Poetry in the Bible

GOLDEN TEXT: “He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.”—Psalm 40:3

THE sentiments of our Golden Text have been true in the experience of all those whom the Lord has enlightened with the glorious truth of his divine plan. This enlightenment is described by the Apostle Peter as a calling “out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (I Pet. 2:9) And the apostle declares the purpose of this to be that we show forth the praises of the Lord. That which David likens to a “song,” a glorious and harmonious melody of loving-kindness, Peter refers to as “light,” that is, an understanding of the plans and purposes of God.

In Revelation 14:2,3, God’s plan of salvation is again referred to as a song, a song which none could learn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” It is the glorious song of Moses and the Lamb, that is, a song of deliverance for the church, the “firstfruits unto God of his creatures,” and later, during the thousand years of Christ’s reign, the deliverance of all mankind from the thraldom of sin and death. It is a glorious song, the theme song of God’s love. All those who have learned it can truly say with the poet, “How can I keep from singing?”

PSALM 24—This beautiful poetic Psalm is thought to have been written by David about the time he succeeded in having the ark of the covenant returned to Jerusalem, after it had been in the hands of Israel’s enemies. The ark of the covenant, the proper resting place of which was in the most holy of the tabernacle, represented God’s presence and favor with his people, hence its recovery from the hands of Israel’s enemies was an occasion for great rejoicing by God’s typical people. It meant that his smile of approval was again upon them, and that the nation would be blessed through the reign of King David.

The ark also represented Christ, for it is through Christ that God manifests his favor to the church now, and will show favor to the world during the messianic kingdom period. All of God’s blessings for the church and for the world are centered in Christ. The bringing of the ark into the city corresponded in a measure to Christ coming into our lives as individuals; and in a larger picture, to the coming of God’s blessings to all mankind through the agencies of Christ’s kingdom.

In the New Testament, James tells us of a time when the “tabernacle of David” will again be built. (Acts 15:16) The tabernacle of David is one which he had built especially to house the ark when it was returned to Israel. It was a part of his preparation for the returning favor of God. We are not to suppose, of course, that David will rebuild a literal tabernacle. The thought is, rather, that as God’s favor was restored to Israel in the type, his favor will also be restored to all mankind through Christ when “all the Gentiles” are invited to partake of kingdom blessings.—Acts 15:17

The 24th Psalm, in addition to giving expression to the great joy and thankfulness of David’s heart at that time, seems also to be prophetic of the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, through which God’s favor will be manifested toward all mankind. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein,” wrote David. In another Psalm, and speaking of the literal earth, David tells us that God has given it to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16) It seems reasonable, therefore that the “earth” mentioned in our lesson is God’s new, symbolic earth, referred to in Isaiah 65:17, where the Lord promises to create a “new heavens and a new earth.”

This, of course, will be God’s new world order. The Psalmist declares that it is “founded upon the seas, and established upon the floods,” and God’s new order is indeed being founded in the midst of the seas of discontent, the restless masses. The “sea” and the “waves” are now roaring, as Jesus predicted, and this constitutes one of the convincing evidences that God’s new world is already being established.—Luke 21:25

And there is still an opportunity to become a joint-heir with Jesus in his new kingdom, here prophetically referred to as the “hill” of the Lord. The condition upon which this is possible is stated to be that of having “clean hands and a pure heart”; also that one has not “lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Jesus, the Head of the kingdom class, was obligated to carry out the terms of his covenant with the Lord. He agreed to do his Father’s will in all things. It was a solemn covenant which led to sacrifice and death. The same is true with us, unless through unfaithfulness it turns out that we have “sworn deceitfully.” In such an event, we will not have the privilege of ascending into the holy “hill” of the Lord.

Those who are enlightened with present truth are even now privileged to let the King of Glory come into their hearts. Soon all the world will welcome him as “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

QUESTIONS:

What was the occasion for writing the 24th Psalm?

Of what was the ark of the covenant a symbol?

Is the 24th Psalm prophetic as well as being a song of praise?

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