Truth for the World is in the process of selling their building in Olive Branch, Mississippi.  The proceeds from that sale (possibly $300,000) will go toward the purchase of a building in or near Duluth.  Our goal is to get a building that is near, and large enough to allow for the rapid growth of this great work.  This means that the new facility will be more expensive ($500,000 or more).

Truth for the World (a work of the Duluth church) raises the money for their facilities, but the Duluth elders have set aside Sunday, August 22, for a special effort on our part to help decrease the amount that they will need to raise.

Therefore, we are encouraging Duluth members to add to your contribution that day (or any other time) by either 1) designating part of your contribution for TFTW or 2) by writing a separate, additional check to the Church of Christ at Duluth and earmarking it for TFTW.

This is an exciting time in this congregation!  (Reader, why not learn more by ordering a copy of Ernest Burnette’s outstanding sermon on August 8!)  Duluth has come through to the glory of God in “flying colors” again and again.  Now we have another spiritual and financial opportunity.  Let us cheerfully accept this challenge and give—

“beyond our ability”

as those of Macedonia did (2 Corinthians 8:1-7).

[Note:  Other individuals and/or congregations who are interested can call or write to learn more.  Please do!]

      Ernest, Dennis, & Skip
 
 

Psalm 24: Who Is This King of Glory?   
“The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.”
 
Beautiful things, important events, and powerful people are drawing cards for large crowds and those who like to tell the news.  This psalm has all of this, and to a much greater degree than any human creation or event.
Psalm 22 introduced the Lord as Savior.  Psalm 23 introduced the Lord as Shepherd.  Psalm 24 now introduces the Lord as Sovereign—Ruler over all things, all times, all places, and all people.  And we are invited to be a part of all of this—IF we will “seek His face” by following His will.
In my judgment, Psalm 24 describes a scene like the one when Jesus went back to heaven (Acts 1:9-11), received His kingdom (Daniel 7:13,14), and proceeded to invite the whole world into it (Acts 2:22-38).
This psalm leads to one of the greatest conclusions in the whole universe by speaking of One Who is:
 I.  Creator (vv. 1,2).
 II.  Inviter (vv. 3-6).
 III. King (vv. 7-10).
Now, let us learn from the words that David was allowed to write for our learning.

The earth is the LORD's, and all its 
fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.  For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters  (vv. 1,2). 
He is the Creator.  As the Creator, the Lord (Jehovah) is the Owner of all (v. 1) and the Maker of all (v. 2).  Paul used the point of the Lord’s ownership to help the Corinthians to settle the problem of meat offered to idols (1 Corinthians 10:26,28).  If idols do not even EXIST—then they have no claim over meat that is offered to them!  God owns it, so use it according to His directions (Psalm 50:10; Haggai 2:8).  God Himself used the point of His being the maker to remind Job of the need to be humble in His presence (and we are always in His presence; Job 38:4; Psalm 104:5).
These two verses have truths in them that ought to influence us every day, for every day includes numerous experiences that cause us to observe or use the created things that are the Lord’s.
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?  Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face.  Selah (vv. 3-6). 
Here is the Inviter.  As the Inviter, He makes certain that there is an invitation (v. 3), a way (v. 4), a blessing (v. 5), and a people (v. 6).  The invitation in verse 3 is one that includes worship and fellowship (see Psalm 15).  It is also an invitation to stand in His presence, something that the ungodly cannot do (Psalm 1:5,6).  The way in verse 4 is the way of life a person must follow if he or she is to be accepted into His fellowship and presence.  It is a way that includes—
action:  clean hands
attitude:  pure heart
words:  no deceitful oaths.
This is the way that a person must live in order to be true to God, self, and others.  We do not lift up our souls to idols (v. 4b), but to God, as we are taught in the first verse of the next psalm.  The blessing in verse 5 is the wonderful condition of being righteous in the eyes of God:  SAVED!  What greater blessing could there be?  
The people of verse 6 refers to people like Jacob, who seek to see the face of the Lord (see Genesis 32; Hosea 12).  There are two Hebrew words for “seek” in verse 6, both of which refer to an inward attitude which leads to outward seeking.  Let us be part of a “generation” who seek Him with the intensity of a Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!  And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!  And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates!  Lift up, you everlasting doors!  And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.  Selah (vv. 7-10).
He is the King.  As the King we are to observe His entrance (v. 7), observe His strength (v. 8), observe His entrance again (v. 9), and observe His glory (v. 10).  At the places where kings normally enter, some of the most expensive and beautiful gates and doors have been made.  In verse 7, even these physical things are told to take notice of THIS King.  He is coming in, and since coming in doesn’t take very long—you had better lift up your head and look!  In verse 8, the question, “Who is this King of glory?” is answered with a reply that is more like a title for Jehovah.  It is also reminiscent of the words of Exodus 15:2,3, just after a great victory of God over Egypt:  
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is 
become my salvation: he is my God, and I will
 prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a man of war:
 the LORD is his name.
Verse 9 is almost identical to verse 7—again exhorting the onlookers to take notice of the entering Conqueror.  Verse 10 is another question and answer (like verse 8), but the answer is another title for Jehovah and is the crowning statement of the Psalm:  This King of Glory is—
“Jehovah Sebaoth”
“The Lord of Hosts.”
This is the idea of His sovereignty; He is Lord of all  creation, whether physical, heavenly, or human (Genesis 2:1; 1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Kings 22:19).
This poem about the Lord of Hosts is not a picture of an earthly king over a mere millennial kingdom.  It is a heavenly King Who is over ALL—including His spiritual kingdom of faithful followers.
An earthly illustration of such an event occurred in the life of the author, David (2 Samuel 6).  The ark of the Lord of hosts was brought back in a glorious ceremony.  Tragically, it was not brought back according to His will, and Uzzah lost his life. The lessons are numerous and plain—let us do more than honor this King of glory—let us understand that the only way to truly honor Him is to do what those on Pentecost did—
OBEY HIM.
                
       — Skip Andrews

Next Week:  Psalm 25
“Unto Thee, O Lord.”

Verse of the Week: 
“Deliver me from the oppression of man:
so will I keep thy precepts” 
(Psalm 119:134).
 

VOLUME 1:25  AUGUST 15, 1999