The Latter Rain: Celebrate Lent – Day 12

1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, * the world and all who dwell therein. 2 For it is he who founded it upon the seas * and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep. 3 “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? * and who can stand in his holy place?” 4 “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, * who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud. 5 They shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”

Psalm 24:1-5

The Israelites always used the image of ‘going up’ or ‘ascending’ as they went to worship the Lord God at the Temple. They understood that God was always above them and their desire was to somehow come into the Lord’s presence, to rise into His presence in worship. That thought carried over into the architecture of churches through most of the last two thousand years. Churches were always built on a high foundation with steps to ascend up into the sanctuary of the Lord.

As we prepare our hearts to worship the Lord on this second Sunday of Lent, we should ask the same question as the Psalmist, “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord?” Are we worthy to ascend from this earthly existence into worship of Almighty God…in His very presence?

The Psalmist gives us the answer to our question…whomever has clean hands and a pure heart is worthy. Our Lenten journey is to help us do just that. In our special times of prayer, fasting, and giving we ask the Lord to wash our hands and hearts so that we can have an ever increasing experience of His transforming glory. We wash our hearts through prayers of confession in preparation for worship. We wash our hands through works of mercy in loving outreach to others. Repentance is at the heart of the whole season of Lent.

But as you journey toward the cross this year, don’t miss the blessing. It is not just about repentance but also about celebrating the love of God who descends upon us, so that we may be lifted up into His presence. A love that not only forgives but transforms us into an ever greater likeness of His glory.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

When we realize that God condescended to us in the incarnation of His son, Jesus, we realize just how great His love is for us. Nothing would stop Him from reconciling us back into His presence. Now, through the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, each us who believe have become sanctuaries of the Lord’s presence.

To pray is to descend with the mind into the heart, and there to stand before the face of the Lord, ever-present, all seeing, within you.

ST. Theophan the Recluse

The Psalmist tells us that those who make the journey into God’s presence with clean hands and pure hearts will, “…receive a blessing from a blessing from the Lord, and a just reward from the God of their salvation.” What could be a greater blessing than to stand redeemed in His presence…this is the latter rain falling on believers who have thirst and hunger for Him.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

Image credit: https://revivenations.org/blog/2016/05/28/mountain/

King of the Hill

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 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.

Psalm 24:3,4

Did you ever play ‘King of the Hill’ when you were a kid? Our neighbor hood gang played it wherever we could find a sizeable hill. Sometimes the hill was a pile of snow, other times it was a mound of dirt. I remember once it was great pile of coal that was down by the railroad yard at the end of the block. We were covered in back soot after that one.

The object of the game was to ascend the hill and knock off the guy at the top. Frank St. Clair was particularly hard to knock off the top of the hill. He was bigger and tougher than most of us. I can still hear his maniacal laugh and big grin as we tried to climb up and knock him off.

Psalm 24 asks the question, who thinks they’re worthy to climb the hill of the LORD? The question is not a rhetorical one. The hill of the Lord is a metaphor for the Heavenly Mt. Zion, the throne room of God in Heaven. The answer is given in verse four; only he who has clean hands and a pure heart, and is never false. Well, that lets us humans out – or does it?

Jesus Christ is the only one who lived such a pure life. He alone is worthy to ascend the hill of the LORD. However, in His great mercy, He’s left the doors wide open for you and me. We can’t get there on our own. Our hands and hearts aren’t pure enough. But, through His blood shed on Calvary we’re washed clean, whiter than snow, says the Psalmist.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Ps. 51:7)

When us kids tried to climb the hill, all we heard was Frank laughing, and shouting, “You’re not worthy you weaklings!”. But now if we’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb, if we’re listening closely, we can hear the angels calling out, as they did when Jesus left the Mount of Olives and ascended the hill of the LORD… “Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors!” That was the cry of the angels at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Heaven, into the Holy of Holies, for He was, and is, and ever shall be the “King of Glory”!

But, on the day Jesus ascended the hill, He not only took His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He also left the doors of Heaven open for all His children to enter. So, no matter how life beats you up, and no matter how unworthy you feel, know that when you’ve been washed in His blood, you’ve been made worthy.

Now, when you climb the hill of the LORD, it’s not a game. Jesus is at the top and He won’t kick you back down. Instead, He’ll stretch out His hand and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:23)

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/495466396480007191/