“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Psalm 24:7
In Psalm 24, David answers his own question concerning the identity and essence of God by asking: “Who is this King of glory?” He then answers by writing: “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (v.8) A little further in the Psalm, he adds: “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (v.10) What is David, or rather the Holy Spirit, seeking to communicate to us of the knowledge of God?
At the beginning of Psalm 24, after an introduction concerning the ownership of creation by God, because He has founded and established it, he brings us to the central issue of the Psalm. It is that of man’s approach to God by virtue of the provision and present power of God given to man to come with assurance, and certainty. He begins by asking the question: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place?” (v.3) For man, the greatest consideration that he possesses, and the highest privilege, is to not only think thoughts concerning the everlasting God, but to approach Him without fear, with the expectancy of being accepted by the Father, because of what Christ has done on Calvary. It is only by virtue of the mercy and grace of God, revealed by the sacrifice of Christ, and His shed blood, that one can have clean hands and a pure heart. God has provided in Christ, in a perfect manner, for man to approach His throne, His “holy hill,” and there to worship in Spirit and truth. But how does one rise to such a privilege, and use it well? How can a sinner, so limited and helpless, come before the “ineffable,” and “on his naked spirit bear the uncreated Beam?” (Bimney) In man’s approach to God, he cannot bring “strange fire,” or come up by another way than that of Christ. If he would rise, and come with full assurance of faith, by the Spirit, then he must have a clear understanding of Who God IS, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
David tells us that God, Christ, is the “KIng of glory.” Not only this, he adds that this King of glory “…shall come in.” Is this not the Christ of Revelation, who stands at the door and knock, seeking entrance? This one at the door is the Savior and King. Christ is also the “King of kings.” It is this King who possesses all power and authority. This is exactly what Jesus told His disciples before His ascention, “…All power(authority) is given to Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18) What does this mean? God the Father has given to the Son the spiritual authority to accomplish His will and purposes, and nothing, and no man can thwart His working. Christ is the sovereign God, termed by Isaiah as being, “the Almighty.” (9:6) Christ is King also because He uses His power and authority to put to flight His enemies, primarily Satan, and shower blessings upon those who would truly trust in Him. David specifically describes the King as being, “…strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (24:8) Why? It is for His followers. The believer must see the Lord Jesus as his conquering King, the warrior and captain of the host of the Lord, strong in battle, victorious, and mighty to save. This King is also, and specifically, the “King of glory.” What does this mean? The “glory” of God is the unveiling, the manifestation of his nature, attributes, words and works. When one gives to God praise and thanks in seeing or perceiving the manifestation of God, he is attributing rightly to Him his glory.
So, who is God, and what does this mean to the believer? Just as a nation cannot rise higher than its vision of Christ exalted, so the believer will only rise according to his vision of God.
Dear Father, Reveal the King’s glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.