DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Whose Throne Is It?
by Mary Alice McGinnis
Many think that today’s psalm was written by King David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem.
Do you remember the significance of the Ark of the Covenant? It was the symbol of God’s presence with His Covenant people throughout the Old Testament, beginning in the book of Exodus.
God’s presence, in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, rested on the tabernacle, in the Most Holy Place, where no sinful human was allowed to enter without a blood sacrifice.
Inside the Most Holy Place, was the Ark of the Covenant.
On top of the Ark of the Covenant was the “mercy seat.”
The holy, divine, glorious presence of the Almighty God filled the tabernacle, and came to rest on mercy seat between the golden cherubim, on top of the Ark.
On the day of Atonement, the blood of an animal sacrifice was sprinkled on the "mercy seat." In a sense, it was the place where God's heavenly throne room broke through and was brought to earth.
In verses 1 and 2, David first reminds us who God is?
“The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
If this is who our God is, the One who created it all, sustains it all, owns it all and rules it all, then who can reach God? Who can stand before Him in His Holy place? Who is worthy to stand in the Almighty God’s glorious presence? Who has access to His Throne room?
Only those whose hands are clean, and whose hearts are pure. Those who do not chase after false idols and practice deception. I know for sure this is not me! I am all too aware of how far short I fall.
The last part of the Psalm beckons us!
“Lift up your heads, you gate; be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.”
David was calling the people to open wide the gates of Jerusalem and of the tabernacle for the presence of God to fill it and rest upon the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
So too, the gates of heaven, God’s Heavenly throne room, was once locked to us because we were not worthy to enter. We have unclean hands and impure hearts.
But Hebrews 4:14-16 says,
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Jesus is our MERCY SEAT!
David continues:
“Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is He, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty— He is the King of glory.”
Let us fling wide open our hearts to welcome the presence of the Living God. May He rest on the mercy seat of Jesus Christ, washing our hands and hearts clean. May He make our hearts His divine throne room and dwelling place forever.
Galatians 4:6 - "Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'”
PRAYER
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
You did not want heaven without us! So you brought heaven down. My sin was great, Your love was greater, what can separate us now?
Thank You for cleansing the works of my hands and the intension of my heart! Continue to renew me by Your Spirit within me. Use me for Your Glory! Amen!
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