“Who is this King? Please, I really don’t have time for such things,” might be the attitude of your heart this morning.
Perhaps you have suffered loss. Perhaps the last year has ended and left you…fearful, or full of doubt and uncertainty. Yes, when one is hit with a ‘ton of bricks’ that often this world throws our way, there is bruising and pain! Yes, there is.
But God!…Never-the-less-God! Haven’t you heard?
“Who is this King of Glory?” (Ps. 24:8). I can’t see Him in this frantic paced, pressure-filled life that this world has to offer. I can’t see Him through the sickness, through the loneliness, through the pain… “Who is this King of Glory?” These might be your thoughts.
Imagine hearing in the distant hills the sound of a song, no instruments, just melody and words: “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ol’ way, and Who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord, show me the way.” (Alison Krauss, As I Went Down To the River).
“Oh sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…””O brothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…” “Oh fathers, let’s go down, let’s go down, won’t you come on down?…” “Oh mothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…”
“But, I am not close to God right now…I don’t know if I even want to come…’who is this King anyway? Is there really a King of Glory?'” Could these be your thoughts.
Sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers…hear the word of the Lord; ‘as I went down to river to pray, studying about that good ‘ol way,’ …“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…”(Ps. 24:3,4). “STOP right there! STOP right there!” You may say, “Who has clean hands and a pure heart?” Not me! And most likely not you!”
Yes, this is true. And the sword gets even sharper, I mean, God’s word speaks: “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?…He…Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully…” (Psalm 24:4).
‘Well, then, that’s impossible! No one can arise to the ‘hill of the LORD!’
And again,I agree. It is impossible…with man that is. That’s why the Great Physician didn’t come for the healthy, but for the sick. That’s why the Good Shepherd came to lead ‘sheep’. That’s why the word reminds us of a truth that brings healing, a truth that brings hope, a truth that restores life, God’s word says, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26).
Even if you ‘don’t believe it all’ if you even have a little faith, even as small as a mustard seed, (which I heard was one of the smallest of seeds,) God tells us through His Son, Jesus who took off His Robe and all His Majesty in heaven to ‘come down’ to the river on earth here for us, “…for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you…” (Matthew 18:20). Can you give an ear to the song in the background? Can you hear the invitation to ‘all’, even ‘all the children of the world, red brown yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…’ Can you hear the song?
“Oh sinners, let’s go down,let’s go down, come on down. Oh sinners let’s go down, down to the river to pray.”(Alison Krauss, As I Went Down to the River). COME, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7-9).
If you’ve got a closed gate over your heart, ask God to give you the willingness to ‘open the gates!’Give Him your filthy clothes, He will give you His Robe. Give him your eyes, lift them up to His face. He’s giving you a crown.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the king of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:10).
Selah “The Lord says, “You are my servants, I have chosen you, and I have not turned against you. So don’t worry, because I am with you.”Isaiah 41:10.
Selah “Comfort, Comfort my people, speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem. Tell them that their time of warfare is ended…This is a voice of a man who calls out: “Prepare in the desert the way of the Lord. Make the road in the dry lands straight for our God…” Isaiah 40 1-3.
Selah “I will feed my flock and lead them to rest, says the Lord God. I will search for the lost. I will bring back those that were scattered. I will put bandages on those that were hurt. I will make the weak strong…
So I will save my flock. they will not hurt anymore…
Selah “I will break the bars of their captivity.
And I will save them from the power of those who made them slaves. They will not be led captive…again.”
Ezekiel 34:15,16,22,27.
“Who is this King of glory?” “He is ready to rescue. He is ready to resurrect life and beauty and hope. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in…”(Ps. 24:7). And for all who believe and receive, “He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Ps. 24:5).
Yes! He gives us His robe of righteousness and He let’s us follow Him through those everlasting doors where we will be with Him and in fellowship with His people, forever! Amen! “Oh sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, won’t you come on down? Oh sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray…”
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