Psalms 24-26

Thoughts

Psalm 24

The King of Glory- A Psalm of David

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

• This psalm starts by reminding us whose world this really is: God’s.
• The foundation “upon the seas” is similar to descriptions of creation in Genesis. 

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 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. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

• The “hill of the LORD” refers to Mount Zion 
• God wants integrity, not perfection.
• Blessing belongs to people who seek God, not people who have life figured out.

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

• This sounds like a royal procession of a victorious King 
• Jewish tradition connects this psalm to bringing the ark into Jerusalem.

Psalm 25

Teach Me Your Paths- Of David

(An acrostic psalm in Hebrew)

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

• David is choosing trust even while he’s nervous about being embarrassed or defeated.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

• David’s main request is to be taught by God
• He does not want to be remembered of his sinful past

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

• God teaches the humble and the sinners

For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

• “For your name’s sake” means God forgives because it’s His character to forgive.
• “Friendship of the LORD” literally means “the secret counsel” סוֹד יְהוָה (sod YHWH)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.

• David admits loneliness and distress

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

• David asks God to protect the inside (“my soul”) and the outside (his life circumstances).

From https://basicsofthebible.org/projects/psalm25/

Psalm 26

I will Bless the Lord- of David

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

• David wants God to judge fairly. He invites God to test him.

I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

• David is making clear where he stands spiritually.
• “Sit with”  means belong to or identify with.

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD,
proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

• He wants his worship to be honest, not for show.
• David genuinely loves God’s presence 

Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.

• He’s asking God to separate himself from the destiny of the wicked.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

• “Level ground” means stability that God gives

Questions

Application

Psalm 24: God is King of ALL parts of our life. Let God have reign in all corners. 

Psalm 25: Don’t just ask God to fix things- ask Him to teach you. He can do so much more than solve our problems, He gives us the tools to guide us. 

Psalm 26:Choose integrity even when it’s hard. You don’t need to be perfect, but be mindful of who influences you. God sees sincerity and knows when you are trying.