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220. The Long Awaited King

Psalm 24
Key Verse: "Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in."
Psalm 24:9

King David may have written this Psalm at the time that the Ark was brought into Jerusalem, an event that occurred over 1,000 years earlier than Jesus’ Triumphal Entry. The Ark of God, which had actually been created during the time of the Exodus, more than 1,500 years before Christ, had been a special box that represented God's presence. (Exodus chapters 36-40) 

 During Israel's early history, during the time of Samuel, it had been captured by the Philistines, an enemy of Israel. God brought a great deal of suffering upon the Philistines, who surmised correctly that they were being punished for holding on to the Ark. They devised a scheme to return it to Israel, but it wasn't until David began to reign over the entire nation of Israel that the Ark was brought back to Jerusalem.  (2 Samuel 6:12-20)  And the temple Solomon built wasn’t ready to house the ark until another 50 years after that!

This Psalm may be part of a collection of Psalms, (see also Psalm 15) that asks the question, "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy Presence? (Psalm 24:3) With the answer coming: "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up His soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God His savior." (Psalm 24:4-5)

Who could be holier than Jesus Himself? Who deserves to be called King of Israel, King of our lives, more than He? Make way for the King who is Holy; who deserves to enter the temple more than any one!

"Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob." (Psalm 24:6) We who seek Him are in His train, following our King to the way of Holiness.
"Who is this King of glory?"

Answer: "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in Battle." (Psalm 24:8) The victory is His! He has won over death, hell and the grave. (1 Cor. 15:55-57) Come, get behind Him, follow and trust! Victory is ours through Him! Praise the Lord!

Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates 


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