Psalm 24 Story behind the Psalm
Overview
Background ideas
- YHWH created everything and shows his authority and sovereignty over all creation
- After doing so, YHWH assumes his position of rest in his cosmic temple
- Mount Zion represents both the centre of creation and the temple-city of YHWH's special presence
- The temple/Ark presence involved 'military' language even in worship and sacrifice
- The Israelites had a history of trying to manipulate the ark and to worship according to their own understanding, not recognising the boundaries of YHWH's holiness
- Those who will now accompany the ark's entrance to Jerusalem must do so in right worship and in light of YHWH's holiness
Background situation
Expanded paraphrase
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
v.1
By David, a psalm. (Since YHWH alone created everything) The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH, the world and the inhabitants in it, (so he doesn't lack anything that we could offer him, nor can we manipulate him as we tried when we brought the ark into battle at Aphek,),
v.2
because he founded it, (the world), upon seas and established it upon oceans, (thereby establishing the waters' boundaries) (and his sovereign authority).
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v.3
(In previous attempts to unite his ark and his temple, however,) (we have tried to manipulate the ark's presence, and we saw how Hophni, Phineas, the men of Beth-Shemesh and Uzzah suffered the consequences of doing so according to their own understanding. As we now bring the ark into Jerusalem, we are determined to do it rightly this time. So,) Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH? And who may stand within his holy place?
v.4
(Unlike the Israelite army who tried to manipulate the ark's presence being carried by Hophni and Phineas,) (the answer to who may enter his presence is: only) One with clean hands and a pure heart, (and in contrast to the actions of Hophni and Phineas, who were morally corrupt and unfit for priestly worship of YHWH as they treated their duties with contempt), (the answer is: one who) who hasn't taken delight in falsehood, nor taken an oath deceitfully ( - falsehood and deceit being euphemisms for idols. So, clean hands and a pure heart represent ethical purity, and rejection of idolatry is part of proper worship).
v.5
(As for this person with moral and religious integrity) He will receive blessing from YHWH (just as Obed-Edom was blessed after inhabiting with the presence of the ark) and privilege from the God of his salvation (- that is, the right standing to form part of those who will accompany YHWH's ark,) (just as Obed-Edom participated in the ark's procession.)
v.6
(Previously Israel tried to manipulate YHWH's presence and did not respect his boundaries of holiness) Such(, that is, with moral purity and the ability to accompany the ark and enter YHWH's presence,) is the generation of those (now) seeking him, of those who seek your face, the generation of Jacob. Selah.
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v.7
(This true Jacob, those now seeking him in right worship, are those qualified to enter his presence as they bring the ark of YHWH to his temple-mountain) (- an image of the entire cosmos). (After subduing anything chaotic in creation, he is like a returning victor from battle entering his capital city, just as the ark was returned victoriously from the Philistine territory and the people of Beth-Shemesh lifted up their eyes and rejoiced, so) Lift up your heads (in expectation and hope), gates, (you true worshippers who seek YHWH's face), and be lifted up (to open and welcome him), eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter (to be enthroned, victorious, over his cosmic temple)!
v.8
Who is this glorious king? (The one who created and sustains the world), YHWH, (has shown himself to be) a mighty one and a warrior, (superior over any other god, assuming his rest in the cosmic temple after establishing order in the cosmos). YHWH is a battle warrior, (whose special presence is manifested by the Ark) (having returned from battle to enter his temple-mount).
v.9
Lift up your heads, gates (of creation), (indeed, of all his created subjects), and lift up (to open and), eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter!
v.10
Who is this glorious king? (The Lord of all creation who has revealed himself as) YHWH of armies, (sitting enthroned between the cherubim on the ark, and established his special presence on Mount Zion), He is the glorious king, (to whom belongs the worship of the whole world). Selah.
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