Musings on Psalm 24

Psalm 24
A Psalm of David.

The earth is the LORDS (Yehovah) and the fullness thereof; the world and all they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend unto the hill of the LORD (Yehovah)? Or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the LORD (Yehovah) and righteousness from the God (Elohim) of his salvation (yeshah).

Hands
Heart
Soul
Word

all of these must be pure and blameless to come before God.

I did a lot of dictionary looking up of the words in that verse. It helped some.

If your Hands, Heart, Soul and Word are pure, you will receive righteousness from God, who saves.
But it seems that if we could have pure hearts, clean hands, dedicated souls, and true words on our own, then we wouldn’t need God’s righteousness applied to us. Hmmm.

Romans 3 seems to speak directly to this.

We know “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23) so we can’t have clean hands, heart, soul and word by ourselves.

But now (after Jesus) apart form the Law (doing it on our own) the righteousness of God has been shown (in the life of Jesus), even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus for all who believe (Rom. 3:22). All who believe have been justified (made right before God) as a gift by God’s grace, through the redemption in Jesus, (Rom. 3:24). Jesus paid the price in his own blood. This demonstrated God’s righteousness, because in His great patience, He passed over all the sins we did before, (Rom. 3:25-26).

The way I see it: (I like things nice and linear, If A then B, if B then C, etc.)

• We all were born into sin

• Jesus’ blood paid for our sins

• We believe, put our faith in, Jesus

• God looks at the righteousness of Christ instead of our own “goodness”

• God gives us salvation- lets us into heaven

Something like that. In Psalm 24 it’s not that straightforward. But when I read it aloud, and actually say Yehovah and Adonai, I feel very connected with His Spirit, very worshipful.

Be Transformed

After reading “C Grace”s thoughts on Romans 12:2, it seemed worthwhile to meditate on that scripture myself. Unfortunately, my mind is not so organized when left on its own. In order to have meaningful meditation I really need to look things up, and write things down. (Maybe it's more like research, but that's what I do.) Here are some notes I’ve taken on Romans 12:2.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The first part of the verse says, “Be not conformed to this world. . .” It seems like this means, “don’t be molded to its image.” Part of that is when we put on an act, or worse, keep acting like our old self. After salvation, we became children of God, and his soldiers. When we act in a way other than that we are conforming to the world. And when you act a part long enough, eventually, you start believing it.

The next part of the verse says, “But be Transformed. . .” Luckily, it also says how to do this, “by the renewing of your mind. . .” When I searched the Bible further to get some examples of renewing the mind, I found the mother-lode in Ephesians 4. Here are the “suggestions” included in that chapter, paraphrased by me.

1. “Lay aside the old self, and put on the new self” Eph 4: 22-24.
2. In your anger, don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Eph. 4:26 (even if you can’t make it up with the person or situation you are angry with, you can settle it in your mind by giving the situation over to God.)
3. Don’t steal, but work for what you get. Eph. 4:28.
4. Don’t talk trash, but use words that give grace to those who hear. Eph. 4:29.
5. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30 (Imagine all the ways we can do that!)
6. Set aside all bitterness, wrath, anger, slander and malice. (see second point) Eph. 4:31.
7. Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. Eph. 4:32

Why do you Transform yourself by renewing your mind in these ways? The next part of the verse says, “So you may prove (know) what the will of God is. . .” Again, I looked up verses dealing with the will of God. What is the will of God?

1. 2Co 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. . .
2. 1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification. . .
3. 1Pe 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
4. Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
5. 1Jo 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

It seems that the will of God is for us to be sorry for our sins, which produces repentance, which in turn leads to salvation. God also wants our sanctification. (Another topic of discussion.) He wants our right actions to silence the foolish. He wants us to do his will, so we may receive what was promised, eternal and abundant life.

Romans 12:2 continues by stating that the will of God is good, acceptable, perfect. Again, I looked up these words to help me get a grip on them.

Fist is “Good.” Thayer defines this as useful, pleasant, agreeable, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable. An example of “good” used elsewhere is in Matt 12:35 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good…”

Next is “Acceptable,” described by Thayer as being well pleasing. Eph. 5:10 tells us that we should be “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

The third aspect of God’s will is “Perfect.” Again, I used Thayer’s definition of “complete, brought to an end, finished, consummate human integrity and virtue.” An example of this in scripture is James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. “

So, during my reading, searching, and thinking, I’ve decided that I need to read all of Ephesians 4 and 5, maybe as often as each day for a while. The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge gives this Overview to Ephesians 5:

Eph_5:1, After general exhortations to love; Eph_5:3, to flee fornication; Eph_5:4, and all uncleanness; Eph_5:7, not to converse with the wicked; Eph_5:15, to walk warily; Eph_5:18, and to be filled with the Spirit; Eph_5:22, he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands; Eph_5:25, and husbands ought to love their wives, Eph_5:32. even as Christ does his church.

This seems a good place to start “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”