The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 KJV
This psalm of David was most likely written to celebrate returning the ark of the covenant to the city of David, Jerusalem. With these words, David affirms the first verse of scripture in the bible. As we read in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. WEB” The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it including the people.
Paul asserts the same understanding in Colossians 1:16 saying, “For by him all of creation came into being, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; through him and for him creation came into being.” The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.
Further, David’s psalm upholds what we read in John 1:1-3 which reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. WEB” The Lord is Jesus Christ, through whom God made all things.
He Who Has Clean Hands
For the first two lines, the psalm is sung by a chorus beginning with the assertion of God’s ownership “The earth is the Lord’s.” Next, a speaker asks a question in verse three and then the chorus answers, setting a pattern for the presentation. The psalm establishes who can stand in the holy presence of the Lord saying in Psalm 24:4, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. WEB”
These scriptures teach God’s rightful claim to the earth, its people, and all other things by virtue of creation and redemption. God made everything. Humanity fell from grace because of sin. As only the righteous can stand in the presence of God, we needed the restoration of righteousness given by grace through the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. We belong to God by creative right. We belong to Christ because he purchased our salvation with his own blood.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for making me a part of your plan. Thank you that I can stand in your presence in forgiveness. Give me wisdom to honor you with the life you have given me. Help me to live righteously in your creation. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Put on the New Man
