Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Saviour.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
How discouraging to read this Psalm through the lens of the Old Testament Law.
Yes, I rejoice that everything belongs to the Lord. I know He is the great Creator.
But then I read about the qualifications required to get into His Presence:
1. Clean hands (someone who has never done wrong), and,
2. A pure heart (someone who has never thought or even desired something wrong)...
That's me out then!!
I feel like one of the accusers in John 8, putting down the stones, realising that that my hands and heart are stained with sin!
It's hopeless to try to get close to God on those terms. I'm so far from the standard required.
Wait a moment, we're in the New Testament, the New Covenant times.
Some One has worked an eternal miracle of grace. He did what no one else could.
When I couldn't climb up to Him, He came down for me!
His blood sacrifice is the most incredible cleansing agent when applied to my dirty, deceitful heart.
It is a stain remover of cosmic proportions.
He has forgiven and justified me - made me "just as if I'd never sinned"!
Now I see this Psalm in a new light.
Jesus is the only One qualified to get into Heaven, but He is The Way for each one of us to get in too!
Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
I'm so glad He washed me clean.
He freely offers His cleansing to any one who will trust Him.
Through relationship with Jesus, I qualify and so can you - hallelujah!
Comments