Who can dwell with God?
The twenty-third psalm concludes with the hope of dwelling in the house of the Lord for ever, and this psalm asks, "Who is qualified to dwell with God in his holy place?" Composed on the bringing of the ark to Mount Zion. Psalms 24:1-6 are introductory.
I. GOD'S EXALTED NATURE. (Psalms 24:1, Psalms 24:2.) Relation of land to water in Genesis 1:9. God's creative universal power was connected in the mind of the psalmist with:
1. His omniscience. He saw with unerring truth the character of those who professed to worship and serve him.
2. His holiness. None but the pure in heart could have fellowship with him. The hypocrite, therefore, could not hope for acceptance. "God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." And he was a Holy Spirit, who could have no fellowship with the untruthful and unclean.
II. QUALIFICATIONS OF WORSHIPPERS. (Genesis 1:4.)
1. Pure conduct. "Clean hands"-significant of conduct—the outward life of action, which must be unstained and righteous. No man's inward life can be right if his outward life be unclean or unjust.
2. Pure thoughts and affections. "A pure heart." The heart is the seat of the purposes and desires, and if these be not in the main and on the whole pure—"the single eye"—the whole character and life are defiled. "Not that which goeth into a man defileth him, but that which cometh out of him." "He hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity or falsehood." He is not pursuing vain or untrue things—things which are only a show, but have no substance.
3. Pure speech. "Nor sworn deceitfully." His word corresponds to his thought, and is not uttered to deceive. This requires not only truthfulness, but courage, to brave all consequences of being truthful. A man who combines these attributes can live in God's highest presence, and have fellowship and friendship with him.
III. THE REWARD OF SUCH WORSHIPPERS. (Genesis 1:5, Genesis 1:6.)
1. Increase of righteousness. By seeing God and having real communion with him. The "blessing" he receives is this increase of righteousness. No priestly benediction avails, unless there be the moral condition indicated.
2. He shall seek the face of God with increased earnestness. "To seek the face of the Lord" is to be greatly concerned about his favour and the doing his will. And this can come only as the result of previous effort and practice.—S.