Advent 4:2. 23 December 2013

image by kslyesmith

by Jason Lowe

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

Psalm 24:1-10

I looked up and saw the thick expanse of clouds split with a trembling crack across the ceiling of the sky, then rush apart like heaven's curtains. All the nations, rulers and peoples looked up and stared in horror at what was like an enormous sun at noonday in the form of a man. He was wearing a crown that shone with lightning, and he sat on a king's horse, sparkling white and decorated for war. His name is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He has finally come to stomp his enemies in the winepress of the wrath of God, and to reign over his creation forever.

The latter half of Psalm 24 describes the gates of Israel looking up in expectation to the king who will finally reign in peace and shepherd with justice. He is YHWH, strong and mighty in battle. In that day all the enemies of righteousness and goodness---Satan, sin, and death---will be destroyed and cast forever outside of his kingdom. In that day the Son of Man will sit in the place of every king, prince, and potentate to reveal, for the first time ever, the awful beauty of his design for global domination. It will be the healing of the nations on to unblemished restoration in all things. Righteousness.

Whose hope is this? Or as verse three puts it, "Who will go up to the hill of the LORD?" He who has clean hands and a pure heart. "But I'm filled with sin!" our living conscience screams at us, possibly leading us to the conclusion (or at least a sneaking suspicion) that we will be among those tossed outside the bounty of God's goodness into that burning valley below. To look carefully will reveal that these words are not commands, but descriptions. It doesn't exactly say to do these things. It says those who have this hope will do these things, making them more like exhortations. It's similar to saying, "You're no longer a slave to sin, so don't live like a slave to sin." The Scriptures speak this way all the time. So those who have a seed of purity and holiness in them (via the Holy Spirit, by Messiah's sacrifice) are those who have the hope of enjoying the holy kingdom to come. All who are serving the king today will reign with him tomorrow, and they will be among the masses of the Messianic army when He comes in the clouds with power and great glory.

Take some time to consider the following. Perhaps it would be helpful to record your responses in a journal.

What attitudes, habits and reactions will you be most pleased to be eradicated of when Christ reigns? What about you will be the same that you can be pleased with now? Consider the same questions concerning society as a whole, and all creation.

Here is a prayer in response to today's text. You can pray this as your own or use it as a prompt for a spontaneous prayer.

Oh Father, we know there is so much good in the world, and so many blessings in our lives, but it is hard for us not to be weighed down by the sin and corruption that permeates it all. Help us to be thankful for every expression of your goodness to us. When we are confronted with the sins, failures, brokenness, and sufferings of ourselves and others, help us to keep in mind the magnitude of glory that will one day be a present reality in your Kingdom. Help us to be exhorted by this text to be pure in our devotion to Christ.