GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 11 ~ ~ Acts 13:44 ~ ~ “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.”

Continuing in Chapter 8 of Michael Youssef’s book, “How to Read the Bible”, entitled:  Psalms: The Songbook of the Kingdom

Still in Psalm 24 ~ ~ “The King of Glory”

After David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, he wanted to build a great temple to honor God’s Name and house the Ark.  But God told him, “You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood” (1Chronicles 28:3), The temple was later built by David’s son Solomon.

As the priests of the Temple designed liturgies for the days of the calendar, they designated Psalm 24 as the psalm for the first day of the week—that is Sunday.  So, when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph on the first Palm Sunday, Psalm 24 was the song of the day.  The priests and the choir were singing this song in the Temple on the day the Messiah was presented to Israel as the King of Kings.

Also, on Easter Sunday – the very day the Lord Jesus conquered death and strode triumphantly from the tomb – the Temple choir was getting ready to sing Psalm 24.  So you can appreciate the power of this song of lofty praise.

The first two verses tell us that God owns the universe.  You might say, “But doesn’t the Bible tell us that Satan is the prince of this world?”  Paul in Ephesians 2:2 rightly calls Satan “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

But the Lord claims ownership of His ENTIRE CREATION – THE BILLIONS OF GALAXIES WITH THEIR COUNTLESS STARS AND PLANETS, THE VAST REALMS OF SPACE WITH THEIR UNFATHOMABLE ORBITS.  They all belong to Him – including Planet Earth.

And yet, Satan is undeniably the prince of this world.  How could God own the earth while he is its prince?  The answer is found in the story of the fall of Satan – and the fall of humanity.  Satan was once a great angel.  His name (from the Lantin Vulgate edition of the Old Testament) was “Lucifer,” which means “light-bringer” or “morning star.”  The prophet Isaiah describes his fall in Isaiah 14:12 like this:

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!”

Afterward, Lucifer wanted to take the earth for his domain – but he couldn’t because God had given Adam dominion over it.   So Lucifer hatched a plan:  he would tempt Adam to sin, cause him to fall, and in so doing, hand his dominion of earth to Satan on a silver platter.

God had to reinstate His authority over earth – and He did so by sending His Son as the New Adam to rescue us – and by extension, the earth – from the adversary.  The Battle that reinstated God’s authority over the earth took place on a hill called Calvary.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, no matter what atheists, secularists, and radical environmentalists say.  The earth is not a pagan goddess named Gaia.  It is a masterpiece of God’s creation, as are all who live in it.

Satan still roams the earth, causing destruction, suffering, and wickedness.  But Satan’s legal claim was canceled on the cross.  Now he is nothing but an imposter and pretender whose time on earth is growing shorter every day.

Psalm 24 contains God’s ultimate offer to the human race.  It begins with a question:  “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in His holy place?”  Without God’s forgiving grace, the only conceivable answer is:  “No one.”  No human being ever born, except Jesus, is sinless – and only the righteous may stand in God’s holy place.

Verse 4 tells us that the only one who may ascend the mountain of the Lord is “one who has clean hands and a pure heart.”  In David’s day, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies – and only once a year, for a brief time.  And when he was there he trembled with dread and awe.

But verse 5 contains a prophecy and an invitation.  The Lord is issuing an all-inclusive invitation to everyone, flinging open the door of Heaven.  Those with clean hands and pure hearts, David writes, “will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.”

Now, the fact is that you and I do not have clean hands or pure hearts.  We are sinners, children of Adam and Eve.  But by faith we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and by God’s grace we have been vindicated and justified.  Only through His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus can we have clean hands and a pure heart.  And we can only receive God’s forgiving grace by loving God, not the world; by living for God, not the self.  That is what it means to live by faith.

When we accept God’s ultimate offer and receive the blessing and vindication of the Lord, we are adopted into His family.  The Father of our Lord and Savior is now our Father – the One who owns the universe.

In the final verses of Psalm 24, we see that the Lord’s victory is inevitable.  God cannot lose. Satan cannot win.  The Lord is strong and mighty in battle.  That is the triumphant message of verses 7-10.

There may be war in the Middle East.   Russia and China may invade their neighbors.  There may be terrorist attacks in the United States.  No matter what sorts of evil human beings inflict on one another, the Lord will overcome.

Five times in the last three verses of Psalm 24, David exalts Christ as the King of Glory.  We have been brainwashed to believe Jesus is meek and lowly.  Many people confuse meekness with weakness.  Jesus was meek – but He was anything but weak.  He came and preached the good news of the Kingdom of God.  He Himself is our victorious Lord, our conquering King of Glory.

Our God is a conquering God.  He has defeated Satan and sin.  He has overcome the grave.  He is the Lord, strong and mighty in battle!  And we, as members of His Church, have been called to conquer in His Name.  The church that is not conquering and taking territory and winning souls is not the church of Jesus Christ.

Verse 9 refers to the Ark of the Covenant entering Jerusalem:

 “Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.”

The Ark represented the glorious presence of God, passing through the doors of the city and coming to rest among His people.

Yet, we may also apply this imagery to the Lord entering our lives.  The image of the King of Glory entering through the doors of the city is reminiscent of the imagery of Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says,

“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”

If you have never invited the King of Glory into your life, today is the day, now is the time!  Open the door of your heart and let Him occupy your life!

YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID——FOR ETERNITY!

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Ps 68:6  “God makes a home for the lonely……….”

Isaiah 30:19

You shall weep no more.

He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;

When He hears it, He will answer you.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 41:10                                                                                                       

 Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Nehemiah 8:10

….for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to  which also you are called in one body; and be  thankful.

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