#704 Fullness

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
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. 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 Psalm 24 ESV

And the fullness thereof - It's my life I use to say, it's my body I hear people say today, as if this is a clear cut case against any other claim of authority. But tell me then, when did you create your life, how did you make your body? How is it then that in procreation you also claim that the body of someone inside of you is also you or yours to decide? Every atom of my being and all that I can see or walk upon is founded by the words of God speaking it into existence. The things that I can study are observable because they follow patterns, logic, reason and order. It is time to stop honoring myself and pay glory to the God Who created the earth, there is nothing that doesn't ultimately belong to Him. Lord God, do not give me away, let me be found in Your Son and reflecting Your Son.

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." The whole round world is claimed for Jehovah, "and they that dwell therein" are declared to be his subjects. When we consider the bigotry of the Jewish people at the time of Christ, and how angry they were with our Lord for saying that many widows were in Israel, but unto none of them was the prophet sent, save only to the widow of Sarepta, and that there were many lepers in Israel, but none of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian,--when we recollect, too, how angry they were at the mention of Paul's being sent to the Gentiles, we are amazed that they should have remained in such blindness, and yet have sung this psalm, which shows so clearly that God is not the God of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles also. What a rebuke is this to those wiseacres who speak of the negro and other despised races as though they were not cared for by the God of heaven! If a man be but a man the Lord claims him, and who dares to brand him as a mere piece of merchandise! The meanest of men is a dweller in the world, and therefore belongs to Jehovah. Jesus Christ had made an end of the exclusiveness of nationalities. There is neither barbarian, Scythian, bond not free; but we all are one in Christ Jesus. - C. H. Spurgeon

Who Shall ascend - If all have sinned, if the Bible is God's word, if He is holy and ever against sin, then who can stand before Him and by what means? The Psalmist supplies an answer in verse 4, he who has clean hands and a pure heart. Oh, well that does not look any more hopeful for me. My heart is wicked and deceitful, David's hands are covered in blood, and we are all fallen regardless of how we like to see ourselves. Lifting up our souls, consoling ourselves by vain means, telling ourselves that there is another way, that our earthly pursuits are more valuable, riches are more sure, leaves us to swear by nothing that God recognizes. Who then? Who then is worthy?

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”…Luke 18: 25-27

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice,“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.…Revelation 5: 1-3

Who seek the face of the God of Jacob - Ask the questions, seek Him while He may be found. There is a way that God has provided, and all this points forward to One, Who is eternally worthy. Not the god of your imagination, not your works which are as filthy rags, but the God of Jacob, Who is defined by His own words, the inspired scriptures. Seek Him through His Son, look at Psalm 22, He made the way. He made it possible to stand before God, to know of God, and to be at peace with God. 

Who is the king of Glory - None other than the Lord strong and mighty. Lift up the gates, He has returned. He has waged war and won, He has crushed the head of the serpent and set the captives free. Come seek Him Who was born with a clean heart, Who was able to satisfy the justice of God.

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified; those He justifiedHe also glorified. 31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?…Romans 8: 29-31