1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
This may seem like a silly thing to do, but spend 2 non-stop minutes rapidly brainstorming everything that is in the earth. What difference does it make that each of those things that came to your mind is the Lord's?
Quick Application: In your brainstorming, did you remember to include anything you are stressed or worried about? If there is anything causing you anxiety, take a moment right now to lift that up to the Lord in prayer. It is His. It is not yours to keep.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
There are certain characteristics that most employers are looking for during an interview. According to verses 3-4, what qualifications would God be looking for? How are these different than what you might put on most other applications?
What makes the answer in verse 4 to the questions in verse 3 problematic?
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Psalm 24 is a "Psalm of David". What did David mean by both "blessing" and "vindication"?
Verse 6 stresses a common theme of the Psalms. How does the emphasis of this verse help us with the problematic answer in verse 4?
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory. NIV
Why would David talk to gates and doors?
If the "King of glory" is not already inside the gates, then where has He been and what has He been doing?
We can think of verses 7-10 as an anthemic chorus in a popular song. How does this chorus inform our understanding of each line of the first 6 verses?
If you could sum up this entire psalm in one sentence, what would that be?