One of my favorite worship songs of all time is “Give us Clean Hands”. It takes me back to a time in my life when I was becoming more and more passionate about the Lord. I remember thinking, “I want to be part of that generation that seeks his face”. Last night I spent some time journaling that really focused on Psalm 24 and the earnest cry to have clean hands and a pure heart. This comes from seeking the face of God. Here are some thoughts that might be of encouragement to you.
1. The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof. (24:1,2)
The whole earth decalres the beuaty of the Lord. He is the glorious creator and there is no one like our God! He is the sovereign ruler over His creation.
Challenge: Find a quiet spot and meditate on the glory of our God!
2. 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 his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. (24:3-5)
This is a hymn that may have been chanted by worshippers entering the temple. The hill of the Lord is represented by Mount Zion and refers to those who will go to heaven. This is the Church who will go to heaven this is the people of God who shall ascend the hill of the Lord. However, we know that there is something wrong because we are not holy enough to stand in the presence of the Holy One. The earth is full of is glory how can I ascend the hill into His presence? The answer comes through grace. The answer comes in our advocate Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-7).
The answer comes in knowing that it is He is the one whom the Psalmist seeks for clean hands and a pure heart. Let us not forget that we are asking that of our Savior. He is the one who cleanses us by His mercy (Lam. 3:22,23) and his grace (Rom. 5:8; 8:1).I come to worship with clean hands and a pure heart but only because my Savior has seen fit to forgive me and cleanse me. Not because I am ever “good enough” to ascend the hill of the Lord. In this the Lord gives the gift blessing and of righteousness (not mine, but Christ).
Challenge: Ask the Lord for clean hands and a pure heart.
3. This is the generation who seek your face O God of Jacob (24:6)
Each generation has distinctive events and characteristics that mark them forever. What if my generation was to leave a legacy of seeking the face of God. Before we thought about social, environmental, or political issues we thought about seeking the face of God. What if we were to really genuinely ask the question, “Does my life look like Scripture tells me it should?” What if we got on our knees before the Father to seek his face more than anything else.
Seeking the face of God is important because the face tells us so much about who God is. When I am away from my family I look forward to coming home and seeing their faces. I looking forward to seeing my wife and seeing her facial expressions as I hear about her day. I look forward to kissing the face of my little daughter and looking into her eyes to telling her how precious she is and wondering what she will be like when she grows up. When we seek the face of God there is an intimacy that is there because we know Him. We look forward to the day when we will be in His presence and see Him face to face.
I thought about my generation and we aren’t known for this yet. Then I thought about myself and asked, “Does my life look like this Scripture?” It starts with me, I am a part of this generation and God has called me to live for Him. I’m praying for clean hands and a pure heart. I’m desperately seeking His face and I’m praying for my peers that we might be part of a generation that experiences a revival and our hearts are set afire for the glory of God.
Challenge: Let it begin with you, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
May God appropriate this truth in our hearts, Amen.
