Psalm 24
Who may go up with the King of glory? Pointing us to God’s glory, power, might and greatness as King of the earth, David described the kind of person who might be called to ascend with this King to his royal city to delight in, rejoice in, to fellowship and worship with this great and glorious God. Such a person would be godly in his or her relationships both with God and with other people (24:4). David then imagined the triumphant reception as the King entered his royal city (24:7–10). One can only attempt to imagine the angels crying out the words of Psalm 24:7-10 as Jesus entered following HIS resurrection and ascension..."Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory."
It really makes you want to be there to witness the universe go wild as the King of Glory, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is recognized by every tongue as the undisputed ruler of the universe...eye has not seen or ear heard...this is going to be awesome...all in HIS temple will cry GLORY!
I don't know about you, but as I read about "who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?" The thought runs through my heart and mind..."not me." On my best day I don't qualify! Then in despair my heart runs to Romans 7:24-25 "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Praise God I quickly move from despair to rejoicing because I have been delivered from this body of death by Jesus Christ...HE has set me free to cast off the deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of light and to be clothed with Jesus Christ.
In his little book Knowing Him by His Names Bill Bright beautifully explains that Jehovah-Tsidkenu means I AM the Lord Your Righteousness. How utterly breath taking, how inconceivable, that this King of Glory became sin, became sin, became sin...let that hit you with all the force that it contains...the fact that in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we learn that "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Rejoice i n the Great I AM, rejoice in the Lord our Righteousness, rejoice that you and I may ascend that hill that we are invited and called to witness the King of glory in all HIS splendor and beauty for all eternity! Rejoice in the one who bore the Wrath of God in your place, who made you a new creature in Christ...accepted in the beloved!
Jehovah-Tsidkenu (je ho’ vah tsid kee’ noo)
I AM the Lord Your Righteousness
“The time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will place a righteous Branch on King David’s throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is His name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness’ ” (Jer. 23:5, 6).
When Jeremiah gave this prophecy about the coming Messiah, the kingdom of Judah was about to fall. God allowed the Babylonians to conquer Jerusalem because of the unrighteous conduct of Judah’s kings and people.
However, God promised to send a Righteous Ruler—Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this promise. His death and resurrection paid for our sins, and now He rules in the heart of every believer as our righteous King. We are clothed in His perfect righteousness (Isa. 61:10). And someday, He will return to rule in all righteousness!
Therefore, “throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true” (Eph. 4:22–24).
Promises from JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in righteousness” (Heb. 1:8).
“People are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work” (Rom. 4:5).
“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins” (Rom. 3:22–24).
Praise JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU …
because He forgives our sins and gives us His righteousness.
“If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9). Bright, B. (2000). God : Knowing him by his names (30). Orlando, FL: NewLife Publications.
Father in heaven,
Enable us to worship you in spirit and in truth...for your glory and our joy in YOU!
love,
m