Who is the "King of Glory" mentioned in Psalm 24:10? Identity Declared by the Text Psalm 24:10 reads: “Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts—He is the King of Glory. Selah.” The Hebrew phrase “YHWH ṣəḇā’ōṯ” (יהוה צבאות) literally means “Yahweh, Commander of the armies.” The self-answer of the verse identifies the King of Glory as Yahweh Himself, the covenant God of Israel. Literary Context and Structure Psalm 24 is Davidic (v. 1 superscription) and moves in three stanzas: 1. vv. 1–2—Cosmic sovereignty (“The earth is the LORD’s”). 2. vv. 3–6—Moral purity required to enter His hill. 3. vv. 7–10—Triumphal entrance of the King of Glory. The antiphonal style of vv. 7–10 fits ancient liturgy: priests inside the gates ask “Who is this King of Glory?” while a procession approaching with the ark replies. The pattern repeats for emphasis. Canonical Witness: Old Testament Parallels • Exodus 15:3—“The LORD is a warrior.” • Joshua 5:13–15—Captain of the LORD’s host accepts worship, prefiguring divine warrior. • Isaiah 6:3—Seraphim chant “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory,” interweaving the titles. • Zechariah 14:9—“The LORD will be King over all the earth.” These loci reinforce Yahweh alone as universal King. Messianic and Christological Fulfillment The New Testament identifies Jesus as: • “the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8); • the One to whom every knee bows (Philippians 2:9-11, echoing Psalm 24); • the triumphant entrant into the heavenly sanctuary after resurrection (Hebrews 9:11-12). Early church hymnody (e.g., the 4th-century Ascension Day homily attributed to Chrysostom) quotes Psalm 24 as the angels’ dialogue when Christ ascends (Acts 1:9-11). Thus, the King of Glory is revealed in the Son’s exaltation while remaining the same Yahweh. Trinitarian Horizon Psalm 24 names Yahweh; the New Testament applies this name-title complex to Father (Revelation 4:11), Son (Revelation 19:16), and Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). The unity of essence and diversity of persons explains how the crucified and risen Jesus can be called both “Lord” (kurios = YHWH, Romans 10:9-13 citing Joel 2:32) and yet pray to the Father. Historical and Liturgical Setting Jewish tradition (Mishnah Tamid 7:4) describes gatekeepers challenging those entering the Temple, paralleling the Psalm. Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History 2.23) reports early Christians chanting Psalm 24 on Easter and Ascension. Archaeological Corroboration of the Divine Title • The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (c. 600 BC) quote the priestly blessing, preserving YHWH’s name centuries before the Masoretic recension. • An 8th-century BC Kuntillet Ajrud inscription cites “Yahweh of hosts,” demonstrating the title’s antiquity. • The Tel Dan stele (9th century BC) references the “House of David,” confirming the Psalm’s Davidic milieu. Philosophical and Scientific Resonance The Psalm’s opening claim of universal ownership (“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof,” v. 1) coheres with modern cosmological evidence for a singular cosmic origin (cosmic microwave background discovered by Penzias & Wilson, 1965) and fine-tuning of physical constants (ratio of electromagnetic force to gravity, 10³⁶). Intelligent-design research on information-rich DNA sequences (Shannon information ≥ 4.7 bits per nucleotide site, cf. Meyer, Signature in the Cell, 2009) lends empirical weight to a purposeful Creator rather than unguided processes, matching Psalm 24’s depiction of an intentional, personal Deity. Resurrection Linkage 1 Corinthians 15 anchors salvation in the historical resurrection, which the Psalm foreshadows by portraying the victorious return of the divine warrior. Minimal-facts scholarship (empty tomb, post-mortem appearances to individuals and groups, early proclamation in Jerusalem) affirms that Jesus, the Lord of Glory, has indeed conquered death—answering the Psalm’s question on the highest plane. Practical Implications Because the King of Glory is both Creator and Redeemer, entrance into His presence demands “clean hands and a pure heart” (v. 4). Salvation is secured only through the crucified and risen Christ (Acts 4:12). The Psalm therefore issues a dual call: fling wide the gates of one’s life to the rightful King, and proclaim His sovereignty over every sphere of creation and culture. Answer Summarized The King of Glory in Psalm 24:10 is Yahweh—the LORD of Hosts—fully revealed in the risen and ascended Jesus Christ, the eternal, triune Creator and Redeemer, whose historical and scientific footprints testify to His unrivaled majesty. |
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