It is a good time to stop
and reflect on
how we are doing as
worshipers of the LORD!
Do we live lives that
acknowledge
and acclaim God’s majesty
and sovereign control?
Do we live pursuing
godliness and purity?
God promises that those
who worship in this way will be blessed.
PSALM 24
1 The earth is
the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who
dwell therein,
2 for he
has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon
the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend
the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in
his holy place?
4 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.
5 He will
receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness
from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the
generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of
the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads,
O gates!
And be lifted up, O
ancient doors,
that the King of
glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of
glory?
The Lord, strong and
mighty,
the Lord, mighty
in battle!
9 Lift up your heads,
O gates!
And lift them up, O
ancient doors,
that the King of glory may
come in.
10 Who is this King
of glory?
The Lord of
hosts,
he is the King of
glory! Selah
We are not sure when and
why this psalm was written, but some believe that it was written when the ark
was brought back to Jerusalem
David begins by reminding
us of His rule over nature and men. This rule finds its roots in the fact that
God is the creator of both.
We are part of God’s
creation, so it is fit and right for us to worship our Creator. The Bible says
that God demands it, and that men are guilty of rebellion because they have
suppressed the reality of God.
Romans 1:19-21
19For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For
his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the
things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For
although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,
but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were
darkened.
If it is inexcusable for
the unsaved to suppress the reality of our creator God, how much worse are we,
when we live unaware, ungrateful, unmoved, and unchanged by the splendor of our
creator and God?
We too often become so
self-absorbed that we lose sight of the privilege of our relationship with the
creator of the universe. Many hang pictures in their home portraying themselves
with “celebrities”, yet fail to live lives that exude the reality of the majesty
of their creator.
Not only is the LORD the
creator of the universe, but He rules majestically over all His creatures. We
are not living as prisoners of a world that is running its own course, but we
live in a fallen world held in perfect control by the Ruler of all.
Because you and I do not
understand the purposes of God and cannot see the glorious outcome of all, we
cannot think we have the right to question or complain of God’s meticulous
control.
Realizing the majesty of
His creator and ruler of all, David recognizes that his worship must produce
appropriate behavior. Godly worship produces willing submission.
Only those who are
purified and obedient can have a relationship with this perfect and mighty God.
David reminds us that this God was the God of his salvation.
We cannot approach God
apart from having been transformed by Him. When God changes us, He covers us
with His righteousness. Our lives are changed from worldlings who live
deceitfully, to children who seek after God and desire to please Him. In fact,
we take part in our cleansing by allowing the Word of God to change us.
1 Peter 2:1-3
1 So put away all malice
and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn
infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into
salvation—3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
It is the Word of God that
reveals who we are and what needs to be changed. Those who seek after God and
desire to worship Him, love the Word, diligently reading it and applying it to
their lives.
It is a good time to stop
and reflect on how we are doing as worshipers of the LORD! Do we live lives
that acknowledge and acclaim God’s majesty and sovereign control? Do we live
pursuing godliness and purity? God promises that those who worship in this way
will be blessed. Stop to think about this. When you are blessed, you know it;
what you know then changes the way you are and the way you perceive things, and
this, in turn, becomes visible worship and a testimony to our surrounding world.
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