5.

Note these comments from Frances J. Roberts that give insight into this passage of Scriptures:

“Behold, I have placed within thee a spring of living water. For My Spirit shall be a continual flowing forth of life from thine innermost being. This I have promised to all My children, and this ye may experience as ye claim it by faith. For all My promises are received by faith. None are gained by merit, nor are they awards for human achievements.

“It is My Life that I am giving you. It is not an emotion; it is not a virtue, though these may follow subsequently. It is Myself. Divine grace, heavenly love, infinite mercy, fathomless peace, - all these shall spring forth unbeckoned and irrepressible out of the deeps within thee because My Spirit has taken residence there.

“If there be dryness within thy soul and ye have not this life flowing forth, ye need not grieve, neither chide thyself for being empty. Fill up the empty place with praise. Thou mayest by praise open to Me the gates of the temple of thy soul. The King shall enter and bring His glory . The Rose of Sharon shall bloom in thy heart and His fragrance shall be shed abroad.” [40]

[40] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 42.

Note that Psalms 24:9-10 repeat Psalms 24:7-8 for emphasis.

Psalms 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.

Psalms 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Psalms 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Psalms 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Psalms 24:10 “The LORD of hosts” - Comments - God is captain of the armies of Israel (Joshua 5:14), of the armies of angels (Luke 2:13), and of all the hosts of nations (Jeremiah 3:19).

Joshua 5:14, “And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”

Luke 2:13, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,”

Jeremiah 3:19, “But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations ? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.”