The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1
Psalm 24 figures prominently in the liturgical life of the church. At the end of every funeral service, the priest will place oil and earth on the body of the deceased. As he places earth on the deceased, he will say the words of Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof and combine that with the words God said to Adam at the fall of humanity: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) This is a reminder that everything in the world belongs to the Lord, He created all of it, including us, whom He made from the dust of the ground. Our bodies will return to that ground, but our souls, because of the saving work of Jesus Christ, can return to the Lord.
Psalm 24 exalts the might of the Lord, that He is ruler over heaven and earth and over life itself. He created life, and He can grant the human being entrance into eternal life. The Psalm continues by reminding us for He (the Lord) has founded it (the earth) upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. This is where the first line of the hymn we sing on Holy Thursday, where the priest carries the cross of Christ around the church, comes from. Today is hung upon the Cross, He who suspended the earth amidst the waters. (This hymn is often referred to as “Simeron Kremate, and appears on page. 238 of the Holy Week book translated by Fr. George Papadeas).
Verses 3-6 describe what is needed for a human being to enter into God’s temple, not only the temple on earth, but the temple of the heavens. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
The remaining four verses of the Psalm figure prominently every time a new church is opened (a service called a Thyranixia) or when a church is consecrated. In both instances, the faithful gather outside of the church, and prayers are offered to make all ready to enter into the church. The presiding bishop stands at the door of the church, and knocks on it with his bishop’s staff. He offers the words from Psalm 24: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in.” (Psalm 24:7) A priest, who has remained inside the church answers back, “Who is this King of Glory?” (v. 8) The bishop then replies, “The Lord, strong and might, the Lord, mighty in battle! He is the King of glory!” (v. 8, 10) The dialogue takes place three times. Then the door of the church opens, and the faithful enter in and the service begins. In the case of a “Thyranixia”, the faithful enter the church for the first time and begin to praise God in their new spiritual home. In the case of a consecration, the faithful enter into the church that is now be set apart forever as a house of God.
The same dialogue takes place within us, probably several times a day. It is that same battle we have described between good and evil, between salvation and temptation, between the Lord and the devil, who battle for our souls. We are each given many opportunities to serve others, to worship, to show our love for God and for our neighbor each week, if not each day. And at each moment when this opportunity presents itself, it is as if God is knocking on the door of our hearts, “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in.” In our minds and hearts, there are two choices—either open the door and let Him enter, or keep the door closed. Often times, there is a hesitation, like the question posed by the priest in the church, “Who is the King of Glory?” As if to ask, why should I do this thing that God has placed in front of me?
We probably don’t think of this image often, of Christ knocking on the door of our hearts. I reminded of the verses in Revelation 3: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I Myself conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (3: 20-21) What a beautiful image this paints, of the Lord knocking on the door of our home, a desire of our Lord to have a personal relationship with us, to sit and share a spiritual intimacy with us, and then to grant us a heavenly reward.
There is nothing wrong with having questions about “Who is the King of Glory?” This is why we study and learn, on our own and in the context of a church community. Because we are not necessarily ready to open the door to our hearts and let the Lord in, if we don’t know Him, or if we feel He has disappointed us.
However, the ultimate goal of the Christian life is to open the door at all times and let the King of Glory reside in our hearts and in our minds, and to have the driver’s seat of our lives. Allowing God to come in is a choice, however. He doesn’t force the door down. I remember hearing once that there is a door between us and God which has only one doorknob and it is on our side of the door. We have to choose to open the door and let the Lord in. This is a daily choice. He knocks every day, desiring to be with us. It is our choice to answer.
If you’ve never opened your heart to Christ, make today a Thyranixia and let Him in for the first time. And if He already resides in your heart, make today like a consecration, and ask Him to help you stay set apart (holy) today.
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is he generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory! Psalm 24
Reflection question: How might my day change if I remember that everything belongs to God?
