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Illustration for Psalm 24: The King of Glory

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

PraiseAdventure

The whole earth belongs to God because He made it! This psalm asks who is worthy to stand before the great King of Glory. The answer is someone with clean hands and a pure heart. Then the gates are thrown open wide to welcome the King!

  1. 1The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof, the world, and all who dwell therein.
  2. 2For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
  3. 3Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?
  4. 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to an idol or swear falsely.
  5. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation.
  6. 6Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.
  7. 7Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may enter.
  8. 8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
  9. 9Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may enter.
  10. 10Who is He, this King of glory? The LORD of Hosts— He is the King of glory.

What it means

The whole earth belongs to God because He made it. He is the glorious King who deserves our worship. To stand before Him, we need clean hands and a pure heart — and that's exactly what Jesus came to give us.

A little prayer

King of Glory, You made everything and You own everything. Help me to come to You with a pure heart, wanting to please You. You are strong and mighty, and I praise You. Amen.

Memory verse

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, mighty in battle.”

Psalm 24:8 (BSB)

The first line, and the reason for everything else in the psalm.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says the whole earth belongs to God because He made it. Does owning something you made feel different from owning something you bought?
  2. It asks who may stand in God's holy place, and answers 'the one with clean hands and a pure heart'. Which is harder — hands or heart?
  3. The gates are told to lift up their heads so the King can come in. What would you tidy before a king came to your house?
  4. What does it change if the ground you are standing on is God's?

Try this

Open the gates

Make a doorway out of two chairs and a broom handle. One person is the gate, one is the King, and the rest read verses 7 to 10 as a call and answer. Do it loudly — it was written to be shouted.

You will need: Two chairs and something to lay across them.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)