Psalm 24:3 (NKJV)
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
Bible Commentary
Psalm 24:3 is a Bible verse where King David establishes that there is a time we can ascend into the hill of the Lord.
This is an intriguing verse and statement made by King David in light of what he stated right before it in Psalm 24:1-2.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
In other words, God can do whatever He wants whenever wants. He is in full control everywhere, all the time.
Psalm 24:3 establishes the fact that we as God’s people, have the opportunity to be close to Him by ascending into His holy place, the hill of the Lord. We know that as believers, we have the Presence of the Holy Spirit living inside us and we are in His Presence continually. But this statement by David alludes to a physical location, not just a spiritual one.
Psalm 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
The word “hill” in Hebrew means: mountain or range of hills; promotion.
In order to climb a mountain or a hill, you must go up. It is interesting that the word “promotion” is also listed as a meaning. This is also a way of moving up. Some of the Hebrew meanings of the word “ascend” are: raise, recover and restore. If we’re ascending, we’re moving up in some way or being raised up. Or maybe we’re being restored and recovered in some way. These meanings point to increase of some kind.
Open the Door!
In Revelation 21 John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth, and that the first heaven and first earth had passed away. He spoke of “the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
The holy city is coming down, and we are ascending, or being raised up. It reminds me of a long lost romance being renewed–a bride and groom eagerly running toward each other.
This is the place where the tabernacle of God is with men, where He will dwell with them, and they will be His people. This is the place where God Himself will be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:3).
When it says God Himself will be with them, he is describing a close physical proximity. Not a just a spiritual presence, but a physical one! How exciting!
Further proof of a physical Presence is Revelation 21:4.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
The Hand of God
Just imagine the hand of God, Almighty yet gentle, wiping away your tears! He has finally come, finally arrived, just like He said He would. Our scars are healed, emotionally and every other way, and we are restored—recovered—by His very hand.
Our Heavenly Father has revealed Himself to us at last. He has come to restore us back to the way He intended for us to live, in a holy place where He is our God and we are His people, a faithful bride.
For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, we are to watch for His coming and even more, take a look at Psalm 24:9-10.
9Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
We have the amazing opportunity to let the King of glory in. Together in Jesus Christ, we are the way (John 14:6). Study the Bible verse of Psalm 24:3, watch for His coming and open the door!
