Psalm 24, Part 3: He Is the King of Glory

Psalm 24 has encouraged and strengthened more than one believer to lead a godly life, but there is also a historical aspect referring to the establishment of Jerusalem as the City of David and the religious center of Israel. Perhaps the psalm was written to mark the arrival of the ark of the covenant. “The anthem has two parts. In its original use, the first part was doubtless sung at the foot of the hill on which Jerusalem stood, before the procession began to ascend the heights (vs. 1–6); and the second part was sung in front of the gates of the city immediately preceding the grand entry (vs. 7–10). The two stanzas of the first part may have been sung by alternating choirs; the summonses, challenges, and responses. . . . Verses 7–10 appear in the inspiring chorus, ‘Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates,’ in Handel’s oratorio The Messiah.” “At the first response of the bearers of the ark (Ps. 24:8), the gates appear to have remained closed before the waiting procession. At this second response, ‘The Lord of hosts,’ instead of ‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle,’ appears to be a sort of glorious password that unlocks the city.” In verses 8 and 10, note the different responses to the same question: “Who is this King of glory?” The first response is “Jehovah, strong and mighty, a God of power, Creator and Proprietor of the earth, who shows His power in overthrowing His enemies.” The second response is “the Lord of hosts.” Why the difference? The second states God’s sovereignty is universal.

“The psalm closes in perfect accord with the opening thought: God alone is ruler of the universe; He alone should be universally recognized. The ceremony of installing the ark in the hill of the Lord provides a fitting occasion for this proclamation.” “The King of kings is drawing near, / The Savior of the world is here.”