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Psalm 24:1-6

Psalm 24:1¹ The land and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to Yahveh;

Psalm 24:2 because he built its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.

Psalm 24:3 Who may climb up the mountain of Yahveh? Who may stand in his holy place?

Psalm 24:4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his throat to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.

Psalm 24:5 He will receive blessing from Yahveh, and righteousness from the God of his rescue.

Psalm 24:6 This is what the lifetime of those who inquire of him looks like, those who seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Selah).

Permission to climb

This psalm is not very comforting if you approach it as a description of salvation by works. If you see It as saying that you have to keep pure and righteous— and still getting into the presence of God will be an uphill climb— you are bound to be frustrated.

You need to recognize that blessings and righteousness are both gifts from our holy God. The clean hands and pure heart and faithfulness in worship are all outcomes of seeking him.

It is the seeking God that the psalm describes as an uphill climb. It is hard work— all mountain climbing is. But it helps to see this psalm as an encouragement to (and permission to) get climbing.

The view at the top is worth it.