WELCOME THE KING | Psalm 24 | May 24, 2026

The Lord sets Shavuot as a reminder that he both gave the Torah at Sinai and poured out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, a firstfruits harvest that equips believers to know his ways and bear fruit. David then sings in Psalm 24, and the psalm itself lays out four searching questions. The earth declares first that everything belongs to the Lord. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” places God as owner of land, sea, and every person. Creation rests where he established it, even on stormy waters, so nothing lies outside his claim or control.

David next asks who may draw near. The hill of the Lord admits only the one with clean hands and a pure heart, who refuses idols and deceit. The standard exposes every person, because hands and hearts alike are stained. The psalm then opens a door grace built: “He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Righteousness arrives as a gift to be received, not a badge to be earned. Under the new covenant, the blood of Jesus grants bold access and the Spirit empowers a changed walk, not sinless perfection but a real new obedience.

Jerusalem’s gates are then summoned to lift their heads, because the King of Glory comes in. The gates picture a city welcoming its true sovereign, and they picture the heart that must open to his arrival. The Lord is strong and mighty, mighty in battle, the warrior who fights for his people. The ark’s return supplies a fitting backdrop here, with David humbled and dancing before the Lord, for the earthly king yields to the greater King.

The question “Who is this King of Glory?” finally finds its fullest answer in Christ. The Lord Jesus entered lowly at Bethlehem, rode meekly into Zion, ascended to the right hand after purging sins, and will return on a white horse with many crowns. Yet he also stands at the door and knocks. The cross, the crook, and the crown tie the trilogy of Psalms 22–24 together, so the Savior who died, the Shepherd who cares, and the Sovereign who comes call for a response. The gates must open. Ownership is his. Approach is by his righteousness. The King of Glory is Jesus. Welcome must be given.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Everything belongs to the Lord God’s ownership is total, not partial. The text roots his claim in creation itself, which he founded and sustains, so stewardship replaces autonomy. When the believer names time, talent, and treasure as his, idolatry begins; when all are returned to God’s hands, freedom begins. Yielded hearts discover that possession by God is the antidote to being possessed by lesser loves. [45:12]
• 2. Clean hands need a new heart The hill of the Lord will not be climbed by moral cosmetics. External order without interior truth still bows to vanity and deceit. The psalm’s hard standard is mercy’s doorway, because it pushes the sinner to receive righteousness as a gift rather than assemble it like a résumé. Grace does not relax the law’s demand; it clothes the unworthy with Another’s obedience. [54:17]
• 3. The King of Glory knocks The gates are commanded to rise because the King himself draws near. Divine initiative surprises religion that only imagines humans climbing toward God; in Christ, God comes to dwell. He is strong in battle yet gentle at the threshold, refusing to force the latch he could shatter. Faith opens what pride bars, and fellowship follows the sound of his patient knocking. [69:14]
• 4. The cross, the crook, the crown Psalm 22, 23, and 24 sketch Christ’s past, present, and future work. The crucified Savior, the caring Shepherd, and the coming Sovereign make one coherent hope. Suffering is not the whole story, provision is not the final stop, and glory is not a dream; the path runs through all three. Discipleship lives now in the Shepherd’s care while facing forward to the King’s return. [37:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:54] - Shavuot and Pentecost given
• [27:18] - Acts 2 and firstfruits
• [29:31] - Psalm 24 reading
• [34:39] - Cross, Crook, and Crown
• [38:48] - Ark of the Covenant context
• [41:07] - Uzzah and holy reverence
• [44:35] - Four questions for Psalm 24
• [45:12] - The earth is the Lord’s
• [49:12] - Who may ascend
• [54:17] - Righteousness received, not achieved
• [58:26] - Bold access through Jesus’ blood
• [60:13] - Lift up your heads, O gates
• [64:25] - Who is this King of Glory
• [69:14] - Christ knocking, will you open

Bible Reading
Psalm 24 (ESV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!

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Observation Questions

1. What four questions does Psalm 24 ask, and how do they structure the psalm’s message? [44:35]
2. According to verses 3-4, what two qualities are required to approach God’s presence, and what actions/attitudes are excluded? [49:12]
3. How does the imagery of “gates” and “doors” in verses 7-10 shift the focus from human effort to divine initiative? [01:00:13]
4. What three roles of Christ (cross, crook, crown) are connected to Psalms 22–24, and how do they reflect His past, present, and future work? [37:03]

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the psalm emphasize both “clean hands” (external actions) and a “pure heart” (internal motives) as requirements for approaching God? What does this reveal about human nature? [50:01]
2. The sermon states, “Righteousness arrives as a gift to be received, not a badge to be earned.” How does Psalm 24:5 and Hebrews 10:19-22 redefine righteousness compared to religious self-effort? [54:17]
3. The King of Glory is described as “mighty in battle” yet also “knocking” at the door (Revelation 3:20). How do these contrasting images deepen our understanding of God’s power and patience? [01:09:14]
4. How does the connection between creation’s ownership (vv. 1-2) and human stewardship challenge modern views of autonomy and control? [45:12]

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Application Questions

1. The psalm declares, “The earth is the Lord’s.” What area of your life (time, relationships, finances) do you struggle to acknowledge as His rather than yours? What practical step could you take this week to surrender it? [45:12]
2. Clean hands and a pure heart are impossible to achieve on our own. How does recognizing righteousness as a gift (v. 5) change the way you respond to guilt or failure? [54:17]
3. The King of Glory “knocks” at the door of our hearts. Is there a specific area (e.g., habits, relationships, fears) where you’ve hesitated to fully welcome His rule? What would it look like to “lift up the gates” of that area to Him today? [01:09:14]
4. The sermon ties Psalms 22–24 to Christ’s cross, care, and coming reign. How might focusing on His past sacrifice, present shepherding, and future victory reshape your perspective on a current challenge? [37:03]
5. David danced unashamedly before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14). What would it look like for you to worship God with that kind of bold, undignified surrender in your daily life? [43:02]
6. The psalm ends with a call to recognize the King of Glory. How can you intentionally “seek His face” (v. 6) this week in prayer, Scripture, or serving others? [59:30]