PSALM TWENTY FOUR

GOD OF ALL. 
 
   When we read this psalm, we are reading an ode composed nearly 3,000
years ago. Yet it contains the prophetic word which spans from the
beginning of time to the end of it. It shows us the extent of the
dominion of our God and His Son Christ Jesus. It reveals the God of
creation, the God of salvation and the God of Redemption. 
   The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it. So the psalm opens
with a declaration of the fact that God is the exclusive proprietor of
this earth. Our ownership of land is a pretence.  Wave your mortgage
deed, or your Title Deeds if you wish, but the earth is the Lord's not
the landlord's. 
   Not only is our professed ownership of land a pretence, but also our
self-posession is a pretence. All that dwell on the earth are the
Lord's. We do not even own ourselves. When the psalmist sings of how
God has founded it and established it, he uses words which point to the
stability and order of things. That stability and order will last until
the elements shall melt with fervent heat ... which is how God's word
foretells the end of this earth. God's right to this earth rests upon
His having created it; on His having given it all its laws, products,
and blessings. 
   But the God of creation is also the God of salvation. Who will go up
to Zion?  Who will stand in His place?  Only those who have clean hands
and a pure heart. Jesus taught that only the pure in heart shall see
God. God has planned the ascent of man into His presence. The purpose
for which He sent His son was none other than this, that He should
bring many sons to Glory. Those whose lives have been cleansed, and
whose hearts have been renewed, shall know THE BLESSING. He shall
receive the blessing from the Lord, and recompense from the God of his
salvation. THE blessing is far better than A blessing or just blessing.
God prepares things specially for individuals. It is difficult for
modern man to grasp gratuitous salvation and imputed righteousness.
SHOUT! Salvation is of the Lord! for we certainly cannot save
ourselves. 
  The God of creation is the God of salvation, and He is also the God
of Redemption and the God of Resurrection. There is a wonderful word
picture in this psalm, of Christ leading captivity captive in His
resurrection glory. WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY?. The Lord strong and
mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of
Glory. The everlasting doors are opened wide for the triumphant,
redeeming, resurrected Lord to enter in. It is as well to remember that
God has embedded the principle of resurrection in creation itself.
Heaven is a special place of delight for the pure. It is not a harbour
for rogues; not a hive for drones; not a dormitory for sluggards; not a
kennel for dogs;  IT IS A GLORIOUS DWELLING PLACE FOR THE REDEEMED. 



Copyright (c) 1995, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved.



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