January 19
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory,” Psalm 24:7-10.
Psalm 24 is often read responsively by the pastor and the congregation during the Advent Season of the Church Year. The verses quoted above introduce the kingdom of the promised Messiah. We have a picture of a large crowd marching forward with a great King who is coming to enter the congregation of Christians. There is a loud, welcoming cry, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.”
These are the eternal gates and the everlasting doors to the Temple of God, which is heaven. The promised Messiah and Savior of the world is portrayed as having completed His work of redemption, and He is returning to sit upon His throne. The gates and doors to heaven have been opened by the King of glory.
We are reminded of the words of Jesus to His troubled disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” John 14:1-3.
As the psalm is being sung by the temple choir, it appears as if a soloist breaks in with the question, “Who is this King of glory?” and the temple choir responds, “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” This is a reference to the promised Messiah, who was promised to be a King and Ruler when the angel Gabriel announced His birth to the Virgin Mary: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end,” Luke 1:32-33.
The almighty Son of God, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world, is the King of glory. He is strong and mighty, and mighty in battle. The promised Messiah and Savior did battle against sin, death, and the power of the devil, and He conquered them for us.
The question and answer by the soloist and choir is repeated to impress upon us the importance of opening the gates and doors to our hearts – that is, to respond favorably to the Spirit’s call to believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin, death, and the devil.
Daily, we need to hear and receive the assurance, “Son, daughter, your sins are all forgiven!” It was accomplished by the King of kings and Lord of lords.
“Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near –
The Savior of the world is here!
Life and salvation He doth bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing!
We praise Thee, Father, now;
Creator, wise art Thou!
Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thine inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in me reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on,
Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame,
We offer to Thy name!” Amen.