A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 24
PSAL. XXIV. A Psalm of David.
The Psalmist having in the first place set down Gods Lordship in the world, that he may therby commend the special Prerogative of the true Church, ver. 1, 2. describeth in the next place the true Citizens of this spiritual Kingdom, ver. 3, 4, 5, 6. And exhorteth in the third place all Incorporations, and in special the visible Church, to accept the offer of a more intire communion with God in Christ, that they may enjoy the spiritual priviledges of the subjects of the invisible and spirituall Kingdome, v. 7, 8, 9, 10.
v. 1. THe Earth is the Lords, and the fulness therof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
From the Lordship and Soveraignty of God over all the world. Learne, 1. The Lords power and authority over the Saints, considered in their natural condition, is no lesse then over the rest of the world, and the Lord is no more bound to one then to another, laying aside the decree of his own good will and pleasure; The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof, the world and they that dwel therein. 2. The earth is so ful of the riches of Gods bounty toward man as it can hold; and the standing miracle of the dry land, lifted up contrary to the nature of that element, which is to be under and not above, and much higher then the element of water; is a standing evidence of Gods power and care imployed to make a habitation for man; For he hath founded the earth upon the seas, and established it upon the floods, commanding the element of water to goe down below the earth, as if it were the foundation thereof.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Hee that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shal receive the blessing from the Lord: and righteousnesse from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him: that seek thy face, O Iacob. Selah.
In the second place he cometh to the special dominion of God and Christ in the Church, and asketh for the marks and priviledges of the true subjects of this Kingdome. Whence learne, 1. God hath chosen a Church out of all the earth, to be his peculiar people, with whom he may converse, and to whom he may give priviledg of communion for ever with himselfe; he hath his own holy & high hil, he hath his own holy place, to wit, a holy universal Church, represented by the hil of Sion, lifted up above the inferiour valleys; he hath his holy Tabernacle, where he giveth the signes of his presence, separate from the common multitude, and wordly affairs; who shall ascend into the hil of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place? He compareth the invisible Church, to a hill or mountain, and the holy place, because Gods true Church indeed for firmnesse, durablenesse, dignity above all other Incorporations, and spiritual sublimity, is like a hill above the plaine, lifted up above all the world, a holy society, wherein God delighteth to dwel. 2. Not every one who is a member of the visible Church, but only true Converts, who make up the invisible Church, have the honour and happinesse of ascending unto the spiritual use, end, meaning and profit of the Ordinances of God in his Church, and of keeping constant communion with God in heaven, represented by standing in the holy place. Therefore for stirring up of outward professors of religion, to examine themselves, lest they be mistaken and so perish; the question is here made to God to shew who shall ascend to his hill, and who shall stand in his holy place. 3. The marks of a Citizen of the invisible Church and Kingdome of God, are such only, as God and a mans own conscience can soundly judg of; to wit, faith in God, manifested by endeavoured sanctity of thoughts, words, and deeds, by way of obedience to the First and Second Table in sincerity: for hee must after Covenanting with God by Faith, which makes him a subject, study also cleanness of hands, or innocency of life, and that out of a pure heart, cleansed by the blood of sprinkling for justification, and by the clean water of begun sanctification; And therefore he must not any more look upon the deceitful baits of sin, with a longing desire to have them; for that were to lift up his soul unto vanity. Neither must he mis-regard an oath, whether in or after the taking of it; for that were to swear deceitfully, seeming to stand in awe of God when he doth not fear him at all. 4. Every believer who setteth himself to bring forth the fruits of his faith in obedience to Gods law, shal have a gracious reward, he shal receive the blessing from the Lord. 5. The holy life of the true believer, is not the cause of his justification before God, by reason of the imperfection thereof, and impossibility to satisfie the Law thereby; But he shal receive justification and eternal life, as a free gift from God, by vertue of the Covenant of grace: therefore it is said here, That he shall receive righteousnesse from the God of his salvation. 6. Whosoever they be within the visible Church, who have the marks of true Covenanters, such as are here described, yea, whosoever are seeking God, to make them such; whosoever are seeking reconciliation with God, and communion with him, whether they be Iewes or Gentiles, bound or free, male or female; they are the generation, that shal ascend and dwel in Gods holy place; for this is the generation of them that seeke him. The generation that seek thy face (saith he to God.) This is the true Iacob, the true heir of the promises.
Ver. 7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shal come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battel.
9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
10. Who is this King of glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
In the third place, having described these persons who shall surely dwel in heaven with God, he exhorteth all the members of the visible Church, to the intent they may receive righteousnesse and salvation from God, (who is in covenant with his Church) heartily to welcome Christ Jesus, the King of glory, and Lord of hosts, dwelling in the midst of them in the Tabernacle, shadowing forth and signifying his coming in the flesh, by his giving oracles from the Ark of the covenant, defending them, feeding them, and fighting their battels, and at length in Davids time ascending on Mount Sion, he and the Ark of the covenant triumphantly, to let them see in a shadow, how after his great battels, foughten for our redemption, he should ascend to heaven, and make way for his subjects to come up after him, to dwel with him: He exhorteth, I say, patent doors to be made unto him, where-ever he offereth himselfe to Kingdomes, Cities, Incorporations, visible Churches, Families, and hearts of men in special. Whence learn, 1. The way to make men true Converts, true believers, true Saints, and inheriters of heaven, is to receive Christ heartily and honourably, to cast up doors in hearty consent of faith and love, like triumphant Archers for welcoming so glorious a conquerour to be their guest; Lift up your heads, O ye gates, &c. 2. Whosoever shall receive the offer, and open the heart to him, he shall close covenant with him; Be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. 3. He is an unknown King till he bee manifested to us; and such as are wise, when they hear of him, will seek to know him. Who is this King of glory? will be their question. 4. Such as seek to know Christ, shall indeed have experimental knowledge of him: That he is able to save them to the uttermost, to work all their work for them, to defend them from their adversaries, and to give them compleat victory; He is the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battel. 5. We have need again and again to hear the offer of Christs grace, and to be wakened up to observe Christ, and his glory: need to be exhorted again and again to open our hearts wide to him. Lift up your heads, ye gates, the second time. 6. Christ is indeed glorious, and a glorious King, in all the passages of redemption, and salvation of his people; albeit the ignorance and unbeliefe, and the crosses, and troubles following his Kingdome in this world, do obscure his glory to the carnal eye: And therefore no wonder, that men do oftner move the question about his Kingdom and Glory, asking Who is the King of glory? 7. Christ Jesus (whose ascention was prefigured by the ascending of the Ark upon Mount Sion, convoyed with David, and all Israel,) as he is true man, so he is also very God Almighty, one with the Father, and Holy Spirit, in his God-head: for The Lord of hosts he is the King of glory.