FIRSTLY - David is encouraging people to become believers, and make Jesus their King. Let Jesus into your heart! Being a believer/Christian works exactly the same way (even in Old Testament times) - accept and trust in the God of salvation - then you receive a clean, pure heart, and God's righteousness, and God's blessings... Salvation is not gained or kept by works, it is a gift from God, and it is only possible because of Jesus' work on the cross, who died for ALL (past, present and future sins, and for all people of all times).
SECONDLY - David is encouraging the Israelites to accept Jesus as their King. Let Him into the city of Zion to sit on the throne, to govern the earth! Years later, when Jesus rode in on a donkey, this was Israel's opportunity to "let Him in" and make Him their King, but they chose to reject Him. When Jesus comes again at the end of the Tribulation, mighty in battle, the Israelites will then have a change of heart (with personal salvation, righteousness and blessings), and they and all other believers will enter the Millennium to make Jesus their King (with national "salvation", righteousness and blessings)....
(Psalm 24:1-10) The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And 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 the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah.
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And 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 the Lord
And 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, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah.
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah.
Today's takeaway: I've heard too many people say that they've "tried Christianity, and it doesn't work." The sad part is - they only went through the external motions. They did all the "expected do's and don't's" and they experienced for-the-most-part "the wholesome environment" without finding or realizing a deep and nurturing relationship with the Lord.
My husband and I were just discussing this yesterday evening: how we had the benefit of growing up in churches that taught God's truth, love and grace, and that when we become Christians, God forgives once-for-all, and that we cannot lose our salvation. This is very true!!! But this led to our erroneous thinking that - because God has even forgiven future sins, this must mean that we never again have to ask for forgiveness for any sins. So because of this, I kind of struggled with verses such as these...
(James 5:16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
To maintain and justify my erroneous thinking, I then had to do some creative interpretation. Really, this is just putting myself on the throne! Do I know better? No! Even though I cannot lose my salvation, I still sin. And I can desire NOT to sin, yet I'll keep struggling with certain things. SO - (thank the Lord that He is not done with me yet!!!) I've recently been discovering that - when I name the sin and confess it as sin (talk about requiring humility in order to do that!!!) - yet - GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!! There is a literal spiritual weight that lifts off of me. There is a type of spiritual renewing and soul-cleansing-event that takes place. And my struggles with that particular sin - gone! And we are to do this continually - daily. So I'm now thinking, "Yeah! Why not do that!!!"...
(Colossians 3:8-17) But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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