who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? he who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. he will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [psalm 24:3-6]
apart from Christ, this verse brings death, condemnation, and separation from the God who made us. when i look at my own life, i find i am guilty of each charge listed. i have lied, i have lifted up my soul to what is false, i have demonstrated an impure heart time and time again, and my hands have most assuredly not been clean. i was born in rebellion to God and i have lived in rebellion to God.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. [romans 3:23]
if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [1 john 1:8]
all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; [isaiah 53:6a]
this is the reality for all of us. because of our sin, we cannot ascend the hill of the Lord. we cannot stand in his holy place. we do not have the purity and holiness and righteousness required to be in the presence of God at all!
but thanks be to God that he has made a way. thanks be to God for sending his holy and righteous Son, Jesus Christ, to make a way for us to approach the throne of grace. in Jesus Christ is our hope of salvation!
for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [romans 6:23]
if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 john 1:9]
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [isaiah 53:6b]
so who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place?
the answer to these questions is Jesus Christ alone. he can and has ascended the hill of the Lord. he walked up calvary hill where he poured out his blood for us. he was the only acceptable sacrifice for sin, a pleasing aroma to God. he can and does stand in God’s holy place, having atoned for sin and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes for us daily.
in Christ Jesus… we can receive blessing from the Lord.
in Christ Jesus… we can receive righteousness from the God of our salvation.
in Christ Jesus… we can seek the face of the God of Jacob.
in Christ Jesus… we can stand in the presence of God.
Father, fill us with worship in your presence. bring to remembrance the precious blood of your Son, that we might overflow with his grace and mercy that he has endlessly poured out on us. may we love you with pure hearts, follow you with steady feet, serve you with clean hands, and proclaim you with bold mouths, with Christ going before us, and your presence always with us.
since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [hebrews 4:14-16]
~arwen eastman