by Martin de Graaf

(A meditation on both Psalm 24 and Luke 2: 11 and 12)

When the world throws a party for the rich, powerful, or famous it really knows how to
do it …

We’ve had a few examples this year – think of the marriages of the Packer boy or
Prince Edward; consider the opening of the Fox studios in Sydney; or even the recent
birthday of the King of Thailand …

These events usually include a lot of what some call pomp and circumstance, especially
when a King or Queen is involved.

The psalm before us – together with those verses from Luke – also speaks about great
celebrations – importantly we notice that they are also celebrations in which ROYALTY is
involved

One of the first things that we notice in Psalm 24 is of course, it’s use of
QUESTIONS !

The first question, in verse 3, seems to be part of a "responsive reading",
and it seems to have been sung by people who were approaching the city of Jerusalem as
pilgrims walking up toward the Holy City of Zion -> as they would walk up the hill
toward the city gates they would sing … they had travelled from all of Israel to offer
their yearly sacrifices to their God, or perhaps to participate in some religious event
such as the Passover …

As they came to the city, they would prepare themselves for their encounter with God in
His temple … they would remember their sins, and the need for these sins to be washed
away, they would be reminded of the fact that there is no room for hypocrisy or divided
loyalty.

There is to be no place for idols or compromise in their lives.

The God who created all things – the God who is sung about in the first two verses – is
not only a strong and mighty God He is also a HOLY God and He created this planet and the
people who live on it so that they would exist in a way that brought glory to His name !

The second question of the Psalm is in verse 8 -> most commentators believe that
this is also a part of a "responsive reading" this time not by pilgrims but
rather one used by the people when their army returned from battle.

One group, perhaps up on the city walls, asks the question – Who is the King of Glory?
Then the second group – approaching the City – answer – "He is the Lord strong and
mighty, the Lord mighty in battle"

Maybe the soldiers were carrying the ark the way they did in 1 Samuel 4; or perhaps
this psalm was written when the Ark was returned by David many years later – either way it
is obvious that the people are clearly recognising the presence of God in their midst, and
their dependence on Him for any victories that they might have had!

David might be a great king and general, but he would be nothing if God was not on His
side! God is the true source of victory, the true source of the people’s power; their
meaning, their worship, their whole lives!

He is the King above all Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Psalmist says the Gates of
the City are to be opened so that He can enter in -> AND SYMBOLICALLY we are reminded
that the hearts of the people are to be opened so that His rule can be established.

Today, when we think about the birth of our Lord and Saviour it is good that we think
about this event in the context of the two questions that we have seen in this psalm.

AFTER ALL when the angel spoke to the shepherds on that night -> he too spoke about
the coming of the godly ruler;

AND OF COURSE because of his coming, now at last the purity of hearts and hands is
possible …

[Continued in Part 2 – CLM 967)