Psalm 24

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:3

This psalm breathes the spirit of aspiration. It speaks of the earth as the Lord's; but we are not to rest with the earth. The call is," Who will ascend?" As one of our own poets has said— ''Not to the earth confined, ascend to heaven." Aspiration is an instinct of the heart. The young man is full of hope. Nothing seems to him impossible. His spirit leaps within him, longing to take part with others in the struggle of life. "Men, my brothers, men the workers, ever reaping something... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:4

He that hath clean hands. He whose hands are free from acts of sin (comp. Psalms 15:2-5 ), and not only so, but he who hath also a pure heart, since the heart is the source of all evil ( Matthew 15:19 , Matthew 15:20 ), and wrongful words and wicked acts are the necessary results of the heart being impure. "God's demands upon his people," as Hengstenberg observes, "go beyond the domain of action. Those only see him—those only are fit to ascend into his hill—who have a pure heart." Who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:4

A high standard of practical morality. "Clean hands, and a pure heart." It would be impossible to condense into so few words a more beautiful and comprehensive description of true holiness. The gospel reveals motives and offers grace beyond not only the experience, but the conception, of Old Testament saints. But it cannot set a higher standard of practical morality than this: blameless conduct , and right motives ; clean hands , and a pure heart. To come up perfectly to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:5

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord ; rather, blessing , without the article. On the pure in thought, word, and act, God's blessing is sure to rest (see Matthew 5:8 ). And righteousness from the God of his salvation . To the man who comes to God with an honest and true heart, God will give additional graces, such as justification, assurance, perseverance, unwavering hope, perfect charity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:6

This is the generation of them that seek him . Men with this character impressed upon them are the "generation," the stamp of men, whom God will recognize and accept as his worshippers, true seekers after him. That seek thy face, O Jacob. The LXX . have, ζητούντων τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ θεοῦ ἰακώβ , whence some suppose אלהי to have fallen out of the Hebrew text. This, no doubt, is possible, and removes all difficulty. But it is better to loose a Gordian knot than to cut it.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:7

Lift up your heads, O ye gates. So sang one half of the choir, calling upon the gates to throw themselves wide open to their full height, that free entrance might he given to the approaching sacred fabric. And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors. Pleonastic, But giving the emphasis of repetition, and adding the epithet "everlasting," because the tabernacle was viewed as about to be continued in the temple, and the temple was designed to be God's house "for ever" ( 1 Kings 8:13 ). And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:7-10

Appeal for God's entrance into the heart of man. Sung on the entry of the ark into the ancient gates of the fortress of Jerusalem. The singers, two choirs of priests—the one bearing the ark, the other already stationed there as warders. First choir demanding admission; second reply from within, "Who is this King of glory?" The transaction may suggest and represent the appeal made for God's entrance into the heart of man. Then— I. THE LANGUAGE WOULD REPRESENT THE MIND OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:8

Who is this King of glory? The other half of the choir, acting as keepers of the doors, inquires, as if ignorant of the motive and character of the procession, "Who is this King of glory?"—who is it to whom ye give this high-sounding appellation, and to whom ye require us to open? And the reply follows from the previous speakers . The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle . It is Jehovah, the Strong and Mighty One-strong in himself, mighty in his acts, mighty especially in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 . A repetition of Psalms 24:7 , the first part of the choir reiterating its challenge. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:10

Who is this King of glory? The second part of the choir reiterates its question, as though not yet quite understanding. "Who is he, this King of glory?" and the first, slightly varying its answer, replies, The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. The epithet, "Lord of hosts" well known at the time ( 1 Samuel 1:11 ; 2 Samuel 5:10 ; 2 Samuel 6:2 ; 2 Samuel 7:18 , 2 Samuel 7:26 , 2 Samuel 7:27 , etc.), made all clear, and, the gates being thrown open, the ark was brought in,... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 24:10

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands