Psalm 24 Overview
Meeting the king
Psalm 24
Welcome to the Overview of Psalm 24
This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 24 as a whole. It includes the following sections:
Introduction to Psalm 24
Author
- David
Book
- Book 1 of the Psalter (Chapters 1–41)
Psalm 24: A Brief Summary
- This Psalm is divided into three main sections, all about this king. The first section (vv. 1–2) deals with YHWH’s identity, as the creator of everything. The second (vv. 3–6) outlines YHWH’s requirements (for meeting with him), as only the true Israel, or Jacob, may enter his holy place. The final section (vv. 7–10) provides YHWH’s welcome, when his people do meet with him.
"Meeting the King" This title is a memorable phrase that helps remember the unique character and content of this psalm.
- A way to remember this Psalm is with the phrase "Meeting the King." Not just anyone can meet a human king, and that’s even more true with the divine king, YHWH himself.
Purpose The Purpose was the psalmist's probable intent or reason for writing this psalm.
- To fulfill the conditions for meeting the king, YHWH of armies.
Content The Content is a concise summary of the whole psalm's content.
- As creator of the earth, YHWH established boundaries for both creation and his covenant. As true Jacob, we may now ascend his mountain and welcome YHWH into his temple as triumphant king.
Message The Message is the main idea the psalmist probably wanted the audience to remember upon or after hearing the psalm.
- YHWH determines how he will be worshipped.
Psalm 24 At-a-Glance
These sections divide the content of the psalm into digestible pieces , and are determined based on information from many of our layers, including Semantics, Poetics, and Discourse. The columns, left to right, contain: the verse numbers; the main title of the section; a brief summary of the content of that section (quote marks indicate the text is taken directly from the English text of the psalm (as per our Close-but-Clear translation); and an icon to visually represent and remember the content.
| Superscription | ||||
| v. 1 By David. A psalm. The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH, the world and the inhabitants in it, | YHWH's identity | YHWH is the creator of everything. |  |
reverent
|
| v. 2 because he has founded it upon the seas and keeps it established upon the currents. | ||||
| v. 3 Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH? And who may stand within his holy place? | YHWH's requirements | Only the true Jacob may enter YHWH's holy place. |  |
pensive
|
| v. 4 One with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not delighted in falsehood, nor taken an oath deceitfully. | ||||
| v. 5 He will receive blessing from YHWH and privilege from the God of his salvation. | ||||
| v. 6 Such is the generation—those seeking him, those who seek your face—of Jacob. Selah. | ||||
| v. 7 Lift up your heads, gates, and be lifted up, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter! | YHWH's welcome |
True Jacob, |
 |
passionate
|
| v. 8 Who is this, the glorious king? YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior; YHWH, a battle warrior. | ||||
| v. 9 Lift up your heads, gates, and lift up, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter! | ||||
| v. 10 Who is this, the glorious king? YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah. | ||||
Background Orientation for Psalm 24
Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.
- YHWH created everything and assumed his position of rest in his cosmic temple (Pss 95:11; 96:5-6; 99:1-2, 5, 9), displaying his authority and sovereignty over all creation (Gen 1:1; Pss 89:9-12; 90:2; 93:4; 95:3-5).
- Mount Zion represents both the center of creation and the temple-city of YHWH's special presence (Isa 2:1-5; Mic 4:1-2; Ps 99:5, 9).
- The Israelites had a history of trying to manipulate the ark and to worship according to their own understanding, not recognizing the boundaries of YHWH's holiness (1 Sam 4:1-7:2; 2 Sam 6:1-11).
Background Situation for Psalm 24
The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.
Participants in Psalm 24
There are 3 participants/characters in Psalm 24:
| David |
| YHWH |
| "YHWH" (vv. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10) |
| "The God of... salvation" (v. 5) |
| "The glorious king" (vv. 7–10) |
| Congregation |
| "gates" (vv. 7, 9) |
| "eternal doorways" (vv. 7, 9) |
| one with clean hands and a pure heart (v. 4) |
| the generation of Jacob (v. 6) |
| "those who seek YHWH" (v. 6) |
- The psalmist, as the speaker throughout the psalm, is identified as David in the superscription.
- YHWH is referred to as "the God of salvation" (v. 5) to the one who will approach his holy place (v. 3). As his people welcome him in as king, he is referred to as "the glorious king."
- The addressee throughout the psalm (with the exception of v. 6) is considered to be the congregation. They are encouraged to examine themselves to ensure they belong to those "with clean hands and a pure heart" (v. 4) in order to be identified as "the generation of Jacob" and "those who seek YHWH" (v. 6). If that is the case, they are counted among those who receive the privilege of accompanying the Ark of YHWH into his holy place and welcome him as king, as if they, themselves, were the gates of the city. (For further detail, see the exegetical issue, The Meaning of "Doors" in Ps 24:7, 9).