Psalm Friday

Psalm Friday

Who is this King of glory?

Psalm 24

* Pray. Ask God to give you an open heart and mind to learn new truths from His Word. Read Psalm 24 through three times. Record your thoughts and questions in your journal. If a verse stands out to you, write it on an index card and begin committing it to memory.

Psalm 24 was most likely written to be sung when the Ark of the Covenant, the dwelling place of God, was brought back to the city of Jerusalem. The words of this Psalm are most fitting for the dance of joy that David and the people of God would have danced on this joyful occasion.

The Philistines, a great enemy to the children of God, had stolen the Ark of the Covenant some twenty years before. With the Ark of the Covenant gone, the people slowly, but surely, wandered farther and farther from the LORD. The Ark of the Covenant was literally the dwelling place of God and with its removal, He had been taken from their midst and their lifestyles, behaviors, and attitudes had begun to reflect it.

David knew that is was of utmost importance for the Ark to be back where it belonged- in and among God's people. The bringing back of the Ark of the Covenant was not for the benefit of the Ark itself, but it was for the benefit of the people.

In a study that I am doing right now, Priscilla Shirer says, "bringing back the ark of God means setting up the presence of God as the central focal point of every decision you make." When the Ark was brought back into the city of Jerusalem, after a three month stay in the house of Obed-Edom (1 Chronicles 13-16), David set it in the midst of the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 16:1). "In the midst" literally means in the center; in the center of the tabernacle the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling place, was placed. Everything would revolve around the Ark both literally and figuratively. It was the central focal point of the city; the bulls eye on the dart board if you will. God was now back among His people.

Why wouldn't David rejoice over the Ark of the Covenant being brought back among its people? Why wouldn't he dance, and sing, and shout for joy over the return of the King of glory? Who is this King of glory? He is the LORD strong and mighty! Lift up your heads! Lift up your hands! The LORD of hosts, the King of glory is among His people.