Biblion Bible Commentary
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Who Is the King of Glory?
Psalms 24:1-10
1 A Psalm by David. The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it. · WEB
A processional psalm asks who may go up the hill, answers it, and then demands that the gates open for someone else entirely.
The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it Psalms 24:1.
The psalm opens with a claim of total ownership, and the reason given is manufacture: he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods Psalms 24:2. Paul quotes the first verse twice in one chapter to settle a dispute about food, on the grounds that if everything is God's there is nothing that belongs to an idol 1 Corinthians 10:26.
The psalm was almost certainly sung as a procession climbed to the sanctuary, probably when the ark was brought up to Jerusalem, and it is built as a dialogue with questions asked at the gate.
Who may ascend to Yahweh's hill? Who may stand in his holy place? Psalms 24:3.
The same question as the fifteenth psalm, and the answer here is compressed to four things. He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully Psalms 24:4. Hands and heart — what is done and what is wanted; then falsehood and false oaths — what is loved and what is said. Outer and inner, twice over, and the psalm insists on both.
He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation Psalms 24:5.
The verse prevents the list from being read as a scorecard. Righteousness is received, from the God of his salvation, which is not how a qualification works. The requirements are real and the standing that meets them is a gift, and the psalm sets the two side by side without embarrassment.
Lift up your heads, you gates! Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in Psalms 24:7.
The direction of the psalm reverses. Until now people have been asking permission to come up; now something is arriving that requires the gates to make themselves larger. Ancient city gates were built low and narrow for defense, and the command is for them to raise their heads.
Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle Psalms 24:8.
The challenge from inside is the ordinary gatekeeper's question, and the answer comes back as a military title. Then the whole exchange repeats, and the second answer is different: Yahweh of Armies is the King of glory Psalms 24:10.
The psalm's shape is its argument. It begins by asking what kind of person may enter God's presence and ends by asking what kind of gate can admit God's presence, and the second question makes the first look small. Whoever climbs the hill is admitted by someone who did not need the door opened.
settled What this mark means