Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory. Psalms 24:10 NIV
In the NIV Study Bible, there is a note that Psalm 24 was a "processional liturgy celebrating the Lord's entrance into Zion" — Zion meaning Jerusalem and the entrance of the ark being brought into the city. On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. For many, Jesus wasn't the messiah they'd grown to expect. He wasn't a military leader or political radical promoting freedom from the oppression of Rome; instead, he offered a different type of freedom: a new covenant between God and all people.
God has made himself accessible to us through Jesus Christ, offering a personal connection, but he has certain expectations (3-4), "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully."
When we accept Christ, we become committed lovers of him. As God graciously pours out his love, we humbly accept his grace and mercy and respond with praise and thanks. But we don't stop there; we also share that love with others – this is the kingdom of Christ our King.
The King of glory who came is coming again. I'm reminded of the 70s southern Gaither standard "The King is Coming," which captures that triumphant day.
Verses
The marketplace is empty
No more traffic in the streets
All the builders' tools are silent
No more time to harvest wheat
Busy housewives cease their labors
In the courtroom no debate
Work on earth is all suspended
As the King comes thro' the gate
Happy faces line the hallways
Those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes that He has mended
Those from prison He has freed
Little children and the aged
Hand in hand stand all aglow
Who were crippled, broken, ruined
Clad in garments white as snow
I can hear the chariots rumble
I can see the marching throng
The flurry of God's trumpets
Spells the end of sin and wrong
Regal robes are now unfolding
Heaven's grandstand's all in place
Heaven's choir now assembled
Start to sing "Amazing Grace"
Chorus
O the King is coming
The King is coming
I just heard the trumpets sounding
And now His face I see
O the King is coming
The King is coming
Praise God, He's coming for me
Loving God, we recognize you as the King of Glory, our Lord of hosts, and your Sovereignty reigns in Heaven and Earth. As we commemorate the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, we recall the arrival of your salvation and the relationship you offer. As we receive your abundant love, may we be mindful of giving back to you our praise and worship, and may we share that same love with others. Please help us to prepare for the joyful day of your return. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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