All the earth belongs to God (v1). Solomon observes that “great wisdom” was God’s co-laborer in establishing the foundation and borders of this creation, “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. (23) Ages ago I was setup, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (24) When there was no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. (25) Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, (26) before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. (27) When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, (28) when he made the firm skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, (29) when he assigned to the seat its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, (30) then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, (31) rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man” (Prv 8:22-31, cf. Jn 1:1-5). In this Psalm, David praises God for his sovereign rule over what he created. Further, a new heaven and earth is the promised by which Jesus (the King of All Glory) will also reign. What attributes about this new creation does David foreshadow in this Psalm?
Only the righteous shall enter (v3-6). David ponders the question of who can actually go into the presence of God? Thus he says, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?” He offers the answer………only those with clean hands (righteous actions) and pure heart. In reading this, you would be correct to conclude that no human to ever live has met this standard including David who declares this truth. Solomon says, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecc 7:20). Paul also taught that all of mankind has fallen woeful short of this glorious standard (Rom 3:10-18). What then shall we do? Why would David declare such a truth that seems to doom us? Shall this now produce discouragement in our heart where we live by the motto, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die?” No my friends. In all God’s glorious creation, he made provision for our reconciliation to Him that we can now come into his presence and not instantly perish. He did so by imputing to us his own righteous through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus the Christ. Paul taught, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Having received such a gift, we can now look up one David’s next words with great joy and encouragement, “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, and who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” Hallelujah!
Creation and Redemption magnifies God’s glory (v7-11). David continues, “Lift up you heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the king of Glory may come in.” David envisions the great city of Jerusalem that is to welcome its approaching victorious king. In reading this text, we cannot help to think of our Lord in his “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem that proceeded his crucifixion (Mt. 21:6-11, Lk 19:36-38). All that God has done in the story of creation leads to his everlasting glorification and worship of all those granted to enter it (by faith). Why do we exalt him? Because our God is, “…strong and might, the Lord, mighty in battle!” Through him we have victory over all things because HE conquered all! He is the King of Glory who inaugurated the establishment of his new kingdom by piercing (i.e., Emmanuel) this fallen creation. He the King of Glory who ushers in the New Jerusalem whose “gates” he will open only for those who have received him in faith (Rev 21:22-27), or as David previously stated those, “…who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” Only those who have placed their faith in Jesus have the righteousness required for fellowship and dwelling with him as a gift of grace to his people. And that is a Hallelujah moment for us today! Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com