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THE GOSPEL FROM PSALM 24

 

PLEASE READ IN THE BIBLE (PSALM 24)

 

Psalms 22, 23 and 24 form a trilogy.  These psalms, as well as many others, are all about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Psalm 22 speaks about Christ as the Sufferer, Psalm 23 as the Shepherd, and Psalm 24 as the Sovereign.   Psalm 22 speaks about His Past Ministry when, as the Good Shepherd He suffered, bled and died for the sins of His people.  Psalm 23 speaks about Him in His Present Ministry as the Great Shepherd caring for those who are the sheep of His flock.  Psalm 24 reveals Him as the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) and His Future Ministry to take the throne of world dominion and rule and reign in His millennial kingdom. 

 

Who is it that has the God ordained qualifications to occupy the throne of world dominion?  Many have aspired to have this lofty and exalted position.  Satan desired to have this place.  In (Luke 4:5, 6) he claimed to have possession of all the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them.  From scripture we know that he is not qualified for he will be cast out of Heaven (Revelation 12:9).  He will be cast into the bottomless pit and bound for a thousand years during the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-3).  Many men have desired world wide dominion such as Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander, Augustus Caesar, Hitler, Stalin, etc.  Scripture reveals that there is yet another man coming who will claim this throne and will indeed occupy it for a short time (the last 3 ½ years of the coming tribulation period).  He is called the “beast” in (Revelation 13).  He is called the “man of sin” in (2 Thessalonians, chapter 2).  He is antichrist and therefore not qualified to rule on the throne of world dominion.  (2 Thessalonians 2:8) says that he will be destroyed by God’s coming King.  It says in, (Revelation 19:20) “The beast was taken and with him the false prophet, these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone”. 

 

  Psalm 24 answers the question of “who is qualified to occupy the throne of world dominion”.  There is only one who is qualified, it is Jesus Christ the Lord.  In this psalm He is called the “King of Glory”.  HE IS QUALIFIED BY:

 

1.        (VERSE 1) – HIS POSSESSIONS

2.      (VERSE 2) – HIS POWER

3.      (VERSES 3-6) – HIS PERSON

4.      (VERSES 3-6) – HIS PEOPLE

5.      (VERSES 7-10) – HIS PRESENSE

 

1)      HE IS QUALIFIED BY HIS POSSESSIONS

It says in, (verse 1) “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein”.  Here is a declaration of His divine ownership and of Christ’s undisputed right to take the throne of world dominion.  Everything in the world belongs to Him.  Not only the material and mineral wealth stored up in this planet but the worlds population as well.  God the Father speaks to His Son and says in, (Psalm 2:8) “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession”. 

 

2)    HE IS QUALIFIED BY HIS POWER

It says in, (verse 2) “For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.”  We would connect this with the Genesis account of creation.  It says in, (Genesis 1:1) “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”.  On the third day of creation (Genesis 1:9-13) God gathered the waters together and the dry earth appeared out of the waters which had submerged it.  We are told, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, in, (Colossians 1:16, 17) “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones , or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him”; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist”.  In (Revelation 4:11) the Lord is worshipped in heaven and the worshippers say to Him, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”. 

 

3)    HE IS QUALIFIED BY HIS PERSON

It says in, (verse’s 3, 4) “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart: who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully”.  First and foremost these scriptures speak about the moral qualifications of Him who is worthy to take the throne of world dominion, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He alone has these moral qualifications.  The four aspects of purity in (verse 4) find there fulfillment in the person of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was sinless and impeccable.  He is called in, (1 Peter 1:19) “The Lamb without blemish and without spot” 

 

4)    HE IS QUALIFIED BY HIS PEOPLE

In (verse’s 3-6) we can also see in these scriptures the necessary moral qualifications of the kind of people who will enter the kingdom and enjoy the one thousand year reign of peace and prosperity.  This psalm has nothing to do with any who are saved in this dispensation of grace.  The psalm refers to the believing remnant of Israel and Gentiles, which have not previously heard and rejected the gospel, who are saved after the rapture of the church.  The citizens that enter the Millennial Kingdom must be holy in hand and in heart, in deed and in thought.  Their character, their righteousness is not their own.  It comes from God and is the result of the “new birth’ from above.  It says in, (John 3:3, 5) “Unless a man is born again, he can neither see nor enter the Kingdom of God”.  The necessity of the new birth, in order for a person to be saved, applies in any dispensation.  Dear reader, are YOU saved?  Have YOU been “Born Again”?  Are YOU aware of the fact that YOU must be “Born Again”?  To be “born again” is the greatest blessing that will ever come to us in this world.  (John 3:7) “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN”. Man by nature is lost and guilty before a holy God.  The Bible says in, (Romans 5:12) “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”.  It says in, (Romans 3:23)”All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.  Notice that God says “ALL”.  There are NO Exceptions.  Furthermore, YOU can not save yourself.  YOU can not earn or merit God’s salvation. You can not work your way into God’s Kingdom.  It says in, (Titus 3:5) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us”.  It says in, (Ephesians 2:8, 9) “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.  God offers salvation as a FREE GIFT.  It says in, (Romans 6:23) “The wages of sin is death, but THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD”.  Have YOU ever received God’s free gift of salvation?  You receive this gift by faith, by acknowledging your sinful condition and believing the gospel message that Jesus Christ died on the cross for YOUR SINS.  (Romans 1:16) “The gospel of Christ …is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth”.  (Acts 16:31)”believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. 

 

All who are saved in these days of grace are, (Colossians 1:13) “Delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of (God’s) dear Son”.  Believers will be present with the returning King and share with Him in His Kingdom glory.

 

5)    HE IS QUALIFIED BY HIS PRESENSE

In (verse’s 7-10) Jesus Christ, “the King of Glory”, has returned to earth and is outside the gates of Jerusalem.  At least seven years previously, the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) has taken place.  The seven year tribulation, with all its catastrophic judgments and events, has ended.  The second coming of Jesus Christ, in great power and glory, has occurred.  (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).  After His mighty victory at Armageddon, (Revelation 19) the deliverance of Israel, and their national repentance and conversion, the Conqueror and His host approach the gates of the city of Jerusalem.  The gates are opened to Him in fulfillment of, (Psalm 1:6) “Yet have I set My King upon my holy hill of Zion”.  The Lord Jesus Christ, the “King of glory”, the “King of King’s and Lord of Lord’s” (Revelation 19:16) is ready to take the throne of world dominion.

 

Dear reader, are YOU saved to see and be in the Lord’s kingdom?  If YOU remain unsaved, it will not be because God does not love YOU, or be because God’s Son did not die for YOU, but it will be because YOU have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Which will it be for YOU, RECEPTION or REJECTION of the Savior?  YOU are traveling the “highway of life”.  Now that YOU have read this message, YOU have come to the “crossroads”.  Which way will YOU go?  Will YOU continue to reject the Savior and God’s gift of salvation?   Or, will YOU believe in Him and receive Him as YOUR Lord and Savior?  It is YOUR DECISION and YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

 

Please give this matter your most serious attention.  Will YOU be a believer or a non-believer?  YOUR eternal destiny depends on YOUR decision.

 

Christian Messenger