Tuesday, April 26, 2011

"Psalm 24 Paper" By David Buck (12/5/2010)

I. Background of the Psalm
King David is identified in the superscription as the author of this psalm. David reigned as king from 1010 B.C. to 970 B.C. His early years as king were over Judah alone, and then he later became the king over the entire nation of Israel (see Second Samuel, chapters two through five). David’s exact date of birth and death are uncertain, making it impossible to know exactly what period of time this psalm may have been written in. However, since we know when David reigned as king, we can be sure that this psalm was written sometime around 1000 B.C.
The audience of this Psalm at the time that it was written would have been the Israelites and Judahites. Israelites are defined as the ethnic group claiming descent from Abraham and Isaac (especially from Isaac's son Jacob); the nation whom God chose to receive His revelation and with whom God chose to make a covenant. A Judahite is defined as one of the tribe of Judah; a member of the kingdom of Judah; a Jew. During the time in which the Psalms were written they were often used in a group worship setting, much like they are today.
II. Outline of the Psalm
I. The King of Glory—Psalm 24:1-10
A. Worship of the Creator through the observation of His creation--Psalm 24:1-2
1. “The earth is the LORD’s”--Psalm 24:1a
a. The LORD has ownership over the earth--Psalm 24:1a
2. “The world and those who dwell therein” --Psalm 24:1b
a. The LORD has ownership over the world and all the people within it. --Psalm 24:1b
3. “For He has founded it” --Psalm 24:1b
a. The LORD is the creator of the earth and all the people within it¬--Psalm 24:2
B. The recipient of the Savior’s blessing--Psalm 24:3-6
1. Questions, who will receive His blessing--Psalm 24:3
a. “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?”
b. “Who shall stand in His holy place?”
2. Answers, He who will receive His blessing--Psalm 24:4-6
a. “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully…him who seek(s) the face of the God of Jacob”
(1) This is who will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of salvation.
C. Honor the King of glory--Psalm 24:7-10
1. Open the gates “that the King of glory may come in” --Psalm 24:7, 9
2. “Who is the King of glory?” --Psalm 24:8, 10
a. “The LORD…He is the King of glory!” --Psalm 24:8, 10

III. Explanation of Key terms.
O Gates (Psalm 24:7, 9): Translated from the Hebrew word shaar, the meaning of this word is literally gate. (Reference Isaiah 26:2)
Everlasting Door (Psalm 24:7, 9): Translated from the Hebrew words olam and pethach. Olam means age or age lasting. Pethach means an opening or an entrance of a door. (Reference Ezekiel 47:1)
King of glory (Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10): Translated from the Hebrew words melek and kabod. Melek means king or counselor kabod means weight, heaviness, or honor. (Reference Revelation 19:13-16)
LORD of hosts (Psalm 24:10): Translated from the Hebrew words Yahweh and tsaba. Yahweh means He who is (God). Tsaba means warfare or service. (Reference 1 Samuel 17:45)

IV. Explanation of Parallelisms
− “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). The type of Hebrew parallelism found in this verse is identified as an echo. An echo is defined as a form of Hebrew parallelism that occurs when the first and second stitches are interchangeable in some form or fashion and one simply echoes the other.
− “For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers” (Psalm 24:2).The type of Hebrew parallelism found in this verse is identified as a specification. A specification is defined as a form of Hebrew parallelism that occurs when each succeeding stitch makes more specific what the opening stitch states in general terms. The movement in this form of parallelism is from general to specific.
− “The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8). The type of Hebrew parallelism found in this verse is identified as a specification. A specification is defined as a form of Hebrew parallelism that occurs when each succeeding stitch makes more specific what the opening stitch states in general terms. The movement in this form of parallelism is from general to specific.

V. Explanation of Figures of Speech and other Rhetorical Devices
“Who is this King of glory?” is asked in Psalm twenty-four twice (verses eight and ten). This question is rhetorical and needs no answer, although an answer is given in verse ten. The significance of this rhetorical question in the Psalm is to draw the reader’s attention to the King of glory, namely God, Himself. In addition, it is also meant to draw attention to one of God’s many attributes, His omnipotence, as it is highlighted in both verses that this question appears in.

VI. Explanation of Possible Messianic Connections to the Psalm
Within the text of Psalm twenty-four, two possible Messianic connections exist. These connections can be found in verses eight and ten. Verse eight says: “Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!” Verse ten says: “Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!” These verses both give a description that is very similar to the description that the Apostle John gives us of Christ in the book of Revelation chapter nineteen, verses thirteen through sixteen. In these verses John writes:
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:13-16 ESV)
You can see that John mentions Christ as being followed by the armies of heaven and named King of kings. In addition, by the description that the Apostle gives, you can see Christ’s supremacy. Therefore, Christ is described in Revelations nineteen as the supreme King, followed by the armies of heaven, thus making Him very mighty in battle. In comparison, the King of glory in Psalm twenty-four is described as one who is strong and mighty, mighty in battle, and LORD of hosts. The Hebrew word for host in this verse is Tsaba which means warfare. Therefore, Psalm twenty-four describes a supreme King who is the LORD of warfare and mighty in battle, no-one can defeat Him.

VII. Purpose of Psalm
Psalm twenty-four provides all mankind, who were all created by God, with information concerning God’s kingdom, as well as His attributes. This is to bring glory to Himself for His great work and being. In verse one we are told of God’s ownership of the earth, as well as his ownership of those created beings that live on earth. Next, in verse two we are told that the reason that He owns the earth and all within it is because it is all His creation. Then, in verses four through six, the Lord reveals some details of His kingdom, its subjects, and their character. In closing, the King of glory is revealed as the king of God’s kingdom and all are told to give Him admission to this kingdom.
This psalm communicates that our God is glorious! He deserves infinite worship and praise! Through Psalm twenty-four God communicates a handful of His many wonderful attributes. In verses one, two, eight, and ten we read of God’s omnipotence (all powerfulness). Then, verse five communicates that He is a God of salvation as well as a God of grace who is righteous.
After much study, there can be no mistake that Psalm twenty-four was written to bring glory to God by informing His creation of His great work and attributes. I can hardly wait to me the King of glory and give worthy worship to Him in His wonderful kingdom!


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas K. Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its worth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.
Klein, William W., Craig Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard, and Kermit Allen Ecklebarger. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004.
MacArthur, John F. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, 2005.
Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
Zuck, Roy B. Basic Bible Interpretation. Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1991.

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