Why We Need a Big View of God (Psalm 24)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Do you have a big view of God?

Psalm 24 certainly challenges our perspective. As Willem VanGemeren notes, in this psalm, we see three parts: the creator God (1-2), the holy God (3-6), and the glorious King (7-10).”^[1]

As Gerald Wilson writes,

“It is not just the earth that belongs to Yahweh, but everything in it as well. That implies that God has authority over everything in the world and that his concern is not just with human beings, or with their salvation, but with the shalom/well-being of the whole cosmos—animal, vegetable, and mineral.”^[2]

He is ruler and judge over all.

In Canaanite mythology, Yam was the god of the sea and chaos, often depicted as a powerful and fearsome deity. The parallel between Yam and the chaotic waters of the sea reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of primordial chaos being subdued by a divine warrior figure. In Psalm 24, the imagery of the sea and its tumult symbolizes the chaotic forces that oppose God’s rule and sovereignty. The reference to Yam serves to contrast the might and victory of the Lord, who triumphs over chaos and establishes order in creation. Just as Yam was a formidable opponent in Canaanite mythology, the Lord is portrayed as even more powerful and victorious.

By invoking the imagery of Yam, the psalmist emphasizes God's supreme authority and dominion over all creation. The chaotic forces represented by Yam are no match for the Lord, who reigns supreme over the earth and all its inhabitants. This portrayal underscores the foundational truth of God’s sovereignty and power, inviting readers to trust Him as the ultimate source of strength and security.

Who receives blessings from God? Verse 4 says, “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.” God is not only big and grand, but he is holy. Thus, we should approach God boldly but with reverence.

Psalm 24 reminds us that the key to having the proper perspective in life is to remain focused on the grandeur and holiness of God. These realities should mesmerize us and make the invitation to pray that much more meaningful.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | I lift my voice in awe and wonder of your majesty. Your word declares your sovereignty over the earth and everything in it, showcasing your glory and power. I praise you for your creation that reflects your beauty and your holiness.

 Release | I confess and release any sin that separates me from you. I ask for your forgiveness for the times I have not had clean hands and a pure heart. Help me to let go of the idols in my life.

Ask | I ask for your grace to cleanse my heart and renew a right spirit within me. Teach me to seek your face with honesty. Give me the strength to live in a way that honors you so I may stand in your holy place. 

Yield | I yield to your will and ways, recognizing your lordship over my life and the world. Remind me daily of your holiness, and help me to live purely in thought, word, and deed. I am open to your leading.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Gerald Wilson writes, “It is the world that belongs to Yahweh, not just Israel. This means that God’s concern for the well-being of his creation extends far beyond the borders of the covenant people to include the Gentiles, the animals, and even physical creation. As God’s agents in the world, we are called to view the cosmos with God’s eyes, not through the lens of our own self-interest.”^[3] He goes on to say, “When the world is God’s, we are called to rely on him rather than our own power to control, exploit, and use the world to protect and benefit ourselves.”^[4]

This is a powerful reminder. We serve a grand God and are to be his ambassadors to this grand world. We can trust him with everything. As Wilson writes,

When we realize that our life is in God’s hands, we are emboldened to make decisions about our finances, relationships, and even the environment that are based on the well-being of the cosmos, not just personal benefit or concern. Like Christ, we should be willing to take on self-limitation, even suffering and death, in order to work for the restoration of all God’s world. Then and only then will we truly be able to say: “The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”^[5]

^[1]Willem VanGemeren, Psalms, ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, vol. 5 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 257.

^[2]Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms Volume 1, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 456.

^[3]Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms Volume 1, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 457.

^[4]Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms Volume 1, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 457-458.

^[5]Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms Volume 1, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 458.