Meditation on Understanding Who the Lord Is

Text: Psalm 24
13 August 2018

MEDITATION ON UNDERSTANDING WHO THE LORD IS

1. The Lord and the earth/ world

a) The earth belongs to the Lord
b) The world… another way of describing the earth
c) All its fullness… including all inhabitants… belong to the Lord
d) Standing in awe of the Lord’s sovereign right over the earth/ world

2. The Lord as Creator

a) He founded it upon the seas
b) He established it upon the waters
c) Standing in awe of the way He made the earth

MEDITATION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO APPROACH THE LORD

1. Compare Psalm 15:1-5 and Psalm 24:3-5

2. Similarities to be noted

a) The physical location
i) The tabernacle of the Lord   (Psalm 15:1a)
ii) Your holy hill   (Psalm 15:1b)
iii) The hill of the LORD   (Psalm 24:1a)
iv) The holy place   (Psalm 24:1b)
b) The individual
i) This person will not be moved   (Psalm 15:5)
ii) The person who will receive blessings
and righteousness from the God of his salvation   (Psalm 24:5)

3. Differences to be noted

a) The behaviour and activities of the blessed individual – Psalm 15
i) He walks uprightly   (Psalm 15:2a)
ii) And works righteousness   (Psalm 15:2b)
iii) And speaks truth in his heart   (Psalm 15:2c)
iv) He does not backbite   (Psalm 15:3a)
v) He does not do evil to his neighbour   (Psalm 15:3b)
vi) He does not take up a reproach against a friend   (Psalm 15:3c)
vii) He despises the vile person   (Psalm 15:4a)
viii) He honours the people who fear the Lord   (Psalm 15:4b)
ix) He keeps his oath… even to his own hurt   (Psalm 15:4c)
x) He does not lend his money to gain interest   (Psalm 15:4d)
xi) He does not take a bribe  (Psalm 15:4e)
b) The behaviour and activities of the blessed individual   (Psalm 24)
i) He has clean hands   (Psalm 24:4a)
ii) And a pure heart   (Psalm 24:4b)
iii) He has not lifted up his soul to an idol   (Psalm 24:4c)
iv) He has not sworn deceitfully   (Psalm 24:4d)