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 GREAT THING TO DESIRE IS THE ENTRANCE OF THE KING OF GLORY INTO OUR SOULS. Without it thou wilt be like a house without a tenant — cold, cheerless, dilapidated, desolate. Thy heart will be as a nest without a bird — a poor, sad thing. II. THERE ARE IMPEDIMENTS TO THIS COMING INTO OUR HEARTS. The text speaks about "doors" and "gates," and there are such to our hearts, and they need to be "lifted up" ere the King of glory can come in, Sometimes it is our wicked prejudice. We do not want to know the Gospel; or our love of sin, which we do not care to give up. Then there is the door which I may call the iron gate, that entereth into the city — the door of unbelief. That unbelief is the ruin of souls. III. IF CHRIST IS TO ENTER WE MUST BE WILLING TO REMOVE ALL THESE. The text says, "Lift up your heads," as if they were to lift them up themselves. Though salvation is of grace, it is never against, but always with our will. IV. IT IS GRACE THAT MUST ENABLE YOU TO BE THUS WILLING. Picture the inhabitants trying to lift up the gates themselves. They cannot, and what shall they do? An invisible spirit stands by them, puts his power with theirs, and up go the gates. V. JESUS WILL ENTER. He was willing to come in before: the unwillingness was all in us. VI. AND HE IS THE KING OF GLORY. This title belongs to the Saviour. It proclaims Him in His highest authority. What peerless prince is this, with a name above every name? ( C. H. Spurgeon.) 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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