Integrity Leads to Thanksgiving

-
Psalm 24 is a beautiful hymn of praise that can help prepare our hearts for meaningful national day of Thanksgiving. This psalm of David falls neatly into two parts, both “bookended” with a direction to pause, think about what is being said.

Verses 1-6 form the first section where we come spiraling in from the outer reaches of space, viewing the earth, the world, its seas and rivers. Then we zoom in on one hill among all hills, and one place out of all places. Interestingly, this place is unlike any other because it is called “His holy place.” Though we realize he is speaking of the “Holy of Holies” within The Temple, the most interesting feature is that God is not limited to this one place as it is located on the earth which just so happens to belong to the LORD. The world and all who dwell in it belong to Him as well. He created the earth it’s seas and hills, yet we ask, “who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?” We may as well ask, “What right do I have to be on this planet?”

God wants us to be here and He makes Himself accessible to all who have integrity. Integrity is not “the glue that holds everything together” or “completeness” for that matter. Integrity is cleanliness. Integrity is what we receive from the LORD when we go to Him and admit we are not clean (vv-5-6). When He makes us clean, we answer the question “who shall ascend the hill of the God?” with “I can!” Think about that.

Have you ever been in a large chamber or a cave or perhaps stood on a cliff against a mountain face? One feature of such an arrangement is the echo. This is the picture I get when I consider the next set of verses (7-10). As if we have ascended the hill and stand in His chamber we hear an echo, “lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the king of glory?” This echo has another echo as the King of glory is identified: He is the LORD of hosts, strong and mighty in battle.

What do integrity and an echo have to do with Thanksgiving? Simply this: you and I cannot be in God’s presence unless He first extends and we receive His integrity. He extends Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sin and rose again three days later. When we by faith seek after Him and have His righteousness applied to us, we are blessed to receive access to the throne room of God. Think about that and give thanks!

Popular posts from this blog

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
Read more

A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2

-
Image
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust?    “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Read more