You will remember how the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines because the apostate sons of Eli brought the ark into battle, thinking that they could force God to fight with them. As a result, they lost the battle and the ark was captured by the Philistines. Then God plagued the Philistines, and they were forced to return the ark. But the ark was not brought to Shiloh where the tabernacle was. Instead it went to the house of a man by the name of Abinadab, and it was there for the next 60 years (1 Sam 7:1-2; 2 Sam 2:10; Acts 13:21). Then David came to the throne; and he made Jerusalem his capital. Jerusalem sits on a hill about 2,300 feet above sea level. And so going to Jerusalem is usually spoken of as GOING UP to Jerusalem. Shortly after David made Jerusalem his capital, he tried to bring the ark into Jerusalem. But he failed because the ark was placed on a bullock cart instead of carried by the Levites. One man by the name of Uzzah was struck dead by God during that failed attempt. The ark remained in the house of Obed-Edom for three months before David studied and found the proper way to bring it back to Jerusalem again.
Psalm 24 was written either to be sung during the occasion when the ark was brought up, or it was written to celebrate the event. But in any case, it uses the image of the coming up of the ark into Jerusalem, as a picture of things spiritual and things to come.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And WHO MAY STAND IN HIS HOLY PLACE? He who has clean hands and a PURE HEART, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psa. 24:3-5) We HOPE to MAKE SURE we will be able to stand in God’s Holy Place, “Abram FELL ON HIS FACE, and God talked with him…” (Gen. 17:3) “…I heard the sound of His words; and as soon as I heard the sound of HIS WORDS, I fell… WITH MY FACE TO THE GROUND.” (Dan. 10:9) “…so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” When Moses heard this, HE FELL ON HIS FACE…” (Numb. 16:3-4)
For us to be in God’s Holy Place we must have “clean hands” our hands not involved in any unholy doings. A “pure heart” our hearts washed in the blood of the Lamb. We need to be men and women of truth knowing that it is impossible for God to lie…
ONLY YOU LORD CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO STAND IN YOUR PRESENCE…
-Bill Stockham