“Who Can Ascend the Hill of God?”

In Psalm 24, the psalmist asks, "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?" In other words, who can stand in the presence of God; who can experience the holiest of holy; who can enter into the most sacred encounters with God? Remember, the psalm was likely used as a liturgical procession for those climbing the mountain to the temple in Jerusalem. It was a fitting question to ask as the people of Israel made their way into that most holy and sacred sanctuary in that holy and sacred city. 

Immediately, the psalmist responds to his own question, "Those who have clean hands and pure hearts." Of course the psalmist is talking figuratively about a spiritual truth and approach to a faithful life as a child of God. As such, the psalmist is referring to an attitude of hope, grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, compassion, faithfulness and any other discipline God would hope his children would embody in all of their lives and relationships with other people. 

The truth is that we are invited today to ascend the hill of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. However, we know that we can't attain that spiritual depth on our own. Clean hands and a pure heart ultimately come out of a relationship with God who blesses us with the spiritual gifts to be hopeful, merciful, forgiving, loving, full of joy and compassion, and ultimately to live lives of faithfulness. These are the very gifts God offers to us as we grow in our relationships with Him. 

This hymn speaks in such simplicity the truth of what it means to be invited into the sacred and holy of an encounter with God. And, that we need to rely on God's grace through Jesus Christ to make us pure and clean. And ultimately, this calling from God is to take our part in the building of God's kingdom as we are the hands, feet and heart of God.

“Who Can Ascend the Hill of God?”

Tune: Ye Banks & Braes

Meter: LMD

Who can ascend the hill of God

And stand on holy, sacred ground

The loved by God, as we are flawed

God’s grace and mercy are profound

Those with clean hands, whose hearts are pure

Have all we need to make our way

With faith restored, we will endure

As to our God we come to pray.

Not on our own are we made clean

we can’t be pure just as we are

we need God’s grace as we have seen

in Jesus Christ, we’re made aware.

God grant us courage on our way

To be your hands, your feet, your heart

To climb the hill we greet each day

And in your kingdom take our part.

Text: copyright, The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan, 2015. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.