Psalms 24: The King of Glory
A psalm of ascent celebrating the LORD as Creator and King, asking who may ascend his hill and welcoming the King of glory through the everlasting doors.
Psalms 24 (WEB)
1 The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.
2 For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.
3 Who may ascend to Yahweh’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face—even Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates! Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates; yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? Yahweh of Armies is the King of glory! Selah.
Psalms 24 (KJV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall 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 ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalms 24 (ASV)
1 The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek after him, That seek thy face, even Jacob. [Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. [Selah
Summary
This processional psalm of David moves in three movements. It opens with creation's claim: the earth and everything in it belong to the LORD, for he founded it on the seas and established it on the floods. The second movement asks the great worship question: who may ascend the hill of the LORD and stand in his holy place? The answer is the one with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not given himself to falsehood or sworn deceitfully; such a person will receive blessing and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This describes the worshiper God welcomes, yet it also sets a standard none of us fully meets, pointing us to the one with truly clean hands and a pure heart. The final movement is a triumphant entrance liturgy: the ancient gates and everlasting doors are commanded to lift up their heads so the King of glory may come in. The watchman's question rings out twice—“Who is this King of glory?”—and the answer thunders back: the LORD, strong and mighty, mighty in battle, the LORD of Armies. Christians have long heard in these words the ascension of the risen, victorious Christ entering his glory, and the promise that he will return as the great King.
Voices
- Yahweh the Creator and King — The LORD who owns the earth and all its fullness, strong and mighty in battle, the King of glory who enters the everlasting doors.
- The worshiper with clean hands — The one with a pure heart who may ascend God's hill, a standard fully met only in Christ and shared by grace with his people.
- The everlasting doors — The ancient gates commanded to lift up their heads and welcome the entrance of the King of glory.
Key Verse
Psalm 24:1 (WEB)
The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.
Lessons Learned
- The whole earth and everyone in it belong to the LORD, its Creator.
- God welcomes those with clean hands and pure hearts into his presence, a standard met perfectly only in Christ.
- Drawing near to God is the privilege of those who seek his face.
- The LORD is the King of glory, strong and mighty, worthy of a worshiping welcome.
- Everything belongs to God. “The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness” (Psalm 24:1, WEB). Because he made and owns all things, all things owe him worship.
- Worship requires clean hands and a pure heart. “He who has clean hands and a pure heart… shall receive a blessing from Yahweh” (Psalm 24:4-5, WEB). God calls us to integrity inside and out.
- We are made to seek God's face. “This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face” (Psalm 24:6, WEB). The worshiping life is a continual seeking of God himself.
- Welcome the King of glory. “Lift up your heads, you gates… and the King of glory will come in” (Psalm 24:7, WEB). The risen Christ enters in triumph and deserves an open-hearted welcome.
- Why does the psalm begin by declaring that the earth belongs to the LORD (24:1)?
- Who may ascend God's hill, and how does that standard point us to Christ?
- What does it mean to be among “those who seek your face” (24:6)?
- How do the repeated questions and answers about the King of glory build the psalm's climax?
- If the King of glory wants to enter every part of your life, are there “gates” you have kept shut to him?
- Because God created and owns the whole earth, he has the right to be worshiped by all who dwell in it. The opening claim establishes God's universal kingship and prepares us to welcome him rightly.
- Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart may stand in God's holy place. Since none of us fully meets that standard, the requirement drives us to Christ, the truly pure One, who shares his righteousness with those who trust him.
- It means a life oriented toward God himself, not merely his gifts—a generation marked by longing to know and be near him. Seeking his face is the heartbeat of true worship.
- The watchman's question, asked twice, builds anticipation, and the answer—the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD of Armies—lands with triumphant force. The call-and-response pictures the King's grand entrance and invites the worshiper to join the welcome.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to consider areas of life still closed to Christ's lordship, and to imagine lifting those gates to welcome him. As leader, frame this as glad surrender to a good King, not anxious self-examination.