February 7, 2016
Worship: King of Glory by Third Day
Who is this King of Glory that pursues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit’s ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and son of man
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit’s ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and son of man
His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
Witness:
I sit here listening to the songs by Third Day as I contemplate what to write. My body weary from little sleep, my soul moved again by the passion of our savior as I watched the video to the song “Carry My Cross” ( https://youtu.be/G8RVYjfgsto ). Who am I that the King of Glory should suffer such humiliation? Who am I? A slothful sinner who is constantly distracted from pure worship and sitting before Him and drinking of his Spirit and feasting on His Word that give life. Constantly forcing myself to refocus and return to His presence. That is who I am. And yet the King of Glory, knowing this, still died for me and rose again so that I could be with Him where He is.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4 NIV
Perhaps you stumbled on this entry in my journal and are asking where that place is? Thomas asked that same question.
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" John 14:5 NIV
The Lord’s answer is greater than the question asked. Thomas only asked about the way, but our Lord’s answer is so much more full and profound.
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV
Unworthy slothful sinner I am, yet He still made a way, better yet -He is the way. The way to where the Father is. The truth that leads me to the Father. The life that I have in the presence of God my Father.
WORD:
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Ps 24:7-10 NIV
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you 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 you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty —
he is the King of glory.
Selah
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Ps 24:7-10
7 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty;
the LORD, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD of Heaven's Armies—
he is the King of glory.
Interlude
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
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As I was praying before I began this time of worship, witness, and WORD; I began to realize that coming into the Lord’s presence seems to be a major theme in this psalm. I don’t know if this is something to be learned from this text or if I am straining for meaning. I trust I am not, so I will go on and share what I mean.
In verses 3-6 we are shown how we can come into His presence. We must have clean hands and pure hearts. Formally, this occurs when we give our heart and hands to Him and receive Him as the way and truth and life and are born again (John 3), declared righteous (Roman’s 3:23-26), and stand in His grace (Romans 5:1) and perfect in His sight (Hebrews 10:14a). However, experientially this is an ongoing process that works out synergistically in our life. On the one hand, God is sanctifying us (Hebrews 10:14b; Philippians 2:14b) and on the other hand we work out this great salvation in our lives through His power working in us – but we are working it out. Simply put – He is working it out through us and we are working it out through Him.
In the following verses the gates of the city of God are commanded to be opened to the King of Glory. Wiersbe says this about the gates:
Psalms 24:7-10
The administration of an ancient city was transacted at the city gates, so the gates were to those people what the city hall is to citizens in the western world today. David was commanding the whole city to welcome the Lord and give honor to Him.
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)
Here, we have in a sense, God entering into the presence of the His people. Yet not with the shedding of impurity as with us, but in glory He enters our presence and we are lifted up, as it were, into that glory.
I see these truths expounded by James and I can’t help but believe that he had psalm 24 in mind when he wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:8-10 NIV
What if we really did this? I commend to you a sermon series by Alistair Begg on these very verses.
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