Psalm 24:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

NIV: They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.

NASB: He will receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

CSB: He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

NLT: They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

KJV: He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

NKJV: He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This proclaims blessings and righteousness to the person described in verse 4: someone with clean hands, a pure heart, and truthfully faithful soul.

These benefits are not wages a person earns. They are gifts from the God of salvation. All who have been saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9) are blessed "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3) and have "become the righteousness of God" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah 61:10 states: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness."

It is a tragic mistake to think our righteous works can earn God's favor. Titus 3:5 declares that God saves us "not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."

Psalm 24:1–6 affirms what is declared in John 1:1–3 and Genesis 1—2: that God created everything. The people at worship or a chorus sang the first two verses, and a leader asked the question in verse 3. Psalm 15 echoes the truth taught in Psalm 24:4–6, and Matthew 5:6–8 reinforces the fact that only the righteous can see God. Tradition says this psalm celebrates David bringing the ark of the covenant back from Obed-edom's house (2 Samuel 6).

Tradition suggests this psalm celebrates the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. David declares God's role as Creator and Sovereign. He points out the need for worshippers of God to be sincere, truthful, and righteous. The psalm then calls out to the city of Jerusalem to welcome the "King of glory."

Psalm 24 follows logically after Psalms 22 and 23. Psalm 22 depicts the Good Shepherd's suffering on the cross. Psalm 23 depicts the depths of His care of his sheep. Psalm 24 depicts his return to rule as king. The cross is seen in Psalm 22. The shepherd's crook is seen in Psalm 23. The shepherd's crown is in view in Psalm 24. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, died for us (Psalm 22), cares for us (Psalm 23), and is coming for us (Psalm 24). Psalm 15 is a parallel to this passage.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 4/29/2024 5:35:12 AM