Lift up your heads, O ye gates
And be ye lift up, ye 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 battleLift up your heads, O ye gates
And be ye lift up, ye 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
There’s something about the hymn Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates that stirs the soul. It boldly proclaims the coming of the King of Glory, echoing the majestic words of Psalm 24:
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Psalm 24:7, ESV).
The imagery is striking: towering gates opening wide to welcome the Lord. It’s a call not just to ancient cities but to each of us. But here’s the truth we must remember: it is not by our own will or effort that we open the gates of our hearts to Christ. Left to ourselves, our hearts are hardened, the gates firmly shut. It is only by the sovereign grace of God that these gates are flung open and Christ enters to reign.
The Sovereign Work of God
In our natural state, Scripture tells us that we are dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Dead people don’t open doors. But God, in His infinite mercy, breathes life into us. Ezekiel 36:26-27 captures this beautifully:
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
This is the glorious truth of salvation—it is God who opens the gates of our hearts. He replaces our stubborn, resistant hearts with ones that desire Him. The hymn’s words, “Fling wide the portals of your heart,” are not a command rooted in human effort but a response to God’s divine initiative.
Christ, the Redeemer Who Abides
Once God has opened our hearts, Christ enters as both King and Redeemer. The hymn proclaims:
“Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to Thee we open wide.”
The word Redeemer is rich with meaning. It points us to the reality that Christ purchased us with His blood, securing our salvation fully and finally. As the Apostle Paul writes:
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a).
This abiding presence of Christ is not something we must maintain through our own strength. Rather, it is Christ Himself who keeps us. John 10:28 assures us:
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
The Joy of His Reign
Psalm 16:11 declares:
“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
When Christ takes up residence in our hearts, He brings with Him joy, peace, and assurance. This is not fleeting happiness but a deep, abiding joy rooted in the unshakable truth of His sovereignty and grace.
Yet, even as we experience the joy of His reign, we know the fullness of His kingdom is still to come. The hymn looks ahead to that day:
“Thy Holy Spirit lead us on,
Until the glorious crown be won.”
Here we see the work of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies us and preserves us for the day when we will see Christ face to face. Philippians 1:6 reminds us:
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Advent: A Season of Anticipation
This hymn is often sung during Advent, a season of anticipation and longing. It reminds us not only of Christ’s first coming but also of His promised return. Just as ancient Israel waited for their Messiah, we now wait for His return, when the gates of heaven will open wide, and the King of Glory will come to reign forever.
But even in this waiting, we are not passive. God calls us to live in light of His promises, trusting Him to complete the work He began in us. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
Resting in His Sovereignty
As we reflect on this hymn, let’s remember that our hope does not rest in our ability to open the gates or keep them open. It rests entirely in God’s sovereign grace. He is the one who calls, saves, and sustains us.
So, as you meditate on the words of Psalm 24, take comfort in knowing that it is God who prepares our hearts, God who brings the King of Glory in, and God who keeps us secure in His love. The gates of our hearts are opened not by our strength but by His Spirit, and once He enters, He abides forever.
“Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!” (Psalm 24:8).
This is the King we welcome—a King who fights for us, who redeems us, and who reigns eternally. Lift up your heads, open the gates, and rest in the knowledge that it is God who has done the work. Soli Deo Gloria.
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