CLEAN HANDS

CLEAN HANDS

READ:
Psalm 24

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.  - Psalm 24:3-4

It seems that wherever you go these days, you see signs encouraging people to wash their hands.  With the constant threat of germs and viruses spreading disease throughout the general public, health officials continually remind us that unwashed hands form the single greatest agent for the spread of germs.  So, in addition to the signs calling for vigilant handwashing, public places will often provide hand sanitizers to help take care of germs and bacteria.

David also spoke of the importance of "clean hands,"  but for a dramatically different reason.  He said that clean hands are one key to being able to enter into God's presence for worship:  "Who  may ascend into the hill of the LORD?  Or who may stand in His holy place?" he asked.  And the answer?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3-4).  Here "clean hands" is not a reference to personal hygiene but a metaphor for our spiritual condition-being cleansed from sin (1 John 1:9).  It speaks of a life committed to what is right and godly-enabling us to stand blameless before our Lord in the privilege of worship.

As His life is lived out in our lives, He can help us to do what's right so that our hands are clean and our hearts are ready to give worship to our great God. - Bill Crowder

Worship, praise, and adoration,
All are due to Jesus' name.
Freely give your heart's devotion,
Constantly His love proclaim. - Anon.
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The road to worship begins with gratefulness
for the cleansing of God.

INSIGHT
Scholars believe that David wrote this psalm when he took the ark of the covenant (representing the very presence of God) into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6).  During the dedication of the temple, Solomon placed the ark in the Most Holy Place (1 Kings 8:6).   Like Psalm 15, Psalm 24 was sung by pilgrims as they arrived at the gates of the temple for one of the annual feasts.  This psalm specifies who is qualified to enter the temple to worship God (vv. 3-6).

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace