Sermon: Jesus Christ-The King of Glory Psalm 24

Jesus Christ-The King of Glory

Psalm 24

Truth Taught: In David’s presentation of the Gospel, we see the King of Glory coming, again and again, to defeat His enemies.

 

            Our culture loves the sequel. Whether in book or movie form, we can’t wait until the next installment comes out. Today, though, we really take it to extremes, so much so that Arnold has been back 4 or 5 times now, Stars Wars is the longest battle since the beginning of time, and Rocky is still in the ring at the age of 73.

Yet, the Spirit of God seems to be the originator of this idea of the sequel. It seems as if He has pieced together these last 3 psalms to form a trilogy in this song book of praises to our God. In Psalm 22, we looked at the Redeemer who suffered, in Psalm 23, we saw the Shepherd who sanctifies, and today in Ps. 24, we see the King who is full of Glory. In Ps. 22, we experience sorrow and brokenness. In Ps. 23, we experience peace and rest. In Ps. 24, we experience power and victory. In Ps. 22, we see the Lamb, in Ps. 23 we see the Shepherd, and in Ps. 24, we see the Lion!

We’re going to see our Jesus today in a way we don’t often look at Him. In this day and age where we are bombarded with the false notion that God is ONLY love, we’ll see the other side of Him. We see Him as He is. We see Him as God’s own Words describes Him.

Last week, Pastor Brian’s title was “Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the Great Host.” Today, we’re going to see a Host of a completely different kind, and how awesome the Spirit is to group these songs for us the way He does!!

Scholars disagree on the reasons behind this song. There are various opinions concerning the national event that might have precipitated the occasion of this writing. To me, this could be the answer to every personal struggle we face. It could be the answer to that inner struggle we all grapple with; that struggle we must wrestle with when everything in our life falls apart; when everything we do seems to fail; when we come to the conclusion; the Truth; that we are nothing and just can’t cut it anymore. This psalm gives to us the outline of the Gospel!! It’s as if the Spirit of God has pulled back the curtain to show us our insufficiencies, our inadequacies, our inabilities, and we’re left standing with nothing, with no one to help, with nothing we can depend on. Then David steps in, LONG after he’s dead, and shares the Gospel with us! He starts with the only thing there is to begin with; the only thing there is that we can legitimately depend on:

 

1. The Fulness of God’s Creation-v. 1-2

He starts at the very beginning as Julie Andrews would later sing. He begins with creation! He shows us that God is the Supreme Being. God is the One who spoke into existence all that we see. God is the Originator of all we know and experience. It is He who planned–and carried out that plan–in EVERY SINGLE detail, and He is STILL sustaining and controlling every bit of it. This Truth alone immediately brings all things into perspective.

Now, for a long time, there have been 2 serious misconceptions about our world–one we reject and one we accept:

1. We are here by chance. NOTHING is here by chance. We have been fed that lie at least all of my days. Nothing is by accident. We did not come to be because of some cosmic explosion, any more than an exploding brick formed our new building here. Honestly, it takes more faith—more blind faith—to believe that than it does the biblical account. HE has founded and established it.
2. Satan is the god of this earth. The church has taught that for a long time. This earth; the entire creation; belongs to God. Now, Paul does say that Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). A short lesson in Hermeneutics here: the word world is similar to the word all in that it has multiple definitions. The word “world” here means the world’s system; everything and everyone that is opposed or in rebellion to God. That’s what makes Satan’s offer to Jesus in the wilderness; that he would give Him the kingdoms of the world; so ridiculous. Satan has deceived even himself. It was never his to give.
3. 1 again. (AND ITS FULNESS!)

Is. 6:3-And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Ex. 19:5-6

That’s why Satan had to go to God to get permission to attack Job–TWICE. THAT’S WHY THE DEMONS HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION TO GO INTO A HERD OF PIGS INSTEAD OF BEING ANNIHILATED!! He is not the God of the Jews only, but of all mankind, and of all the earth. Man is His supreme creation and all men are His subjects, though they are not all His children.

David then says something curious. He says that God founded this earth on the waters. The statistics say that 71% of the earth is water and that 97% of all water is ocean! Water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon, while land (dirt) weighs 12 lbs. per gallon. That’s no rocks; no nothing; just plain dirt. You can put land on water and expect it to stay afloat like that. But God can because He owns it.

(Job 38:4-11-Matt read)

           

1. The Fulness of God’s Favor-v. 3-6

After rehearsing the greatness and power of God creating and sustaining the world, David then asks the age old question: “Who then can experience this God? How can I get this God who created me; how can I have this God who created my circumstances; give me the peace; the answers; I need? How can I get out of this mess?

