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Psalm 24:3-6 Give Us Clean Hands

July 19, 2021 | by: Gregg Hunter | 1 comments

Posted in: Psalm 24

Chris Tomlin is one of the great song writers of our time, and perhaps that’s because he finds so many of his lyrics in the Psalms! One of his classic praise songs is called “Give us Clean Hands.” It’s chorus repeats the following lines:

Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

That prayer has been sung by millions of Christians over the last few decades. But it has also been sung by millions of Israelites thanks to its origin in Psalm 24.

Please read Psalm 24:3-6.

 

The opening question of this passage asks a pertinent question for every seeker of truth: how can I get to God? The assumption (which is accurate) is that God is reigning in heavenly glory. He is unreachable by the grasp of man due to a vast separation, both physically and morally. The psalmist illustrates this by repeating the question. The first time he focuses on the physical distance by using the term ‘hill,’ and the second time he focuses on the moral distance by using the phrase ‘holy place.’ Both the hill and the holy place are out of reach for mankind. Who can reach them?

Then the psalmist answers his own question: only the one with clean hands and a pure heart can ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. This is important for the nation of Israel to be singing. Notice that the one who is standing on God’s holy hill is not doing so because he is Jewish; he is there because of his purity and holiness. It is not because of his race but because of his character. God’s people are not limited to one race, but may come from all nations, tribes, and languages of mankind—if they are clean and pure.

First, they must be clean outwardly. “Hands” is a figure of speech representing the entirety of a persons actions. Some examples of this are given later in the verse: don’t worship idols or swear deceitfully. If you are to stand on God’s holy hill, you must act accordingly—with clean hands.

Unfortunately, some people, in their over-eagerness to preach the gospel of grace, neglect the need for repentance. God saves us by faith, and not by works. BUT, true faith will always be accompanied by works of repentance. You cannot truly believe in the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf and continue in sin. If you are truly saved, you will then act like it! Not perfectly, of course, but there should be a marked difference between your actions and those of a lost person. If your hands are dirty, then wash them in the precious blood of Jesus so that they may be clean!

However, Jesus warned that a person can wash the outside of the cup until its sparkling, but still be filthy on the inside. That’s why the psalmist says we need clean hands and a pure heart—we must be clean inwardly as well as outwardly.

We can only truly have clean hands when Jesus has first given us a pure heart. After Jesus has changed our heart, He will continue the work of sanctification and cleanse the rest of our body as well. Only after this process of sanctification is completed will the process of glorification be commenced, and we will receive blessings and honor from our Lord in heaven.

Then, we will be counted with the rest of the believers and will finally see the face of the One who loved us so much that He gave His life for us. Seek His face, and you will find Him, if you seek Him with clean hands and a pure heart.

1 COMMENTS

Jenny Balzano

Mar 4, 2021

It is amazing how many Bible Verses Christians truly know and do not even realize it. I sing Christian songs and later find out they were actual Bible verses written into song lyrics.
When we are saved- truly all things are new. God begins works in us from the inside out. Some people are an amazing transformation and they have a beautiful testimony. Some are less extravagant (like mine) but nonetheless- it is an amazing love story. A love story that will leave is full in glory and grace in our eternal homes one day.

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