Psalm 24:6 Kommentar

This psalm is concerning the kingdom of Jesus Christ, I. His providential kingdom, by which he rules the world (Psa 24:1, Psa 24:2). II. The kingdom of his grace, by which he rules in his church. 1. Concerning the subjects of that kingdom; their character (Psa 24:4, Psa 24:6), their charter (Psa 24:5). 2. Concerning the King of that kingdom; and a summons to all to give him admission (Psa 24:7-10). It is supposed that the psalm was penned upon occasion of David's bringing up the ark to the place prepared for it, and that the intention of it was to lead the people above the pomp of external ceremonies to a holy life and faith in Christ, of whom the ark was a type. A psalm of David.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 24 A Psalm of David. This psalm is thought by some of the Jewish writers (d) to have been wrote when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the city of David, and put into the place prepared for it by him, Sa2 6:17; to which reference is supposed to be had in Psa 24:7; or after that David had built an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and had knowledge of the hill Moriah, as the place where the sanctuary was to be built; called the hill of the Lord, and his holy place, Psa 24:3; however, it was certainly written by David, under the inspiration of the spirit of God; and is a prophecy of Christ, and of the Gospel church, and describes the members of it. (d) Aben Ezra & Kimchi.

This is the generation of them that seek him,.... The persons above described are such, who in every age are the generation of the children of God, and are accounted by him for a generation; they are such that seek him, in the first place, with their whole hearts, and in Christ, where they find him; that seek thy face, O Jacob. By the "face" of God is meant the favour of God, the discoveries of his love, the light of his countenance, than which nothing is more desirable to gracious souls, or more sought after by them; and by Jacob is meant the God of Jacob; and so Apollinarius has it in his metaphrase; see Psa 10:1; unless Christ should be intended, one of whose names is Israel, Isa 49:3; or the words may be supplied, as they are by some Jewish writers (m), "this is Jacob"; or the persons before described are the seed of Jacob, and who are called by his name: and it may be observed, that the church of God often bears the same name, Isa 43:1; and then the sense is, the persons whose characters are given above are fit to ascend, and stand in the holy hill of God, are Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile. Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psa 3:2. (m) Aben Ezra, Kimchi, & Ben Melech in loc.

No one seeking the face of God will see his face and live, … unless he or she has been changed.

"This is the generation of them that seek the Lord" [Psalm 24:6]. For thus are they born that seek Him. "Of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Diapsalma." Now they seek the face of God, who gave the pre-eminence to the younger born. [Romans 9:12]

Next he shows this manner in general: "This is the generation of those who seek the Lord"; as if to say: in general there are many such: and these are the whole generation of those who seek God, who are innocent, etc. Hence Scripture speaks of the good as of one generation: Mt. 24: "This generation shall not pass away," namely of the good, etc. And he describes it by two things: namely, by their pursuit, because it seeks nothing but God: hence he says "of those who seek God," even in this life: Is. 55: "Seek the Lord while he may be found." To what end? That they may arrive at his vision; hence it follows, "of those who seek the face of the God of Jacob": Gen. 32: "I have seen the Lord face to face, and my soul has been saved."

God's supreme sovereignty requires a befitting holiness of life and heart in His worshippers; a sentiment sublimely illustrated by describing His entrance into the sanctuary, by the symbol of His worship--the ark, as requiring the most profound homage to the glory of His Majesty. (Psa 24:1-10) fulness--everything. world--the habitable globe, with they that dwell--forming a parallel expression to the first clause.

Jacob--By "Jacob," we may understand God's people (compare Isa 43:22; Isa 44:2, &c.), corresponding to "the generation," as if he had said, "those who seek Thy face are Thy chosen people."