September 28

Read: Psalms 24:3-6

Such are the men who… seek the presence of the God of Jacob (Psalms 24:6, Moffatt).

Holy Men For A Holy God

In the Psalms we sometimes find our clearest and most moving theology. It is such a passage through which God speaks to us today. This psalm was written for the specific occasion when David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, but it speaks universal spiritual truth. Here is how sinful men may prepare themselves to live with a holy God.

“Here is inquiry after better things. What shall I do to rise to that high place where the Lord dwells, that I may be acquainted with him? What shall I do that I may be of those whom God owns for his peculiar people?

“God’s people shall have communion with him. They are such as keep themselves from all gross acts of sin. They are such as make conscience of being inwardly as good as they seem outwardly. It is not enough that our hands be clean before men, but we must also wash our hearts from wickedness. This is a pure heart, which is sincere and without guile in covenanting with God, which is purified by faith, and conformed to the image and will of God.

“They join themselves to God, to seek him; not only in earnest prayer, but in serious endeavors to obtain his favour, and keep themselves in his love.

“They shall be blessed: they shall receive the blessing from the Lord and those whom God blesses are blessed indeed. They shall be justified, and sanctified. These are the spiritual blessings which they shall receive, even righteousness, the very thing they hunger and thirst after” (Matthew Henry, 1662-1714).

Promise For Today

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).