Psalms 1:4 - “In The Judgment”

If Ezekiel, Daniel and John could not stand in the presence of the Lord, what possible chance do you or I have when the day of judgment comes? There is a clue in those passages that we just looked at. Look closely at what those three men experienced.

Ezekiel 1:28 - 2:2

“I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking … As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet.”

Daniel 8:18

“I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright.”

Revelation 1:17

“I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid.”

What are we seeing here? There is a principle in effect that goes something like this: when a sinful being is in the presence of holiness, that person is driven to the ground in shame and humility, hiding their face from the glory of God. In response, the Lord touches that person, making them clean and permitting them to stand in His presence. Read Psalms 24:3-5.

Now, knowing that process, reread this verse from James and realize for the first time what it really means:

James 4:10

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Are you like me? Did you think that this verse was just a figurative way of telling us that God honors our humility? I never really got that verse until I put together the experiences of Ezekiel, Daniel and John. They literally lived out that verse in the presence of God - driven to the ground before a holy God and then touched, allowed to stand in His presence by His cleansing righteousness.

The wicked will not stand in the day of judgement. Only those whose hands and hearts have been made clean and pure can stand before the Lord.