The closing hope of dwelling in the house of Jehovah to length of days rises above even the former verse. The singer knew himself a guest of God's at the table spread before the foe, but that was, as it were, refreshment on the march, while this is continual abiding in the home. Such an unbroken continuity of abode in the house of Jehovah is a familiar aspiration in other psalms, and is always regarded as possible even while hands are engaged in ordinary duties and cares. The psalms which conceive of the religious life under this image are marked by a peculiar depth and inwardness. They are wholesomely mystical. The hope of this guest of God's is that, by the might of fixed faith and continual communion, he may have his life so hid in God that wherever he goes he may still be in His house, and whatever he does he may still be "inquiring in His temple." The hope is here confined to the earthly present, but the Christian reading of the psalm can scarcely fail to transfer the words to a future. God will bring those whom He has fed and guided in journeying and conflict to an unchanging mansion in a home beyond the stars. Here we eat at a table spread with pilgrims' food, manna from heaven and water from the rock. We eat in haste and with an eye on the foe, but we may hope to sit down at another table in the perfected kingdom. The end of the fray is the beginning of the feast. "We shall go no more out."
1 Jehovah's is the earth, and what fills it, The world and the dwellers therein. 2 For He--upon the seas He founded it, And upon the floods established it.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of Jehovah, And who may stand in His holy place?
4 The clean-handed and pure-hearted, Who lifts not his desire to vanity, And swears not to falsehood. 5 He shall receive blessing from Jehovah And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek Him, That seek Thy face; [this is] Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up, O gates, your heads, Yea, lift up yourselves, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in. 8 Who then is the King of glory? Jehovah, strong and a Champion, Jehovah, a Champion in battle.
9 Lift up, O gates, your heads, Yea, lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is He, then, the King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.