“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1–2)
That’s how Psalm 24 begins. It ends with the arrival of the King of Glory to Jerusalem. As the people shout acclamation, the city gates open for Him.
But David takes us back a little further in history. He takes us to creation itself. The earth belongs to God because God created the earth. That means the King’s return isn’t a hostile invasion. It isn’t a conqueror of lands that belongs to another. It isn’t Putin marching on Ukraine. This is an owner, returning to what He created…to what belongs to Him.
You may notice the two poetic pairs: “the earth and everything in it,” and “the world and all who live in it.” That first part is our environment that makes life for us possible – sun, moon, stars, rain, plants, animals. It’s all His.
And we, the earth’s inhabitants, belong to Him, too.
David reminds us here of the creation story. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1–3)
God turned a place that was previously hostile to life into a livable place. He took chaos and replaced it with order. God spoke to the chaotic waters, “…You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here.” (Job 38:11)
The image reminds us that chaos remains an active element of our world, but as He limited the waves, God has limited the reach of chaos. Chaos and randomness may remain, but creation is secure because of God’s divine hand. He speaks, and chaos is stilled. That is true for the earth and everything in it…and also for the world and those of us who dwell in it.
Only God can truly say to the chaos in your life, “You may come this far, but no further.” The King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty fights for you. Open the gates and let Him in.
Join us Sunday for my Palm Sunday message, “The King of Glory.”
