Clean Hands and Pure Hearts

O. T. #1203  "Clean Hands and Pure Hearts"
May 3, 2018
Psalms 24

LET IT GLOW

David wrote this psalm. It may have been during the time the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem after being at the house of Obed-edom following the conquer of the Philistines. When the priests arrived at the city gates, they may have sang the questions and the following worshipers sang the answers:
1. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?
2. Who shall stand in His holy place?
3. Who is this King of glory?

Here are the answers to the questions above:
1. The Tabernacle was the place of worship during David's day. He placed the Ark there, which
     symbolized God's presence. Later, his son Solomon built the Temple upon Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

2. David is speaking of standing in the Tabernacle, in God's presence. He that has clean hands, a pure
    heart, does not worship idols,  and never tells a lie. Clean hands symbolize pure activities. Our
    thoughts, motives, and deeds should be pure, without habitual sins. Folks, God values
    honesty. Without honesty, a relationship with God is impossible. (He knows all, anyway, so why
     not be real?)
     Clean means innocent, blameless, clear, free, guiltless.
      Pure means to run on errands; an attendant; a waiter (at table or other menial duties); a teacher
      or pastor; a deacon; servant.

3. The King of Glory is the LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD mighty in battle; the LORD of
     Hosts, He is the King of Glory. God's presence in the Tabernacle and Temple was His Shekinah
     glory.

That should bring us to our knees of repentance.
Romans 14:11 says, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Paul is talking about everyone will say Jesus Christ is LORD.


LET IT GROW

Henry and Richard Blackaby, in their devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day, explain:

The priests washed their hands before serving in the Temple to symbolize that only those who were cleansed could worship Holy God. Our sins are cleansed with the blood of Jesus when we ask His forgiveness of them. Our level of intimacy with God depends on our sin separates us from Him or not. When we adjust our life to God's standards and respond to His prompting, we can have a deeper fellowship with Him.

          The closer we get to God, the more obvious even our smallest sins become. We realize
          that we need clean hands and a pure heart before we can get close to Him.

Will we begin our prayers with repentance? Are we trying to resist temptations to sin?
Are our thoughts, words, and deeds pure ? That is when we receive the blessing of God.

LET IT GO

Watch my thoughts, words, and deeds so they are pure and clean.