The Chief Shepherd

“Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

I’ve been trying to find something relatable, so we can understand the joy the people of Israel experienced when the Ark of the LORD returned to Jerusalem.

The closest I can come is the massive celebrations on V-E Day, May 8, 1945, when Germany surrendered, bringing about the end of WW2. Millions flooded the cities to celebrate with ticker-tape parades and dancing. Few are still alive who experienced the intense joy, relief, and solemn remembrance of that day.

That was the last time (to our shame) that the end of a war or conflict was celebrated nationwide in this country. When I look back over the long list of wars and conflicts since 1945, I see not a single year of peace. And when I look specifically at the years of my life, the US has been at war or in conflict for the entirety of my adult life.

And none of this even accounts for our own personal conflicts, trials, and battles.

Some people blame God. They wonder why He didn’t just create a perfect world. Free from sin, conflict, and pain. The truth is, He did. And in that perfect place, man had one rule to follow. One. But that’s a topic for another day. Suffice to say, we are now a long way from Eden.

Can our minds even imagine what true PEACE is like?

Will there ever truly BE peace?

Psalm 24 stirs our souls to imagine and answers the second question with a resounding ‘Yes!’

This psalm was likely written by David to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. (As recorded in 2 Samuel 6.)

However, as Charles Spurgeon notes, and is true with many of David’s psalms, “The eye of the Psalmist looked beyond the typical upgoing of the ark to the sublime ascension of the King of glory.”

The psalm begins by establishing the greatness and sovereignty of God and the holiness of His habitation.

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:1-5)

And who is ‘he’ who shall receive the blessing of righteousness and salvation from God?

“This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah” (Psalm 24:6)

Jacob (Israel), God’s chosen people and, as Paul reveals in the New Testament, those of every generation who seek Him with their whole hearts and in Christ, find Him.

The next verses show how we can come into a relationship with this great God.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psa 24:3-5)

The true Israel. A people no longer distinguished by race, but by character.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)

And now, the crescendo begins. I have never heard this psalm sung, but it has always stirred my heart. Oh, how I wish we could hear the Levitical choir singing these last verses!

The picture here is threefold, and what a beautiful picture it is!

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psa 24:7)

We see the immediate fulfillment in David's time, when the Ark was returned to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.” (Psa 24:8)

We see the prophetic call to open heaven’s gates as Jesus, the King of Glory, ascends to the right hand of the Father, having had victory over sin and the grave. (Acts 1:9-10; Eph 1:20; 1 Cor 2:8)

Then, with emphasis, the choir repeats:

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psa 24:9)

And we hear in these words the promise of Revelation 3:20:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Here we see these verses fulfilled every time a lost sinner opens their heart to Christ!

The last verse makes it clear, “Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Israel’s Messiah King is God Himself, Jehovah Sabaoth! (v. 10)

God’s plan from the beginning, past - present - future, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Christ has come, the Good Shepherd, and laid down His life for us. (past)

We are living in the reality of Immanuel, God with us. The Great Shepherd, guiding us through the valley of this present world. (present)

And we live expectant. Standing firm in the promise of the Chief Shepherd’s return. Jehovah Sabaoth, Lord of hosts! (future)

“and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4)

David ends his psalm with, Selah - meaning to pause and reflect, and we do well if we do. It is no small thing that the King of Glory stoops down to receive men and be received by men.

We will dance as David did when He returns. Oh, what a day that will be!

But we don’t have to wait for His return to dance with JOY for the GREAT things He has already done and is doing.

I pray this series on the Shepherd Trilogy has been a blessing to you as we head into Easter week.

Shalom.

AI Disclaimer: No part of this blog was written by bots. Every word, typo, grammatical error, and witticism is lovingly and/or accidentally crafted by my own two (very human) hands.