Daily Devotional Sunday 10th October 2021

by William Moody

Psalms 23–24

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23:1   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
  He leads me beside still waters.1
3     He restores my soul.
  He leads me in paths of righteousness2
    for his name’s sake.
4   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,3
    I will fear no evil,
  for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5   You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
  you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6   Surely4 goodness and mercy5 shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
  and I shall dwell6 in the house of the LORD
    forever.7

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David.

24:1   The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,8
    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.
6   Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.9 Selah
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!
9   Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10   Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah

Footnotes

[1] 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
[2] 23:3 Or in right paths
[3] 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
[4] 23:6 Or Only
[5] 23:6 Or steadfast love
[6] 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
[7] 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
[8] 24:1 Or and all that fills it
[9] 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob

(ESV)

Psalm 24 is believed to celebrate the coming of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem during David’s reign (2 Samuel 6).

David begins by acknowledging God’s ownership of everything that He has made (v1-2). David’s view of God is high and exalted.

The question then arises who can enter God’s hill and presence (v3). The answer comes, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” (v4).

As we all have sin we can only fulfil this requirement through being covered with the righteousness of Christ. It also means that we’re to seek in our lives to have clean hands and a pure heart in regards to sanctification.

This Psalm was greatly used in the Lewis Revival when those praying for the Revival acknowledged that they needed clean hands and a pure heart.

Wonderful blessing comes to those who seek the Lord with sincerity (v5-6).

The final verses seem to speak of the ark entering Jerusalem (v7-10) but also of the Son of God returning to heaven after completing the work of salvation.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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