Over the summer I read through the book of Psalms. The collection of songs was the answer to a prayer I asked God multiple times, “where can I gaze and marvel at the holiness of God?” In my relationship with God, I needed to return to a place of awe and reverence. Sometimes the routine of read my bible, check off church attendance, and serve at that event turns my relationship with God into transactional and God is very much relational. He has been from the beginning. David writes Psalm 24 beautifully to capture my attention to see the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit—and the invitation of salvation and relationship with God.  

David starts the psalm with truth he stakes his life on. He writes with confidence the truth that God is Creator of the earth. His dominion is over landmarks like seas, mountains, valleys. He created and commanded them in their rightful places (Psalm 89:11, Psalm 104:5). But also, did you notice the language of David in 24:1, “fullness thereof” and “those who dwell”? The dominion of God as Creator expands to the animals and people that fill the earth (Exodus 19:5). When I give myself time to list out what the “fullness thereof” could include that God founded and established, the things I find in the Bible are incredible. Let’s talk about a couple on my list and I encourage you to make your own list as the Holy Spirit reveals things to you too. An easy one to start with is God controls weather. In Exodus 9:29 the plagues of Egypt get wild, but at one command by God, he can stop them. God holds this kind of power that Pharoh, kings, prophets, and everyone else on earth lacks. Another weather example is Jesus calms the storm in Matthew 8:23-27. The scene unfolds as men on the boat are in full panic trying to stay alive during a strong storm on the sea while Jesus, the Son of God, takes a nap on the boat. The men on the boat are in awe of how the storm obeys Jesus when he commands it to be still. It is the powerful voice of Jesus that we see have dominion over wind and waves. Another “thing” on my list that God founded and established kind of blew my mind. Read Proverbs 8:22-31 to let your mind wrap around the truth God established wisdom before he created the heavens and earth. Wisdom was right there in the beginning. Well, actually before the earth’s beginning in Genesis 1. When I want my mind to focus on the expanse of God to the best I can with my human limitations, I read Proverbs 8:22-31. It reminds me how much I am not God and that I am so glad God is God.

The next person in the Trinity is God the Son—Jesus. When you read Psalm 24:3-6, the only answer that comes to mind is Jesus. I know it is the typical church answer but stay with me here. David asks who is worthy to be in the presence of God the Father? If you flip back a few pages to Psalm 15, David answers his own question. When the psalm is written, only one high priest entered the “holy of holies” once a year to sacrifice for the sins of the people. The priest was cleansed and set apart. What does this have to do with Jesus? Fast forward to today. Why do we not see sacrifices offered up to cover our sins once a year? Because a greater high priest Jesus, the Son of God, offered himself as the one sacrifice for all of our sin. When I receive the gift of salvation from Jesus, I am made clean through his sacrifice like it says in Hebrews 10:19-23. The first step to “ascend the hill” David writes about is Jesus. We need Jesus first before we can have clean hands and a pure heart. The cool thing is Jesus unlocks the freedom from sinful passions to pursue a pure heart (Matthew 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:22). As I grow in my relationship with Jesus, I find greater fulfilment when I seek Jesus instead of lesser things.

Finally, we reach the exciting response from David in Psalm 24:7-10 as I picture Israel welcoming the ark of the covenant of God into the temple. The presence of God lived in the ark of the covenant and traveled city to city with Israel until the temple was built in Jerusalem. When the ark was moved it turned into a celebration where Israel played music, sang, and danced to welcome God. I love to return to 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 to read how David praises God by naming all the reasons God is sovereign and why they believe it to be true in the assembly. The good news is the ark no longer resides in a temple building since Jesus came to earth and ascended after his resurrection from the grave. Where is the presence and power of God? Inside every person that believes in their need for Jesus and receives his salvation. As a believer in Jesus, my body is a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. The last person of the Trinity—God the Holy Spirit—is who I have this continuous dialogue with that we read at the end of the psalm. Many times, in my relationship with God like earlier this summer, I ask the Holy Spirit “Who is this King of glory?” And the rabbit trail I led you on today is a piece of how the Holy Spirit answers in summary, “The Lord, strong and mighty.”

The other good news is there is so much to gaze and marvel at about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Let Psalm 24 be a place you camp out this week asking, “Who is this King of glory?” and be patient for the Holy Spirit to reveal beautiful things. Write them down. Marvel at the glorious splendor of his majesty. And notice your relationship with God grow in greater awe and reverence. It’s a really good place to be.

Additional reading: Job 38:1-41, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13