ASCENDING GOD’S HILL
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory. Selah [NIV]
I. THE QUESTION ASKED V3
Who may go up into the hill of the Lord? and who may come into his holy place? [BBE]
1. WHO MAY ASCEND THE HILL OF THE LORD?
a) IT’S AN UPWARD PATH
Who may ascend?
b) IT’S A LIMITED PATH
Who may ascend?
2. WHO MAY STAND IN HIS HOLY PLACE?
a) THERE IS AN ACCEPTANCE
Who may stand in his holy place?
To stand - requires a standard!
The Holy Place has His Holy Presence!
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” Rev 1:17]
b) NOT ALL CAN STAND
Who may stand in his holy place?
II. THE CONDITION GIVEN V4
He who has clean hands and a true heart; whose desire has not gone out to foolish things, who has not taken a false oath. [BBE]
1. CLEAN HANDS
He who has clean hands
Abstinence from wrong doing
1 Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
2. A PURE HEART
He who has a pure heart
Abstinence from wrong thinking
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
3. HUMILITY OF SOUL
He who does not lift up his soul to an idol (who has not lifted up his soul to vanity. MKJV)
Abstinence from vain thinking
[or "set his heart upon" , and desired vain things, GILL]
Psalms 25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
4. HONESTY OF MOTIVE
He who does not swear by what is false.
Abstinence from deceitful intentions.
III. THE BENEFIT BESTOWED V5
He will have blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation [BBE]
1. THE LORD’S BLESSING
He will receive blessing from the LORD
The Lord’s blessing enriches us.
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
2. THE LORD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
He will receive vindication from God his Saviour. [NIV]
Given right standing before God.
{Vindication: to clear from criticism}.
“that perfect righteousness which is not acquired by man, but bestowed by Jehovah; which is not performed by the saint, but received by the sinner; which is the only solid basis to support our hopes of happiness, the only valid plea for an admission into the mansions of joy.”
[Treasury of David]
