The person who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to false idols or sworn deceitfully, will receive the favor and vindication of God: Those who invoke idols swear by what is false they swear deceitfully. This is in all likelihood a reference to idolatry. ”Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood We’re on a pilgrimage not unlike that of the pilgrims in Psalm 24, and we have not yet arrived. What Does This Mean for You?Įven after we have received the gift of the Spirit and have been forgiven and cleansed, we still must walk in the newness of life. The goal is to see God, to be in His presence. When Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart,” ( Matthew 5:8) He was drawing from this Psalm. This meant that David didn’t worship other gods. David, for example, was a great sinner, but it is said that he was a man after God’s own heart. The person of integrity has a whole heart. The word integrity is related to the word integer. “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” In other words, he who has integrity. Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehoodĪnd has not sworn deceitfully. Who may enter into the Lord’s presence? How to Live With Integrity Who can stand in God’s presence and not be destroyed? Recall for a moment the man who reached out profanely and touched the Ark of the Covenant and was struck dead. A question is asked:Īnd who may stand in His holy place? ( Psalm 24:3) Perhaps they plan to celebrate one of the great festivals mentioned in Leviticus 25 at any rate, they want to enter into the presence of God. Imagine that these pilgrims are at the base of the hill as they travel to a pilgrimage site. His presence was so powerful on the mountain where He delivered the Ten Commandments, for example, that the people said “Moses, we can’t stand to hear the voice of God, it’s so overwhelming, so you go to the mountain, you listen to what he says, and then you come back and tell us.” On the other hand, the Scriptures also make it clear that there are times and places in which His presence is especially powerful. The Scriptures are clear that God is omnipresent. They want to go to the temple because they want to go to that place where they have a powerful sense of the presence of God. Imagine a group of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. The second part of this Psalm refers to the qualifications for entering the temple. Watch my explanation of this psalm on video here. These first verses establish His sovereignty, His Lordship. He’s not just the God of Israel He’s the God of all the earth and all the peoples of the earth. He’s made all that there is, and all that there is belongs to Him. The point here is simple: The Lord God is the creator. The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,Īnd established it upon the rivers. Like Genesis 1, Psalm 24 begins with a strong assertion that God is the creator who separated the dry land from the waters: The opening verses declare that the God of Israel is the creator God. It has three main parts and they’re very clear in what they say. False speaking will shut any man out of heaven, for a liar shall not enter into God's house, whatever may be his professions or doings.Psalm 24 is, in its structure, fairly simple. The Christian man's word is his only oath but that is as good as twenty oaths of other men. " Does not swear deceitfully." The saints are men of honor still. Does the world satisfy you? Then you have your reward and portion in this life make much of it, for you will know no other joy. He who is content with husks will be reckoned with the swine. The worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights, which are mere empty vanities but the saint loves more substantial things like Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. The man who is born for heaven " does not lift up his soul to what is false." All men have their joys by which their souls are lifted up. The pure in heart shall see God all others are but blind bats. The very life of our being lies in the inner nature, and hence the imperative need of purity within. We may wash the outside of the cup and the plate as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy, we are filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are more truly ourselves than our hands are. But " clean hands" will not suffice unless they are connected with " a pure heart." True religion is heart-work. If our hands are not clean, let us wash them in Jesus' precious blood, and so let us lift up pure hands unto God. It is to be feared that many professors have perverted the doctrine of justification by faith in such a way as to treat good works with contempt if so, they will receive everlasting contempt at the last great day. Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace.
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