Imagine people gathering from all over Israel to join King David as they return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. What a day of celebration! Singing psalms and making music, their procession would have been an amazing sight (1 Chronicles 13:8). The Lord Almighty was worthy of their praise and worship.

Psalm 24, probably composed to commemorate this event, tells the story of God, declaring his character and reflecting on Israel’s relationship with him. Not only is God seen as creator, but also as sovereign over the world. Not surprisingly they ask: ‘Who may stand in his holy place?’ They recognise that no-one is worthy of approaching God, that all fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23). Hope comes, however; those seeking God’s face will receive his blessings (v 5).

Ascending towards Jerusalem, they remember Moses’ song, recognising God as their strength and salvation, declaring him as a warrior (Exodus 15:1–18). And here, Israel calls on God as almighty, strong and mighty in battle. In their worship, they confess God as King; ruler over their lives. 

‘Who is this King of glory?’ Psalm 24 also looks forward – the Lord Almighty who would be revealed in Jesus. He did not set out to exploit equality with God, but came in human likeness, declaring the ultimate victory, through death on a cross (Philippians 2:1–11).

‘I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.’¹ What is your response to this?

This psalm’s theme is the kingship of God. Verses 1 and 2 are a hymn to God as Creator. Everything is his, since he created it. He is the Lord of all. We ought to recognise this lordship in our daily lives, in what we do, think and say. This is brought out in the brief, responsive, ‘entrance liturgy’ (vs 3–6). Maybe this psalm was first used at the dedication of the Temple.² When worshippers arrive at the Temple gate they ask the gatekeeper, in essence, ‘Who is worthy to come here to worship God?’ The answer makes it clear that God’s primary concern is the moral and spiritual quality of their daily lives, not the offerings they bring or what they intend to say or sing in the Temple. Taken in an absolute way this would debar everyone from the Temple, because no one lives like this consistently! However, the point is that true commitment to God means commitment to this kind of life day by day. The worshippers respond that they are committed to this. Without this genuine commitment, worship in the sanctuary is sham worship. That is as true for us today as it was then.

The worshippers in Psalm 24 were in a procession carrying the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolised the presence of the God of Israel. God is depicted as a great warrior (v 8). In the early days the Ark was taken into battle.³ The title ‘The Lord Almighty’ (v 10, literally ‘The Lord of hosts’, NRSV) appears associated with the Ark.⁴ The worshippers’ demand that the Temple gates be opened to ‘the King of glory’. When asked by the gatekeeper who this King is, they reply that he is the warrior-king of Israel. We know him as the King who overcame the hosts of evil by his life, death and resurrection.⁵

‘Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee’.⁶ Is that how you understand worship?

¹ Isa 42:8  ² 1 Kings 8:3–5  ³ Num 10:35,36  ⁴ 1 Sam 6:2  ⁵ Col 2:15; Rev 19:11–16 ⁶ George Herbert, 1593–1633, ‘King of glory, King of peace’