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Psalms 24 (ESV)

¹ The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
  the world and those who dwell therein,
² for he has founded it upon the seas
  and established it upon the rivers.

³ Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
  And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴ 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.
⁵ He will receive blessing from the Lord
  and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
  who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

⁷ Lift up your heads, O gates!
  And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory?
  The Lord, strong and mighty,
  the Lord, mighty in battle!
⁹ Lift up your heads, O gates!
  And lift them up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.

Reflection

1. Imagine you are in the procession going up to the temple to worship. As you read this psalm, what feelings and images evoked in you?

2. Read it again slowly and try to grasp the emotions and attitudes of fellow worshipers. What are they?

3. Compare it with your own emotions and attitudes of going to worship each Sunday, what is the difference?

4. Who can enter God’s sanctuary (vv3-6)? How does this psalm help you better prepared for worship this week and the weeks following?