The King Is Coming

Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 4/27/03

Psalm 24

Psalm 24 is a song of David. Jewish history says that this Psalm was written to commemorate David’s returning the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13-15). I remind you that Psalm 22, 23 and 24 are prophetic Psalms, relating to the suffering and glory of Jesus Christ. In Psalm 22 the man Jesus Christ is portrayed as the Good Shepherd on Earth, in death (John 10:11). In Psalm 23 Christ is portrayed as the Great Shepherd, in Heaven, by Resurrection (Hebrews 13:20). In Psalm 24 Christ is portrayed as the Chief Shepherd, coming in His Glory to earth and Zion, again (1 Peter 5:4).

The focus of this message titled "The King Is Coming," is our Lord Jesus Christ’s glorious return to the earth and rule over the world from Jerusalem for 1000 years (which we call the Millennium).

• Who Owns The Earth? (1-2)

Verse 1 answers that question, Who owns the Earth? "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Let’s take a closer look at what is being said. First look at the phrase, "earth…and the fullness thereof." That means all the land, all the water, all the fish of the sea, all the beasts of the field and forest, all the fowl of the air, all the plants, all the treasures within the earth belong to the LORD! (see Psalm 104:24; 50:10-12).

Now look at the second phrase – "the world, and they that dwell therein." This is a reference to the inhabitable world, where the people live. All the people of the world belong to the LORD! We read in Ezekiel 18:4 "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Now, at this point it is important to unveil the identity of the LORD. When the verse says "The earth is the Lord’s", this means it is Christ’s, who is the "Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). In fact, the whole world and all the things therein are Christ’s by a three fold title. Let me explain. First, Christ created it and sustains it so it is His. John 1:3 says, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Colossians 1:17 says, "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." The word consist means to cohere together. The reason everything continues to hold together is because Christ the Creator see that it does!

Secondly, God the Father has given all things to His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:2 says, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" Thirdly, they are His by redemption, that is, he has bought and paid for, with his own blood, the sin cursed creation and mankind (see Romans 8:22-23 & . Hebrews 9:12 & 15.)

Verse 2 just reaffirms what I have said about creation belonging to the Creator -- "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods."

Jesus Christ is "…KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." He earth is His!

• Who Can Reign From The Hill Of The Lord?

Psalms 24:3 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?"

The key phrase is verse 3 is "the hill of the LORD." What is that phrase referring to? It is a reference to Zion! So, what is Zion? Specifically, Zion is the name of one of the hills of Jerusalem, the biblical capitol of Israel. It was the site first conquered by King David (see 2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Chronicles 11:5). However, often the Zion refers to the entire city of Jerusalem (Psalm 48:2; 65:1; 102:21; Is. 2:3; 8:18). On occasion, Zion also can refer to the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22). The Old Testament prophecies of blessing upon Zion are obviously intended to mean earthly Jerusalem (Isaiah 51:3; 52:12). Heavenly Jerusalem always has been blessed and needs no restoration! So, we can see that this is a reference Jerusalem and even more specifically the Temple on Temple Mount (Moriah) in Jerusalem as the last part of the verse says, "who shall stand in his holy place.?"

Let me put it all together for you. The last puzzle piece revolves around the word ascend into the hill of the Lord. That is a reference to ascending to the throne of David in Jerusalem or rather reigning from the Holy Temple of God on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.

But, what of the questions? Who shall ascent…who shall stand? Who is heir to this throne? The answer is found in verse 4. "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

The one who rules from Jerusalem must have clean hands. This is a reference to hands that are not soiled with the pollutions of the world and the flesh, hands that are not dirty with sin. And, what of the pure heart? No man has a pure heart naturally and of himself! Why? The heart is desperately wicked; the imagination of the thoughts of it is evil continually; the mind and conscience are defiled with sin; no man make his heart clean, or say he is pure from sin!

There is more: the soul not lifted up in vanity. That is a reference to hearts that are not enticed by the wealth of this world, the praise of men, or the delights of sense, and who neither choose these things for their portion, nor reach forth after them, because they believe them to be empty, uncertain and unsatisfying.

The final phrase is nor sworn deceitfully. This phrase refers to bearing false witness against any man; or by cheating him out of his substance through a lies.

A careful examination of this verse makes it obvious that there is not a man on the earth who can rule the world from Jerusalem because we are all sinners. Is there no one worthy?

• The King Of Glory Is Worthy

Verses 7 to 11 identify The King of Glory as the worthy one who will rule and reign the world from the Temple Mount. Revelation 5:2-13 is the New Testament counterpart.

This present earth is under the sway of sin and Satan. Though it is the Lord’s by creation and redemption, it has not yet been delivered from bondage. But thank God, one day Jesus will return to the earth to claim His inheritance. Then the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord (see Jude 14 and Revelation 19). Indeed, there will be a grand transformation! Isaiah 11:6-10 says, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." (see Micah 4:1-8)

Friend, the King is coming! Are you ready to meet Him? The only way to be ready is to repent of your sins and accept Him as your personal Savior. If you have not done that, there is no better day than today.