Review:
Basic steps to Bible Study
To study the Bible we can follow this 4 steps:
1/ Setting the context: “ABCs”
There are two broad categories for context. One is called the historical-cultural context. The other is the literary context.
-Author — Who wrote the passage? -Background
-When did the author live? In what culture?
-Context — How does the passage fit in with what comes before and after it? -Reading the text involves looking at the near context (the verse immediately before and after) as well as the far context (the paragraph or the chapter that precedes and/or follows the passage you’re studying). The smaller the passage being studied, the greater the chance of error.
2/ What does the passage say ? (Observation)
-Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Read prayerfully (Ps.119:18, 27, 33-36). Re-read the passage.
-Gather all sorts of facts like an investigative reporter. Ask questions to help you observe the facts: Who? What happened? What was taught? When? Where? How? Why? This is where you see and discover what the author is saying.
-Locate and mark any key words, repeated words or phrases, and commands.
3/ What does it mean? (Meaning)
-Carefully examine the text and let it speak for itself. What is the main idea or lesson that God was trying to communicate? You can also make an outline and or write down the general idea.
-Look at other scriptures that relate to the passage. These are usually found in the margins of Bibles or in footnotes. What do other verses say about this thought?
-Use Bible study helps to get a clearer meaning of the passage as needed: Bible dictionaries, concordances, Cross-references to define any unfamiliar terms or ideas. But let Scripture interpret Scripture.
4/ How does the principle apply to one specific area of my life? (Application)
-What is God saying to me in this passage? Ask Him.
-What is one way I can apply the heart of this passage to my life?
-How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God & others?
The application step is not completed by simply answering these questions; the key is putting into practice what God has taught you in your study. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
PSALM 24
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas,
and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?
or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him,
that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Outline of Psalm 24
I. The King of Glory—Psalm 24:1-10
A. Worship of the Creator through the observation of His creation--(vs.1-2)
1. “The earth is the LORD’s” Psalm 24:1
-The LORD has ownership over the earth--(vs.1a)
-The LORD has ownership over the world and all the people (animals, etc) within it. --(vs.1b) Psalm 50:10-11;
Job 41:11; 1 Cor.10:26; Psalm 89:11
2. For He has founded it & established it --Psalm 24:2 -(Gen. 1:9, John 1:3, Col.1:15-23; Psalm 104; Prov. 3:19)
-The LORD has the ownership because he is the creator of the earth and all within it. (vs.2)
B. Who can stand in God's presence (vs.3-6)
- “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? or Who shall stand in His holy place?” (vs.3) (mount Zion), (Were the ark of God's presence rested) (Psalm 15:1; 2:6; 65:4)
Answer: (vs.4 & 6) (Requirements to come to God's presence or to worship Him)
1. He that hath clean hands, (vs.4) Job 17:9, 22:30
2. and a pure heart; (Matthew 5:8; Proverbs 4: 23; Acts8:22; Psalm 51:1-3,10-11 )
3. who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
4. nor sworn deceitfully
5. * him who seeks the face of God, oh Jacob (Israel)” (vs.6)
(Ps. 9:10; 27:8; 34:4; 69:32)
C. Honor the King of glory-- (vs. 7-10)- 1 Cor. 2:8, James 2:1, Rev. 19:13-16
1. **Open the gates “that the King of glory may come in” – (vs.7, 9) (temple now our hearts: Rev.19:13-16).
2. “Who is the King of glory?” --( vs. 8, 10)
3. “The LORD…He is the King of glory!” --(vs. 8, 10)
Commentaries:
Verses 3 – 6: In verse 3 the hill of the LORD is Zion. It was a hill in Jerusalem. Solomon built the temple on it. He did this after David died. The holy place was the tent with the ark in it (1 Chronicles 15:1-13). Later it became the temple.
* Verse 6: Heb “this [is the] generation of the ones seeking him, the ones seeking your face, oh Jacob.” To “seek the Lord’s face” means to seek his favor through prayer (Ps 27:8; 105:4).
This verse presents a view of Jacob’s descendants as devoted worshipers of the Lord. Israel was also called Jacob: “From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance” Psalms 78:71, Deut. 32:9, 33:4, Num. 23:7, 24:5, Jerem. 30, Psalms 24:6, 44:4, Psalms 59:13 , 78:21, Isaiah 43:1, Malachi 1:1-4, etc.
Jacob: Is another name for the covenant people. Jacob. = Israel = people of God
** Verse 7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. The gates of the temple were indeed as described, very lofty and magnificent, in proportion to the gigantic dimensions of that extraordinary edifice. But the phrase, Lift up your heads, refers not so much to their loftiness, as to the upper part being formed so as to be lifted up; while the under portion opened in folding doors. Robert Jamieson, in "Paxton's Illustrations of Scriptures."
-The splendid entry here described, refers to the solemn bringing in of the ark into the tent David pitched for it, or the temple Solomon built for it. We may also apply it to the ascension of Christ into heaven, and the welcome given to him there. Jesus Christ, the King of glory, has "ascended the hill of the LORD" by His own righteousness.
In another sense, though, David could be speaking to us, with an appeal for us to open the gates of our hearts "that the King of glory may come in.
Questions:
1. What did I learn about God?
2. How do I apply what we learned in this Chapter?
Related articles:
