OUTLINE OF PSALM 24

I. Contemplating the creation’s Creator, YHWH (vv 1—2)

            A. The creational, universal dominion of YHWH (v 1a, b)

1. All the cosmos owned by YHWH: The whole earth is YHWH’s, (v 1a)

2. All the contents owned by YHWH: and fullness of it; (v 1b)

            B. The personal, universal dominion of YHWH (v 1c, d)

                        1. All the provinces owned by YHWH: the habitable world [is YHWH’s], (v 1c)

                        2. All the peoples owned by YHWH: and they that inhabit it. (v 1d) 

C. The grounds for YHWH’s universal dominion (v 2)

1. YHWH provided the world: For he founded it upon the seas, (v 2a)

2. YHWH prepared the world: and established it upon the moving waters. (v 2b)

II. Remembering Jacob’s Redeemer, YHWH (vv 3—6)

            A. Question: Who is right before the Redeemer? (v 3)

1. Who can approach YHWH: Who shall go up into the mountain of YHWH? (v 3a)

2. Who can abide with YHWH: Who shall stand up in his holy place? (v 3b)

            B. Answer: The proper consecration, individual and corporate (vv 4—6)

                         1. The worshipping individual’s identification, He (vv 4—5)

a. His inward qualities: He who has innocent hands, and a clean heart; (v 4a)

b. His outward behavior (v 4b, c)

i. His vertical piety: who does not lift up his soul to vain things, (v 4b)

ii. His horizontal purity: and he who does not swear deceitfully. (v 4c)

c. The benefits of the consecrated individual: He shall lift up a blessing from YHWH; righteousness from the God of his salvation. (v 5)

2. The worshipping community’s identification, them: Such is the generation of them that seek him, that seek his presence—[even] Jacob.  Selah.

III. Celebrating the King of the consummation, YHWH (vv 7—10)

            A. The entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem Q / A # 1 (vv 7—8)

1. The procession’s first request: Lift up your heads, O gates; lift up, O eternal doors, that the King of glory might come in. (v 7)

a. The city’s first question: Who is this King of glory? (v 8a)

b. The procession’s first identification of the King (v 8b, c)

i. YHWH, with power in himself: YHWH, strong and mighty; (v 8b)

                        ii. YHWH, with power in battle: YHWH, mighty in battle. (v 8c)

B. The entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem Q / A # 2 (vv 9—10)

1. The procession’s second request: Lift up your heads, O gates; lift up, O eternal doors, that the King of glory might come in. (v 9)

2. The city’s second question: Who is this King of glory? (v 10a)

3. The procession’s second identification of the King: YHWH of Hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (v 10b, c)