Psalm 24

The most likely scenario of Psalm 24 is around the time of 2 Samuel 6 when the ark was being returned. Imagine the scene was filled with rejoicing and celebration over this return. There are three movements in this Psalm:

1. God owns it all.
2. God calls us to holiness.
3. Celebrate the glory of God.

Read Psalm 24:1-2; we see that we are stewards or managers of God's stuff. We own nothing, it all belongs to God. Everything and everyone we see belongs to him. The money in your wallet, money invested, house, children, family, time, abilities; it all belongs to God. We are stewards, not owners and we are going to held accountable to him for the things he has given us. "To whom much is given, much is required."

Read Psalm 24:3. The tabernacle in Jerusalem was built on the very highest hill in the city, so when we read "who shall ascend the hill of Lord" it is referencing that. The point being: who can come into God's presence? The Psalmist then gives us four answers to that question. Read Psalm 24:4; clean hands, pure heart, does not lift up his soul to what is false/idol, and does not swear deceitfully. God is calling us to holiness, not to rule-keeping or a "holier-than-thou" philosophy but to Christlikeness. Read Psalm 24:5-6. May we be a people a generation who seek the face of God, who run hard after Jesus with all our hearts. The acid test for if you are running hard after Jesus is: are you spending unhurried time with him day after day?

Read Psalm 24:7-10. You can just imagine the scene, the gate is flung open and the processional with the ark of the covenant enters the city, there is a thunderous ovation and people singing with wholehearted admiration to God. God is the King of Glory, he exudes glory. So what exactly is this "glory" of God? Dwight Edwards describes it and says, "I like to call it his 'spectacular-ness'. His glory is his stunning radiance, the overwhelming splendor of his excellence, his incomparable and exquisite beauty. The hebrew term for 'glory' comes from a root meaning 'heavy' or 'weighty'. God's glory carries the full weight of his attributes. The Bible likens that glory to images such as blinding light, raging fire, crashing thunder, flashing lightning, and a magnificent rainbow. Whatever else it may be, one thing is for sure - God's glory is awesome in appearance. It's too spectacular a sight to pass by without taking notice."

Discussion Questions
1.  Having the perspective of a steward and not an owner is very difficult for we humans. To what extent would you say you do this?
2.  What is your biggest challenge area for a stewardship not ownership perspective?
3.  Has the word holiness become a positive term for you or does it still have negative connotations? Why or why not?
4.  What is the biggest challenge area for you when it comes to idolatry?
5.  What did Jeff suggest is the acid test for seeking God? Do you think he is right? How do you measure on that test?