Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it, for he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 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? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah Psalm 24 (NRSVUE)
Irony lives!
Yesterday, on Palm Sunday, we commemorated the story of Jesus’s audacious act of street theater in which he rode into Jerusalem on a white donkey as people variously lay cloaks, fronds, and palm leaves before him. The story echoes Solomon’s ride on a donkey to be anointed as king some one thousand years earlier, and we readily draw the connection that symbolically links Jesus to that long ago peaceful transfer of power from father to son.
It’s easy then to understand the choice of Psalm 24 for today’s lesson. Its three-part (triune?) structure lends itself to the message of the Palm Sunday story: the first two verses elucidate the power of God as creator; the next four call for loyalty to the Lord and promise in turn a royal reward, while the final four verses call for welcoming the King identified as the “Lord of hosts” and “King of glory.” For modern day Christians could the connection between Jesus and the King be any more obvious?
Or any more ironic?
For those of us trusting in grace and mercy the message in the middle verses about who “shall ascend the hill of the Lord” (i.e., the Temple) appears to exclude us sinners, while the military imagery of “strong and mighty. . .mighty in battle” and “ Lord of hosts” in the third section is not only off-putting but at odds with Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” and “Prince of Peace” who calls on us to love our enemies. For all the bluntness that Jesus exhibits in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) he remains in many ways a subtle, enigmatic, and poetic figure. Every time we read the Bible we do well to avoid the apparently obvious. The poetry of Psalm 24 said one thing to its audience in its day. Three thousand years later our perspective might justifiably differ.
Questions for Reflection:
- The image of Jesus on a donkey instead of a war-horse prompts us to reconsider human concepts of power. The Roman army used its power to dominate the people of Israel and put Jesus to death, but the events we celebrate at both ends of “Holy Week” contradict the idea of violence as the ultimate source of power and control. When in your lifetime have you seen violence lose to Jesus’s message of love for your neighbor?
- War and military imagery have long been popular ways to motivate and galvanize people to conform and unite behind a particular leader or cause (cf., Onward Christian Soldiers: Onward, Christian soldiers,/marching as to war,/with the cross of Jesus/going on before!/Christ, the royal Master,/leads against the foe;/forward into battle,/see, his banners go. Refrain: Onward, Christian soldiers,/marching as to war,/with the cross of Jesus/going on before!, etc.) What common images and Christian symbolism do you find at odds with common American beliefs? What images and symbols do you find more personally compelling?
Prayer:
Lord,
“We pray for peace, the blessed peace that comes from making justice, to cover and embrace us. Have mercy, Lord! Kyrie Eleison!” We sing these words as we worship you, acknowledging your power and our responsibility. We see your power in the creation and understand that true power lies in building up and not in tearing down. We struggle with words to understand your Word, yet trust in your goodness and mercy. Help us to make justice. We pray for peace to cover and embrace all your children. Amen.
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