Psalm 24
I think context helps for us to understand or even embrace Psalm 24. I saw at least four contexts that helped me to look at the Psalm differently each time I read it.
My first context was simple enough – all of us joining one another at church on Sunday mornings. Who may ascend onto the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? … He will receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (vv. 3, 5) Simple enough – just transferring Old Testament verses to our New Testament times. And yes, I left out the requirements for entry in verse 4. 😊
The second context is, I think, the most obvious, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. See II Samuel 6. This Psalm could have been written for that specific occasion or as a celebration of the memory of that occasion, possibly at some fixed time every year.
A third context came from one of my Study Bibles, a context that I’ve never thought of on my own, that the church has long used this Psalm to celebrate Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, into that holy heavenly sanctuary, there to reign for all time.
Finally, the fourth I thought on my own, so maybe it’s valid, maybe not. I thought of the crowd singing this Psalm on Palm Sunday, to the true King of Glory ascending the hill as He approached the Temple at Jerusalem: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory! (vv. 7-10) Even if the crowd did not sing this Psalm back then, we can surely sing it ourselves today!