Read Psalm 24:1-10.

A thousand years before Jesus rode into Jerusalem atop a donkey’s foal, even the music was planned. Every Sunday, the Levites worshiped with Psalm 24. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem the day after the Sabbath, not only were the people proclaiming, “Hosanna!” but the temple was likely filled with the song of Psalm 24. And the following week this psalm again would have filled the temple when Jesus stepped out of the grave.

King David wrote Psalm 24 to commemorate the return of the ark of the covenant to Israel after the Philistines had captured it. This ark, a vessel covered in gold and decorated according to the Lord’s specific directions, represented God’s glorious presence with His people. It housed the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Moses’ staff that had parted the Red Sea. It was a symbol of God’s presence, provision, and power in the midst of His people—and their loyalty to Him.

Psalm 24 highlights three glorious Truths about God. First, it declares that God is the owner and ruler of the entire universe: “The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (v. 1, KJV). The fulness thereof. Our planet is just one out of billions in the Milky Way galaxy— just a speck! All of this and more is His, and yet the Creator has His gaze fixed upon us!

Second, Psalm 24 proclaims the Lord’s merciful offer of salvation to all humanity (vv. 3-6). No one is good or righteous enough to stand before the Lord. But David looks forward with eyes of faith to the day of the Savior. All who receive Him are clothed with Christ and given “clean hands and a pure heart” so that they can “stand in his holy place” (see Galatians 3:27; Psalm 24:3-4).

Finally, David declares that God’s ultimate victory over evil is inevitable (vv. 7-10). Twice the psalmist asks, “Who is this King of glory?” and answers clearly, “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. . . . the Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory” (vv. 8, 10). When the King of glory entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it was to pay the price for sin. When He rose from the dead a week later, He conquered death and secured our resurrection.

I pray that today you would join me in joyful anticipation like that of David, saying, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come, King of glory!”

Prayer: Jesus, how incredible that You came to redeem us from sin! Though You are the King of glory, You entered creation and lived the perfect life that we could not, that we might be clothed with Your righteousness. You alone are worthy of praise. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:10).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Palm Sunday: Psalm 24: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW

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