Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Psalm 24:7
In 1 Samuel 4, we read of how the Ark was captured by the Philistines, an event that caused the Israelites to mourn deeply. As the Ark was taken away, a single, tragic word echoed through Israel: Ichabod, meaning “The glory has departed from Israel” (1 Samuel 4:21). The Ark of the Covenant carried the very presence and glory of God, and when it was lost to the enemy, God’s glory departed from Israel. Psalm 24 is a powerful and poetic psalm of David, celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the city of Zion. In the second part of Psalm 24, a beautiful declaration is made, repeated twice: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” This is a call for the gates to open wide, welcoming the return of God’s glory.
The term “gates” in Scripture can have multiple meanings. For instance, in Isaiah 60:18, gates symbolize praise. However, there’s another profound significance to the word “gates.” A gate is fundamentally an entrance, and in this context, it is the doorway through which God’s glory enters Jerusalem. When God revealed Himself to Jacob in Genesis 28:17, Jacob exclaimed, “This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” As we step into the new year, let’s remember that the “house of God” — the community of believers — is the gateway for the King of glory to enter our lives. Our fellowship with other believers becomes the portal through which God will move into our situation. This year, as we choose to remain in union and fellowship with God’s people, we can expect to see the King of glory manifest Himself in our lives as “The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8).
Declaration: This year, as I live in constant fellowship with other believers and I am part of the house of God, I will encounter the King of glory in every area of my life. This year, I will see the Lord as “The Lord mighty in battle” on my behalf.
Scripture: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!….for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3)