In the following article you will find a brief commentary on Psalm 24 that goes along with our Riverside Church Two Year Bible Reading Plan (Volume 1 & Volume 2). This plan will allow you to read the New Testament and Psalms once every year and the Old Testament once every two years.
How to Read the Psalms: Part Two
Prayer should involve communion with God at some level. We express ourselves to God in worship, thanksgiving and petition. We ask! The psalms help us to do that… they help us to express ourselves to God. That was “How to Read the Psalms: Part One”.
But there is a second way in which the psalms help us as we read and meditate upon them. They help us to hear from God! Of course, all of scripture is God speaking to us, and the psalms because of their very personal nature meet us in this regard in a very personal manner.
Sometimes it is helpful to take a psalm and to personalize it. Paraphrase the content of the psalm as directed to you from God. You can do this without violating the original context.
Here is a very brief summary of Psalm 24, focusing on God speaking to us personally.
Would you like to know My presence?
The earth is Mine, everything in it and everyone on it. I founded it for My own purposes. I am inviting you today to walk with Me and to know My glorious purposes and My personal presence.
Give yourself to moment-by-moment holiness. I have positioned you as righteous, now walk that out as My Spirit helps you. I dwell with those who have clean hands and a pure heart. Personal holiness matters; those who are set apart for Me know My presence.
Open the gates of your life to invite Me in. I am powerful to save. I will bless and work mightily in your life as you experience My presence.
