Overwhelming Joy

“Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.” (Psalms 24:8) *note: All Scriptures are now in the Modern King James translation

David is rejoicing in this psalm. He is praising the Lord because the King of glory Who is strong and mighty is entering the city. Without knowing the background, one assumes it’s God, but some elements confuse us. “Lift up your heads, O gates; and be lifted up, O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalms 24:7) When we read verse 7 we wonder if he is talking about the Lord. How could David say the Lord is coming in through the gate or doors? Some may think it’s prophetic of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. Verse 9 repeats that the Lord in entering through the gates of the city. “Lift up your heads, O gates; even lift up, O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalms 24:9) David is overjoyed.

In the battle with the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant is captured. The Ark of the Covenant was where God would actually descend to commune with the people. There were certain requirements on how it could be moved and who could come before the Ark. It was usually kept in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. When the Philistines were winning, the elders made a grave mistake. “And when the people had come to the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah beaten us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh to us, so that when it comes among us it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” (1Samuel 4:3) But the Israelites were beaten, and the Ark was taken. (1 Samuel 4:10,11)

The Philistines placed the Ark next to their god, Dagon, in the city of Ashdod and the graven image was found on the ground, then the outer appendages were cut off and Dagon was left only a stump. (1 Samuel 5:3-5) After that, the Philistines in the city were struck with hemorrhoids so they were quick to move the Ark out of the city. (1 Samuel 5: 6,7) They moved the Ark to Ekron, but no one wanted the Ark in their city, so they decided to take it to Israel. (1Samuel 5: 9-12; 6:1-12) The ark was on a cart driven by oxen which went on its way to Israel to Beth-shemesh, but seventy people of Beth-shemesh were killed because they looked into the Ark. (1Samuel 6:12-19) The Ark was then taken to the house of Abinadab and was there twenty years. (1Samuel 7:1,2)

It wasn’t until David was king that David went to bring the Ark home. The first time he did it his way and Uzzah died. So, David left the Ark in the house of Obed-edom for three months. Then the second time he tried, he consulted about how God wanted the Ark carried. (2 Samuel 6:1-12) And this was when David penned Psalm 24.

David penned Psalm 24 expressing his joy for the return of the Ark and the presence of the Lord in the city of Jerusalem. He was so overjoyed; he danced clothed only in a linen ephod. (2 Samuel 6:12-19) And his words to his wife who disapproved were, “...It was before Jehovah, Who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. And I danced before Jehovah. And I will be still lower than this, and will be base in my own sight. And of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, with them I shall be had in honor.” (2Samuel 6:21-22)

David commanded the gates to be lifted and opened to let the presence of the Lord return to Jerusalem when the Ark was returned. In our verse of study, we get the impression that David cannot withhold his joy and exalts the Lord as his heart sings his worship. 

We can understand David’s joy. It’s that same joy that we experienced when Jesus came into our lives. We experienced God’s presence. Like David we danced, jumped up and down in church and sang, not caring what anyone thought. We worshipped the Lord without ceasing. It was overwhelming joy.