- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
6. THE CONDITIONS OF ENTERING Ps. 24.
1. The recognition of God as the Creator.
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (v1).
The Psalm begins with the reminder of the Majesty of the God we seek to know. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
2. The earnest question of a seeking soul.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in His holy place?” (v3).
It is one thing to ascend, i.e., enter into His Presence, another to be able to stand there. Even the Philistines knew this, and said “Who is able to stand before . . . this Holy God?” (1 Sam. 6 v20). We can only stand before Him hidden in His Christ. “Ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3 v3).
3. The conditions of knowing Sanctuary Life.
a) “He that hath clean hands” (v4).
This pictures the putting away of all known sin out of the life. The practical “putting straight” of crooked ways, so far as they concern our actions. “Touch not the unclean thing” is the necessary preliminary to the words, “And I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6 v17). Compare Job 11 v14 and Ps. 28 v20.
b) “He that hath . . . a pure heart” (v4).
The heart cannot be purified by faith whilst the hands are clinging to any wrong practice. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5 v8).
c) “He that hath . . . not lifted up his soul unto vanity” (v4).
There must be the surrender of the desire for the empty fleeting things of earth ere the heavenly realities can be revealed. We cannot cling to Christ with both hands, when they are filled with other things.
d) “He that hath . . . not sworn deceitfully” (v4)
Here again we meet with truth as the condition of all spiritual blessing. Absolute honesty with God and man. No deceit toward God, or profession of surrender whilst keeping back part of the price (Acts 5v2). We cannot deceive the Holy Ghost. No dissimulation toward others, professing to be what we are not. Clean hands, not touching anything known to be sinful, a pure heart, cleansed by the Holy Spirit from sinful desires, the surrender of the will, consenting to forego seeking first the things of time, and true and honest dealing with God and man. Thus briefly does the Psalmist sum up the conditions of ascending to dwell in the Holy Presence of the Eternal God.
4. The assured blessing from God.
a) “He shall receive the blessing from the Lord” (v5).
If we will fulfil the conditions, the Lord can fulfil His “If ye obey . . . then” (Ex. 19 v5).
b) “He shall receive . . . righteousness from the God of his salvation” (v5).
Righteousness is needed to stand in His presence, not our own righteousness which is but filthy rags, but the righteousness of the Righteous One which is “unto all and upon all who believe” (Rom. 3 v22, See also 2 Cor. 5 v3-4).
c) He shall be one of a new generation (v6).
“God sent forth His Son . . that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4 v4-5).
d) He shall be one of those who seek His fast (v6).
This is the highest reeord we can desire. One who knew the Lord face to face, even as Moses did.
5. The revelation of the Ascended Lord.
a) The entry of the King. “Life up your heads, O ye gates . . . and the King of Glory shall come in” (v7).
The way to ascend into the Holiest is now shown. The Psalmist turns from the recital of the practical conditions for the seeking soul, to the heavenly vision of the One who entered within the veil as a Forerunner for us, bringing us in Himself back to God.
b) The Conqueror from Calvary. “The Lord mighty in battle” (v8).
“Having put off from Himself the principalities and the powers, He made a show of them openly triumphing over them” (Col. 2 v15).
c) The Lord of Hosts. “Who is this King . . . the Lord of Hosts? He is the King of glory” (v10).
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led Thy captivity captive” (Ps. 68 v18). “He is not ashamed to call them brethren saying . . . I and the children which God hath given me” (Heb. 2 v11-13).