Psalms 24:1

The earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof,.... The whole universe, all the terraqueous globe, both land and water, and the circumambient air, and all that is therein; the fishes of the sea,

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. This psalm refers primarily to David's bringing the ark up to Zion (2 Samuel 6:1-15).

Psalms 24 THE This Psalm is generally and probably thought to have been composed by David, upon that solemn occasion of brining the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the tabernacle which David had built for it, 2 Samuel 6; wherein he hath a further prospect, even to the temple, which he earnestly desired and intended to build, and which he knew would be built by his son. And when this was done, and the ark brought into it, this Psalm was to be sung, and indeed to this time it seems chiefly directed. For David’ s Psalms were not only used by himself upon the first occasions for which he made them, but they were committed to the prefects of sacred music, for the use of the church in all succeeding times. And being a prophet, he speaks, as the prophets used, of things to come as if they were already present, and turns his speech to the temple and its gates, as if they were now built. Moreover, because the tabernacle, and temple, and ark were manifest types of Christ, and of his church, and of the place and state of heavenly glory, David extended his thoughts to them also, or at least the Holy Ghost designed to comprehend them under these typical expressions. David acknowledgeth God’ s sovereignty over the world, ,2. A description of the persons that shall be of his spiritual kingdom, ,4. Their blessing, ,6. An exhortation to receive it, . Who the King of glory is, . The fulness thereof; all the creatures, and especially the inhabitants wherewith it is replenished. God’ s general dominion over and interest in all persons and places seems to be here premised and asserted, either, 1. To show his right to choose any nation whom he pleased to be his peculiar people; which privilege being conferred upon the Israelites, was a great stumbling-block to the heathen nations. Or, 2. To set forth the singular kindness and mercy of God to Israel, who chose them out of all the nations of the world to be near to him, and to have special acquaintance with him, although otherwise he had no other relation to them than what he had to all mankind, to wit, that of a Creator and Governor. Or, 3. To demonstrate the excellency of the Jewish worship and religion above all others, because the God whom they served was the God, and Maker of the whole world, when the gods of the Gentiles were sorry idols, and esteemed by themselves to be but local and confined deities.

Psalms 24:1 « A Psalm of David. » The earth [is] the LORD’ S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.A Psalm of David] The Greek addeth, of the first day of the week (because wont to be sung in the temple on that day), which is now the Christian sabbath, in memory of Christ’ s resurrection and rule over all, which is here celebrated. Ver. 1. The earth is the Lord’ s and the fulness thereof] He alone is the true proprietary, Job 41:11 Deuteronomy 10:14, and the earth is Marsupium Domini, as one saith, the Lord’ s great purse; the keeping whereof he hath committed to the sons of men, Psalms 115:16; like as also he hath given the heavenly bodies to all peoples, Deuteronomy 4:19, every star being God’ s storehouse, which he openeth for our profit, Deuteronomy 28:12, and out of which he throweth down riches and plenty into the earth, such as the servants of God gather, and the rest scramble for. What use the apostle putteth this point to, see 1 Corinthians 10:26; 1 Corinthians 10:28, Other uses may well be made of it; as, that kings and princes bear not themselves as lords of all (the Turk and pope so style themselves; the great cham of Tartary every day as soon as he hath dined causeth, they say, his trumpets to be sounded; by that sign giving leave to other princes of the earth, his vassals, as he conceiteth, to go to dinner), but the Lord’ s vicarii et villici, viceregents and stewards, to whom they must give an account of all. Again, that God’ s dear children cannot want anything that is good for them; since they have so rich a Father, who seems to say unto them, as Genesis 45:20, Regard not your stuff, for all the good of the land is yours. To him that overcometh will I give to inherit all things; I have all things, Philippians 4:18 2 Corinthians 6:10. The world and they that dwell therein] This is God’ s universal kingdom by right of creation, Psalms 24:2; besides which he hath a spiritual kingdom over his elect ( ut docet nos pulcherrimus hic psalmus, this this most beautiful psalm teaches us, saith Beza), who are here described, Psalms 24:4-6, and encouraged to enlarge their desires after their sovereign in the exercise of faith and use of means, and to give him the best entertainment, Psalms 24:7-10. For the Church is Christ’ s temple; and every faithful soul is a gate thereof to let him in, as Revelation 3:20.

(1) The Lord’s.—The majesty of Jehovah as Lord of the universe is a reason to the psalmist for insisting on rectitude and sincerity in those who become His worshippers. St. Paul uses the same truth, referring to this place (1 Corinthians 10:26), to show that all things are innocent and pure to the pure; so that a Christian (apart from a charitable regard for the weak) may eat whatever is sold in the shambles, without troubling himself to inquire whether it has been offered to idols or not.

PSALM XXIV The Lord is Sovereign Ruler of the universe, 1, 2. The great question, Who is fit to minister to the Lord in his own temple? 3-6. The glory of God in his entrance into his temple, 7-10. NOTES ON PSALM XXIV It is probable that this Psalm was composed on occasion of bringing the ark from the house of Obed-edom to Mount Sion, and the questions may respect the fitness of the persons who were to minister before this ark: the last verses may refer to the opening of the city gates in order to admit it. As many of the expressions here are nearly the same with those in Psalms 15, I must refer to that place for their particular illustration; though it is most likely that the two Psalms were composed on very different occasions. The first contains a general question relative to who shall be saved? This is more particular; and refers to the temple and tabernacle service, and who is fit to minister there. Verse 1. The earth is the Lord's] He is the Creator and Governor of it; it is his own property. Men may claim districts and kingdoms of it as their property, but God is Lord of the soil. The fullness thereof] "All its creatures." - Targum. Every tree, plant, and shrub; the silver and the gold, and the cattle on a thousand hills. They that dwell therein.] All human beings.

1, 2. The unique Majesty of Him Who comes to take possession of His chosen dwelling-place. His sovereignty is not limited to a single nation or a single country. He is the Lord of all the world, for He is its Creator.

The earth is the Lord’s - The whole world belongs to God. He is the Creator of the earth, and therefore, its Proprietor; or, in other words, “the property vests in him.” It belongs to Him in a sense

1. The earth—As an orb or planet. Fulness—That which it contains, whether plants, animals, people, or its minerals and precious metals, but especially the inhabitants, as the next line specifies.