Clean Hands and a Pure Heart (Psalm 24:1-10; 25:1-22)

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Ps 24:1). "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god" (Ps 24:3-4). [Psalms 3-32 Psalms of David. Psalms 24-28 A Lifestyle of Integrity.]

1. What do you learn about God in
1. Ps 24:1-2 (Gen 1:1; Ps 33:6)
2. Ps 24:3-6 (Lev 19:1-2; 11:44-45; 20:26; 1 Pet 1:15-16)
3. Ps 24:7-10 (Rev 19:6; 17:14; 1 Tim 6:15)
2. In light of who God is, how should we live? Who can enter God's presence?

In Psalm 24 there is no prayer; it is all declarative. Each of the 3 parts bring out a different consideration of God:

1. The Creator (1-2). The all-creating. God's creative authority. Approaching. Everything/everyone belongs to God (1 Cor 6:19-20).
2. The Holy God (3-6). The all-holy. Preparation to enter the Presence of God. Preparing. Holy in deed (outward actions) and thought (inward motives). Holy relationship with God (no idolatry) and neighbor (no deceit) (Ps 24:4; 1 Sam 16:7).
3. The Glorious King (7-10). The all-victorious. The King of Glory comes. Entering. The divine warrior.

1. John Stott. 1988. Psalm 24: Ascending the Hill of the Lord. 1. The whole earth (Ps 24:1-2). 2. The Lord's hill (Ps 24:3-6). 3. The city gates (Ps 24:7-10).
2. Tim Keller. 2015. The pursuit of God (1-6). True glory (7-10).
3. Gerald Wilson. 2002. Psalm 24: Who can Dwell in the House of God? 1. The Lord's creative authority (Ps 24:1-2). Preparations to Enter the Presence of God (Ps 24:3-6). The King of Glory comes (Ps 24:7-10).
4. John Goldingay. 2013. Psalm 24: Will God let you in? Will you let God in?
5. Derek Kidner. 1973. 1975. Psalm 24: King of Glory. 1. The All-Creating (Ps 24:1-2)? 2. The All-Holy (Ps 24:3-6). 3. The All-Victorious (Ps 24:7-10).
6. Alec Motyer. 2016. Psalm 24: Fling Wide the Gates. 1. Approaching (Ps 24:1-2). 2. Welcoming (Ps 24:3-6). 3. Entering (Ps 24:7-10).
7. Longman III & David E Garland. 2008. Psalm 24: The King of Glory is our God. Yahweh is a Great King over the Earth; Invitation to Integrity. A. The Great King (Ps 24:1-2). The Creator God. B. The Hill of the Lord (Ps 24:3-6). The Holy God. A'. The Divine Warrior (Ps 24:7-10). The Glorious King.

"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me (Ps 25:1-2).

Psalm 25 is an individual lament with strong similarities to a prayer of confidence (Ps 25:1-3, 8-15). It is a psalm where 

• the pressure of enemies (Ps 25:2-3,, 15, 19, 20-21) [seldom absent from a Davidic psalm],
• the need of guidance (Ps 25:4) and 
• the burden of guilt take turns to be the dominant concern. 
• With a subdued tone, trust is shown in patient waiting rather than an outburst of joy which sometimes arks the climax of such a psalm.

What is the setting? As a psalm of David, it may fit in the period of his adversities after his sin of adultery but with no clear internal evidence. He refers to "the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways" (Ps 25:7), while speaking in the present about "my iniquity, though it is great" (Ps 25:11). The tone is not unlike Psalms 32 and 51 that the reference to sin may express the feelings of guilt of one sensitive to his own short-comings. Forgiveness forms a motif throughout (Ps 25:6-7, 11, 18).

The general nature of the adversities in Ps 25:12-14 function as a community lament, yet the emphasis lies on the personal effect of adversity in the areas of self-examination, guidance and submission to the Lord.

1. Wilson. 2002. 1. Statement of Trust (Ps 25:1-3). 2. Plea for Deliverance (Ps 25:4-7). 3. Praise for God's Faithfulness (Ps 25:8-10). 4. The Pivotal Prayer [for Forgiveness] (Ps 25:11). 5. Those who Fear the Lord (Ps 25:12-15). 6. The Final Plea (Ps 25:16-21). 7. Communal Plea for Redemption (Ps 25:22).
2. Tremper Longman III & David E Garland. 2008. Prayer for Deliverance, Guidance, and Forgiveness. A. Prayer for Deliverance (Ps 25:1-3). B. Prayer for Guidance and Forgiveness (Ps 25:4-7). C. Assurance of Guidance (Ps 25:8-10). B'. Prayer for Forgiveness (Ps 25:11). C'. Assurance of Guidance (Ps 25:12-14). A'. Prayer for Deliverance and Protection (Ps 25:15-22).
3. Derek Kidner. 1973. 1975. An Alphabet of Entreaty.
4. Alec Motyer. 2016. Psalm 25: A-Z for Troubled Times. Waiting (1-5, 15-22).
5. John Goldingay. 2013. Psalm 25: I can't wait.
6. TK. 2015. Whose wits? (1-7). Guidance (8-14). Waiting eagerly (15-22).