24 May 2024 - Psalm 24

Who may stand in His holy place?

In Psalm 15, the question is asked, Psalm 15:1(NLT) Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

This is echoed in Psalm 24:3-4(NLT) which states: Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

The Lord instructs Noah, Genesis 7:1(ESV) saying: “Go into the ark, you and all your household”, and it is the Lord Himself who shuts the door, preventing any further entry.

Life on the holy mount can only be discovered through this doorway. So, who is permitted entry? Was Noah granted access? The narrative provides a clear answer through the Lord's own words - Genesis 7:1(AMP) Then the LORD said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you with all your household, for you I have seen as righteous (doing what is right) before Me in this generation.'

We first encounter Noah in Genesis 6:9, where he is described as righteous and blameless - Genesis 6:9(AMP) Noah was a righteous man , blameless in his generation; Noah walked (lived) with God.

These attributes of Noah mirror the same qualifications presented in Psalm 15:1-2(AMP) O LORD, who may lodge in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart.

Who may stand in his holy place? To this question, the Psalmist provides four requirements for those who can enter God's presence:

*Pure actions – He who has clean hands *Pure attitude – and a pure heart *Pure worship – who does not lift up his soul to an idol *Pure integrity – he who speaks the truth