Psalm 24 (NRSV) The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; 2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. 6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 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 be lifted 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.
When I was preparing for my oral exams for my doctoral work in Heidelberg, during the last half of 1979, I was told that I should prepare to demonstrate some knowledge of a section of the Prophets and a section of the Writings, since I had done my doctoral thesis on the first of the three parts of the Old Testament, the Torah (I worked on Deuteronomy 32). I set out to get to know the Psalms better, then Isaiah. I chose five commentaries on the Psalms and made notes from each of the five, typing out many pages of notes. I reread each Psalm in Hebrew, typed out on a four by six notecard the questions that each Psalm posed for me and then made the notes, which I still have of course and will review as I write. I will share with you a few insights from a few favorite Psalms. I am sure that the notes exceed 250 typewritten pages. But I found that it was hard to see how all the Psalms “fit together.” It seemed to me that they should!
Then I was able to read a book in German in early 1980, after all my preparation, which linked major themes in Isaiah and the Psalms. To be in the presence of the Lord, in Jerusalem, at the temple, was the dream and desire of the faithful. God dwelt in the midst of His people. Some Psalms celebrate God as Creator of all. Some celebrate that He gives instruction about how to respond to His mercy in the Torah or “Law.” Some celebrate the blessings that He promised to give His chosen. Some celebrate Jerusalem and the King. A third of the Psalms are individual or communal laments, asking God why His promises seemed unfulfilled. Some celebrate and trust that God would act. Some acknowledge the deep sin of the people. Many offer praise for specific deliverance. Many historical Psalms talk about specific deliverance from danger or disease. Some Psalms are “generic praise” and thanks in general. The unifying theme is that God made promises to be in the midst of His people and would deliver them in His own time. To go up to Jerusalem was to hear and celebrate God’s promises. He did or would act. For all of which it is our duty and delight to thank, praise, serve and obey the One who acted in Christ Jesus life, death, and resurrection to promise us to be in His presence eternally, with those who believed in the God who would act in mercy. He did! We celebrate that too! We are clothed with His righteousness and thus worthy! Blessed Advent and Christmas!
Pastor Tom Trapp, Mission Pastor
Walking the Emmaus Road with the Risen Lord
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XVII, Number 5, December 2015)