Serve The Lord With Gladness

Commentary

There is little doubt that this is one of David’s poems. It seems to have been written to celebrate the bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem. David had attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but he had gone about it in a wrong way and it ended in disaster (vv. 1-2). Now he is ready to do things God’s way and begins by telling God what kind of a person he will be and the kind of place he will make Jerusalem. David wanted to make sure that nothing in the land would offend the Lord so he pledged a rule of holiness (vv. 3-5). He resolved to rid the country and capital of evil men (vv. 6-8).

This psalm was used in the temple in connection with the sacrifices of thanksgiving. Among the psalms of praise and thanksgiving this one rises to a crescendo of joy and grandeur. It is a universal call for all men to give thanksgiving to the Lord. The psalmist exhorts the congregation to serve the Lord with gladness because He is the Creator and to enter His temple with much thanksgiving.

In the Old Testament people were only given access to God on a limited basis. Between the sinner and God there were several barriers. In the tabernacle there was a gate to the outer court. Then there was an altar and laver for cleansing. Unless the person was a priest he could go no further. If he was a priest he could enter the holy place with the table, the lampstand and the golden altar but he could go no further unless he was the high priest. The high priest could only lift the final veil and come into the presence of God once a year. Calvary has changed all of that. As a Christian we have access into the very presence of God through Christ.

Application

The illustration above demonstrates how I have the same birthright. I have taken hold of the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God and this gives me access into the very presence of the Father.