Lesson 1 | Read Well
Instructor’s Work
Time to Begin Your Course Project!
After reviewing the instructor’s work below, apply the skills learned in this lesson to your course project: Read and/or listen to your selected chapter three or more times
Set aside time to read the entire book your chapter is found in.
(For longer books, you may choose to only read the 2–5 chapters before and after your chosen chapter.)
Note: When you turn-in your final project at the end of this course, you will be asked to affirm that you did this reading.
Initial Summary
The psalm begins by celebrating God as the owner of all things because he has made all things. It ends by celebrating Yahweh as the mighty King victoriously entering his city. Sandwiched between these celebrations is a Q&A concerning who may come into God’s presence. Only the one who seeks God in purity and truth. Verses 4–5 speak of a singular individual, v. 6 points to a whole generation who seek God. Verses 7–10 sound like the voices of celebration at the return of a victorious king, but here, he is identified explicitly: King Yahweh.
Multiple Readings
I tried to not leave a long pause between v. 2 and v. 3, to try to build a closer connection in my hearing.
Verses 7–10 feel like shouts of praise in ultimate answer to the question of v. 3.
The shouts of vv. 7–10 are full of joy and delight in Yahweh, the King of glory. He is the king who has vanquished his enemies.
The connection between vv. 1–2 and vv. 3–6. The question at v. 3 derives from the truths in vv. 1–2. That is, if God is the creator and owner of all the universe, then who on earth is able to approach him (1Ti 6:15–16)? That vv. 9–10 not only repeat but amplify vv. 7–8 strengthens my sense of celebration
The question in v. 3 and the reality that there is a king worthy to enter (vv. 7–10) seem most prominent in the psalm as a whole.
I can quite imagine this as having been sung when Christ ascended and was entering the heavenly city. Or yet again, at the coming of the New Jerusalem, Christ Jesus leading the multitudes of the redeemed in triumphal procession.
One Interpretation
The Lord Jesus Christ is the singular man of vv. 3–6. He is the sole man qualified to enter the heavenly holy place (of which the earthly temple was but a shadow, Heb 8:5; 9:11–12, 24). By his sacrifice, he conquers sin and death and purifies his people (Heb 9:14; 10:19–22), so that they too may enter. He is the King of glory who shall ride victoriously into his city (vv. 7–10). One Application
This text calls me to adore, treasure, and exult in Christ; he is the King of glory! Though I am unworthy on my own, in him I have bold access to the throne of grace (Heb 10:19–22). But do I avail myself of this access?