Psalm 24 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
Verse 2for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Verse 3Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Verse 4Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
Verse 5They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Verse 6Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Verse 7Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Verse 8Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
Verse 9Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Verse 10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
Devotion
“Wash your hands!”
As many times I have said or heard that phrase, I would not think of saying it before worship. Clean hands and a pure heart were essential for entering the temple. Jewish leaders chastised Jesus for not commanding his disciples to wash before eating. Little did they know that he could see into their unwashed hearts.
I am glad Jesus does not stand at the door Sunday morning asking to see our hands. Instead, we bring hands and hearts to be washed, much as a loving parent would wash the hands of a child.
We come, soiled by sin, seeking to be cleansed and made new, not in order to be somehow holy enough to enter the Lord’s presence, but in order to re-enter the world, where we will roll up our sleeves and risk getting them dirty once again serving him.
Prayer
Lord God, how often I come into your presence with soiled hands and a divided heart. Wash me clean in your baptismal stream and prepare me anew for the work you would have me do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.