If you want to find wisdom in the Bible, you will often flip to Proverbs or maybe to James. But Psalms contains several psalms that are classified as "wisdom psalms." Psalm 24 is one such psalm. A wisdom psalm teaches about life. Unlike other types of psalms, it does not really focus on the emotions or spiritual ups-and-downs of the composer. Wisdom psalms draw out an implication from life made from observation. This implication is grounded in the reality of God, and a lesson about faith or trust is extrapolated out from observing that reality.
In Psalm 24, the writer spend some time observing creation, which led to a statement of trust and confidence in God: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (1). The one who created such majesty is obviously king over these things. The rest of this psalm is a meditation on the glory of that king.
So, the psalmist asks, "Who may ascend to his throne?" (3) It is the one who is pure, who knows God, and who has left a life of idolatry behind (4). This person will receive blessings and vindication from God (5).
The psalm ends with a reflection on the Lord, who is the King of glory.
How may we live into such a psalm? As we observe the events of our lives, and think about ourselves within God's story of creation and redemption, we pause to think about what God's creative redemption calls us to--the same purity and trust that the psalmist saw.
Do you stop to ponder creation? Do you find the basis for a pure life in the gift of God?
In Psalm 24, the writer spend some time observing creation, which led to a statement of trust and confidence in God: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (1). The one who created such majesty is obviously king over these things. The rest of this psalm is a meditation on the glory of that king.
So, the psalmist asks, "Who may ascend to his throne?" (3) It is the one who is pure, who knows God, and who has left a life of idolatry behind (4). This person will receive blessings and vindication from God (5).
The psalm ends with a reflection on the Lord, who is the King of glory.
How may we live into such a psalm? As we observe the events of our lives, and think about ourselves within God's story of creation and redemption, we pause to think about what God's creative redemption calls us to--the same purity and trust that the psalmist saw.
Do you stop to ponder creation? Do you find the basis for a pure life in the gift of God?
