#12 Question: Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

Sometimes critical questions must be asked and answered. Can you remember when the spelling team was chosen? Only the very top spellers were chosen to enter the Spelling Contest. And the football coaches chose the first team based on ability, not good looks. Someone must decide.

The question in the title was asked in Psalms 24, verse 3:

“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?”

This psalm reminds the reader that the temple was on a hill. Worshippers had to climb the hill to render their worship to God. Traditionally, this Psalm has been ascribed to King David and thought to have been sung as the Ark of God was brought for the first time into a tent in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 6:12, 15:

“David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing…

… David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn”

But others have pointed out that Psalms 24:7-8 may be a prophecy describing Jesus as the Lord when He entered heaven after His resurrection:

“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!”

Whether it is a chant of the people when the ark of God was brought into Jerusalem or a prophecy about Jesus going to heaven after His resurrection, the criteria for the correct answer as to who can worship God acceptably is given in the next verse, Psalms 24:4:

“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.”

So, what does this Psalm mean?

  1. If one has clean hands, then he or she has not been sinning.
  2. If one has a pure heart, he or she thinks purely.
  3. If one does not tell lies, he has not lifted up his soul to tell what is false.
  4. If one does not swear falsely, then one is keeping oaths sworn before God.

This set of rules certainly apply to us today. We begin our life as a Christian by cleansing ourselves of sin by repenting and being baptized, Acts 2:37-38; 3:19:

“…they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…

…Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”

Then we need to flee temptation and live in submission to God, James 4:7-8; 11

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…

…Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.”

We need to control our thoughts, Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Further, we need to do what we promised.

If we follow these commands, we can acceptably worship God today.

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