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. Selah (Psalm 24:7-10)
David’s words here seem, at least on the surface, to be a directive — a command to the gates to be lifted up. Let’s put it this way; if such an order was given to a person, it could be interpreted to suggest there may have been resistance on their part. In other words, the fact that David commanded the gates to be raised hints that it may have been against their will. Nevertheless the doors, willingly or not, must open in order to receive the King of glory. And then there is this — the question: “Who is this King of glory?” Here is my point: David was speaking prophetically of the Messiah and His entrances into Jerusalem. The first time He came, it was as the suffering servant; the second time will be as the conquering King.
In the past and the present, the world’s position is to deny His sovereignty and to resist acknowledging that He is King. When He entered Jerusalem’s gates that first time, though there were those who hailed Him as Messiah, there were many more who considered Him a blasphemer — in other words, they resisted. Just before His crucifixion Messiah had this to say to those who opposed Him: “You shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13). In a sense, they were barring the gates in an attempt to prevent His acceptance among the people. However, their attempts did not stop God’s Plan of redemption from being fulfilled. In terms of executing God’s purposes, He was “strong and mighty in battle,” forever overcoming the grip sin and death had over mankind.
When He returns, once again, the world will be doing everything it can to keep Him from ascending His Throne in Jerusalem. They will deny His sovereignty and resist any acknowledgement that He is Lord, but to no avail — the gates will be raised and the doors will be opened to receive the King of Glory. When He returns, He will do so as the LORD of Hosts (armies) and will put down every enemy, as it is written: “The armies in heaven … followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron…. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:14-16).
In that day, the King of Glory will overcome anything and anyone that is offensive to Him and the Kingdom of Heaven. He will reign supreme over all the earth and we — those who have surrendered to His Will and hail Him as King now — will be allowed to serve Him forever as priests and rulers. So as we move ever closer to this glorious Day, may hope continue to rise in your soul and may the King of Glory fill your life with His Presence.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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