Let the King of Glory Come In

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in,” (Psa. 24:7) sang David with probably a whole choir in tow as they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the ancient city of the Jebusites that he had captured. King David continued his anthem of exaltation: Who is this King of glory? He is the Lord strong and mighty. He is the Lord mighty in battle. He is the LORD of hosts. This is the King of glory (Psa. 24:8, 10). So there was the historic significance of the psalm and as one commentary writes, there was a prophetic meaning too. “The psalm was greater than the occasion and has generally been interpreted as prophetic of Christ’s ascension after victory over death and sin and of His ultimate sovereignty over all.” *

However as I meditated on this psalm, I wondered of its significance for me. I reflected on the terms used—gates and everlasting (or ancient) doors. I was so eager for the King of glory to ‘come in’. Oh how we constantly need more of Him; more of His fullness and His glorious presence. How we need to constantly submit to His Kingship. It was at this time that I was reminded of the Lord Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem several times before yet this final entry was momentous. He was now entering the city one last time. Unknown to the great multitude that gathered to hail Him, His next few days there, His death outside the city, His resurrection and His emphatic victory over sin and death was to herald the King of kings and the Lord of lords who would sit at the Father’s right hand. Two significant things caught my attention. One, the disciples and the multitudes spread their garments on the road before this King (Lk. 19:36) and two, the great multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice (Lk. 19:37). I related this to my own life in the context of my reflection to Psalm 24. I knew that laying down one’s cloak was an act of submission. It was acknowledging and accepting the authority of the ruler. 

Lift up your gates Oh my soul! Lift it up with joyful praise. Lift up thy doors in adoration; for He has done, and is still doing great things. Let the King of glory come in and let Him take His rightful place on the throne of thy heart. For is He not the King of the universe? Is it not written, “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness; the world and those who dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1)? Why then is it so hard to lay down your cloak before Him in submission? 

It is important to note that when our glorified Lord asked the Apostle John to write to the Church at Laodicea, He was not speaking to unbelievers when He said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." (Rev. 3:20) His message was to the Church. It is possible for us Christians to do the usual routine of fellowshiping with saints, actively participating in Church activities, reading the Bible and praying while all the time, the King of glory stands out.

Yet there is no better authority to surrender to than that of our God. His reign is forever. Governments rise and governments fall but our God’s reign goes on and on. It never comes to an end. Further, His dominion and authority is over all things. Nations have boundaries and control only over what is within their borders. As for our God, His kingdom’s boundaries have no end. His authority is over all things. There is nothing in heaven or on earth or under the earth that is outside His authority. Lift up your gates with shouts of praise. Be lifted up you everlasting doors to the temple of the Most High for He dwells within you. Let the King of glory rule with majesty and power; wisdom and love.

I am a witness of God’s goodness and can testify that when we allow this King to have His will rule over our lives; when we surrender our will to that of the eternal One who knows the end from the beginning and who never ever goes wrong; then we shall walk in paths of life and peace. In addition we shall see His power at work within us. He shows Himself as the Lord who is strong and mighty. He defends us as our Lord, mighty in battle (Psa. 24:8). The God of the scripture reveals Himself to us as Hashem Tze’va’ot (Psa. 24:10)—the Name that is Commander of angel armies and all created things. “The name ‘I AM THAT I AM’ that proclaims Him as the absolute, independent, underived, timeless being. The name that is a covenant name. The name that speaks of the God who has come into fellowship with men and has bound Himself to a certain course of action for their blessing.” ** 

May we come to this King of glory with clean hands, a pure heart and one that has not lifted up its soul to worldly vanity nor is deceitful. May we spread out our cloak before Him in submission. May our lips constantly give praise to His glorious name. Such will receive a blessing from the Lord and vindication from God, their Saviour (Psa. 24:5 NIV). Such will witness from personal testimony that the eternal LORD of hosts, YHWH Tze’va’ot, is indeed the King of glory.      

* New Bible Commentary, Third Edition; published by Inter-varsity Press

** Adapted from MacLaren’s Exposition; biblehub.com