The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
Interlude
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—he is the King of glory.
Interlude
(Psalm 24 NLT)
I and others have repeatedly been drawn to Psalm 24 for the new year of 2024. Why? I expect because it seems the world is so far from God. We people need to be reminded that the earth is the Lord’s and everything within it belongs to the Creator of the Universe. We need leaders who desire to be close to God and to live according to God’s righteous ways. We need to be people who are in right relationship with God our Savior and seek to worship God. We need the King of Glory – the Lord strong and mighty, invincible in battle – to lead Heaven’s armies to defeat the forces of darkness in this world. I – and many others – believe that a shift in attitude/perspective toward the victory and reign of God is the only hope for a world that seems to be quickly careening toward self destruction.
Yahweh, King of Glory,
You claim the world as yours – that everything and everyone belong to you! You’re the one who pushed back oceans to let the dry ground appear, planting firm foundations for the earth. On those foundations you have built your guidelines for righteousness. Guide onto your paths those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth, those who never deceive, whose words are sure. Cause the leaders in all areas of this world to be men and women who seek after your own heart in their leadership. Then they will receive Yahweh’s blessing and righteousness given by the Savior-God. They will stand before you, when they seek the pleasure of your face.
Pause in his presence
So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you. You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, Yahweh, invincible in every way! So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you eternal doors! Here he comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in. You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, he is the King of Glory!*
Pause in his presence
God, at the end of this next year, help us to look back and see how you have intervened for your children and for your Kingdom purposes. Help us realize all the times you were on our side, providing for us, and protecting us from our angry and violent spiritual or physical enemies who wanted to swallow us alive. We will praise you that you have never left us and never allowed the terror of our enemies to defeat us. You give us freedom from the snare of the fowler because you are our helper and defender. We pray and declare all these things in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, AMEN.
What if God had not been on our side? Let all Israel admit this!
2-3What if God had not been there for us?
Our enemies, in their violent anger,
would have swallowed us up alive!
4-5The nations, with their flood of rage, would have swept us away,
and we would have drowned
and perished beneath their torrent of terror!
6We can praise God over and over that he never left us!
God wouldn’t allow the terror of our enemies to defeat us.
7We are free from the hunter’s trap;
their snare is broken and we have escaped!
8For the same God who made everything,
our Creator and our mighty maker,
he himself is our helper and defender! (Psalm 124 TPT)
(*Psalm 24 TPT)