Psalm 24:9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. I. THE DEMAND. It may be applied to three events — 1. To the entrance of the ark into the holy city (2 Samuel 6; l Chronicles 15). 2. To the advent of Christ at His incarnation. The doors and gates of the world's heart were shut against Him. "He came to His own," etc. 3. To the ascension of Christ into heaven. 4. To the admission of Christ into the human heart. "In the Gospel history," says an old writer, "Christ had a four-fold entertainment amongst men. Some received Him into their house, but not into their heart, as Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:44). Some into the heart, but not into the house, as the faithful centurion (Matthew 8:8). Some into neither, as the faithless Gergesenes (Matthew 8:34). Some into both, as Lazarus, Martha, and Mary." And Christ now seeks admission into men's hearts, but the gates are closed. 5. To the return of Christ to heaven at last. "After the judgment," says Keble, "He will pass again through the everlasting doors with a greater company than before; for He will lead along with Him into the heavenly habitation all those who shall have been raised from their graves and found worthy (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). II. AN EARNEST INQUIRY. Who is this King of glory? The question is twice put. None can be of greater importance. The answer tells. 1. That He is one strong in Himself. "The Lord strong." 2. That He is "mighty in battle." His conquests are moral, and how numerous, constant, universal, and ever-multiplying they are. 3. That He is vast in command. "The Lord of hosts." All material existences, all spiritual are His hosts: the heavenly orbs are His hosts. He marshals them as a commander his battalions. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. |
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