Psalm 24

Psalm 24 is another psalm well known for the praise songs that it has inspired, most recently “Give Us Clean Hands” from Passion and “King of Glory” by Third Day. And it really is a powerful psalm declaring the magnificence, might and glory of YHWH.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob (Psalm 24:3-6).

Only he who has clean hands and a pure heart may stand in the holy place. But only Jesus, the Christ, has ever had clean hands and a pure heart. The rest of us “were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph 2:3). Romans 3:10, quoting the Psalms, declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” But that One, the Christ, never lifted his soul to another. He lived a pure, righteous and sinless life. And by his death and resurrection, we have been made righteous that we too may stand confidently on that holy hill. That we may yearn to become the holy generation who seeks the face of the God of Jacob. Praise be to the King of Glory who has invited us into his holy presence that we might honor him and exalt him forever.