THE KING’S COMING

(Psalm 24)

...I will never forget when I was a young boy, the time when _John Kennedy_ visited our city.  The city never

   looked better...there was so much excitement.  The crowds were enormous, just to get a glimpse of JFK.  He

   was a president, not a King, and surely not God.

...David wrote Psalm 24, a messianic Psalm, foretelling the day when God would triumphantly enter Jerusalem.

   Some think David was thinking of the Ark of the covenant. 

...However, it was Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on _Palm_ Sunday (Matthew 21) that is in view.

THREE PARTS OF A HYMN UNFOLDING THE GREAT KING’S COMING TO JERUSALEM.

...Our Lord came to give His _life_ for us!

I.    THE EARTH IS _OWNED_ BY GOD. (VV 1-2)

       ...And is prepared for the King’s arrival

            A. Using parallelism, David tells that the world and everything in it is the Lord’s. (v.1)

                  This means:

                        1. Though sin and rebellion reign, our world does not belong to _Satan_.

                        2. Man really owns _nothing_...he is but a tenant.

            B. The reason God holds title to our world is that he _made_ it all. (v.2)  This echoes Genesis 1:1-10.  The Lord is creator, _sustainer_, and possessor of the whole world.

            C. What does God’s ownership have to do with His arrival?

                        1. God has prepared the earth, His world, for the _arrival_ of His Son.  This is a general      acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty over all things.

                        2. The Lore, this great King, was not just a _Jewish_ God.  He is the one true God who is over all the earth.

II.    THE KING’S _PEOPLE__ARE PREPARED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. (VV 3-6)

        ...This is God’s people coming to God’s city to worship Him.

            A. For emphasis sake, one shouts out “who is able to enter the city and _approach_ Him?” (v.3)

                        1. This One is _not_ a mere man, but the thrice holy God.  Not a president, but the great King.

                        2. Remember the temple, its message: “Stay back, _don’t_ come near.”

            B. Some requirements are given to those who desire to approach Him.

                        1. The heart of the worshiper must be _right_. (v.4)

                      ...“Pure heart” is an _inward_ holiness.  Jesus told of this in Matt.5:8.  “Blessed are the pure in  heart, they shall see God.”

                            ...“Clean hands,” one who is _holy_ in deeds.

                            ...One who does not look approvingly upon an idol.

                            ...One who is honest with other people.

                      2. One who has received “vindication from God.”(v.5)  This is a remarkable verse, for it is an Old Testament _expression_ of what we speak of as the doctrine of Justification by faith.

                             ...It tells us that one who approaches God sincerely and trustingly will find _salvation_ in Him.

III.    THE KING COMES TO HIS OWN CITY. (VV. 7-10)

          ...This is _Jerusalem_.

            A. The earth is prepared, the people are prepared, and now the great King _arrives_.

                        1.  “Who is He?”  “He is the King of Glory.”

                        2.  This is a great day of _prophetic_ history.

            B.  This is _Palm_ _Sunday_.  This is the day Jesus referred to when He said, “If you had only known this  day.”  (Luke 19:42)

                  ...This is why He said, “If they keep quiet, the _stones_ will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

                  ...Yet they did not recognize _God’s_ coming to them.  (Luke 19:44)

   C.  So while the priests _in_ the temple were reciting Psalm 24, “Lift up your heads, O gates,” the people                   _outside_ were shouting “Hosanna.”

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:

1. Remember God owns everything. We are mere tenants.

2. God is forming a company of prepared people to be with Him forever.

3. We must give thought and preparation for the worship of our God.

4. Justification is our greatest need.

5. If you desire to be included in the company of God’s people, you must be saved.