1. 3

            The literal translation here is: “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?” Certainly, this is a misprint, isn’t it? You go up a hill. You go onto a hill. You can’t go into a hill. This isn’t a literal hill. It is talking about the heights. It’s a personification of the presence of Jehovah God. It’s the loftiness of the Creator we just discussed.

Isa. 6:1- “I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted.”

Our initial answer to this question is…

1. 4

            We conclude that this is what one must be to come before Christ. After all, that’s what it says. The initial reaction from a believer is that this is the secret; the formula; for coming before the Creator. This is what it takes to appear before God. But that is not the intent of David—or the Spirit of God. The answer to this question is NO ONE. THIS ISN’T THE ROAD TO CHRIST, BUT A BLOCKADE. WE MUST REALIZE THAT THIS IS A CLIMB THAT NO ONE CAN MAKE! HAS ANYONE NEVER HAD DIRTY HANDS? HAVE ANY OF US ALWAYS HAD A PURE HEART? WHAT HUMAN HAS NEVER GONE AFTER EMPTY PURSUITS OR LIED?

Who can stand before the LORD? That question is asked about 7 times in Scripture and the answer is no one, but Jesus, the God-Man. He is the answer to David’s question. That’s the point David is making here.

1. 5-He, Jesus will receive the blessing of the inheritance of nations.

(Ps. 2:6-8) (1 Tim. 3:16) Talks about His vindication.

            Jesus is the fulness of God’s favor. It is Him who we should seek. We’ve talked before about seeking God’s hand verses seeking His face. The vast majority of the time, we seek His hand. We spend too little time with Him, and when we do, we give Him a list of things we need Him to take care of. But in EVERY situation we’re in, we need to look for HIM; we need to seek HIM.

Ps. 103:7-He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.

            Let us be a people who look for His ways, more than His acts.

Expound on “Selah.”

 

III. The Fulness of God’s Plan-v. 7-12

(Acts 7:2-The God of Glory appearing to Abraham) (1 Cor. 2:8-they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory).

Our God is referred to as a Warrior in the Word. It is my favorite personification of Him. It’s not one that many people know. It’s not one that most even WANT to ascribe to Him. Most want a God of love; a God who will be tender and merciful; a God who will always give them a pass. Oftentimes, man has no room for a God of wrath or vengeance and yet that’s one way He describes Himself.

Ex. 15:3-“The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is His name.

Job, Isaiah, and Zeph. all refer to Him as a warrior.

Isa. 42:13

Josh. 5:13-15

It is significant that this question and answer is given to us twice. It is written in song so this could be seen as the refrain. All songs have that. But I think there’s more to it than that. THEY MAY SING THIS TWICE BECAUSE OUR WARRIOR HAS DEFEATED THE GREATEST ENEMIES WE FACE! HE HAS DEFEATED THE ENEMIES OF DEATH AND SATAN BY DYING AND THEN RISING FROM THE DEAD. HE HAS DEFEATED THE POWER AND PENALTY OF SIN AND THEN ROSE INTO THE HILL; INTO THE HEIGHTS; OF THE FATHER. AND ONE DAY SOON, HE WILL RISE AGAIN FROM SITTING ON HIS THRONE TO DESTROY THE PRESENCE OF SIN. HE WILL COME AGAIN TO DEFEAT HIS ENEMIES; AND OURS; THOSE WHO REBEL AGAINST HIM AND HIS ANNOINTED.

 

Application:

Isn’t it glorious that we can see the Gospel in the OT? David says that He drew me out of many waters (Ps. 18:16). THE GOD THAT CREATES THE TROUBLED WATERS CAN CERTAINLY DRAW US OUT OF THEM. The One who troubles the waters can calm the seas. The God who is Supreme in Glory has the power to accomplish His plan in your life. He doesn’t accomplish it because of how wonderful you are. He doesn’t accomplish it by your intellect or talent. He accomplishes it by the only way it can be accomplished—through Jesus Christ. Since He’s defeated HIS enemies, He’s certainly able to defeat yours.

There are some here today that belong to Christ but are struggling. You’re struggling with pain, with a broken heart, with trials, with sin. Invite the King of Glory to come in and seek His face!

There are some here who don’t even belong to Christ. You’ve built your foundation on water; on sand; on the things of this world; and you’re sinking. Or if you are successful, you won’t be for long. That’s a promise from God’s Word. It’s time to build your life on the Rock. Invite the King of Glory to come in to give you a pure heart and then clean hands. Come to Christ who is the only One that can allow you to stand in His Holy place.