Ancient Doors

Sept. 23

Read: Psalm 24

Cosmic Geography, Part 3

Ancient Doors

“Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.” (v.7,9)

There are unique places where the “King of Glory” enters through. These “gates” and “ancient doors” represent those “openings”… those “thin spaces” as we spoke of before. This is the gospel - the “good news” - that the King has come and brought the Kingdom of God with him! (cf. Mark 1:15) What was once here in Eden is being brought back and restored through Christ!

We see that these so called “doors” are ancient… they have been around for a while. The presence of God in his creation and his ruling over all of it (it all belongs to him remember?) is not a new idea… it is ancient… as ancient as Eden and humanity itself. God made Adam and Eve to represent him (“image” him) in this world and to have relationship with him. This has always been God’s plan. In this way, we become the “gates” and the “ancient doors” that receive King Jesus. God is working in the world, through us… his people - we are the doorway.

The “gates” and “doors” need to “lift up our heads” (v.7) We need to look up and see… look up and receive… open up to the King. We may ask, “who is this King of Glory”? The scriptures answer for us:

“The LORD, strong and mighty,

the LORD, mighty in battle!…

The LORD of hosts,

he is the King of glory! Selah” (v.8,10)

Our Lord is strong and mighty, he is mighty in battle. Remember this the next time you feel attacked. The Lord is with you. He is mighty to save. Our Lord - Jesus, The King - he is the "Lord of Hosts”… "The Lord of Spirits”. He rules over the spiritual realm and everything in it as much as he does this physical realm. Jesus commands his “angel armies” … he is exerting his authority over the Devil and any other rebellious spiritual beings. So we “lift up our head” and focus on him. We look up from our despair to see Jesus - the Glorious King - coming to save, mighty in battle, strong, and ruling over all things. Verses 4-6 come alive when Jesus enters in… they become true of us - the children of God:

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the LORD

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” (v.4-6)

Who has clean hands a pure heart? In Christ - WE DO! Who does not lift up their soul to what is false or swear deceitfully? In Christ - WE lift up our heads to Jesus and he enters in. We lift up our “souls” to what is true… not to what is false! WE swear by the truth … not deceitfully. Jesus is the King of Glory. We receive blessing from the Lord and salvation through him. So…

“Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.” (v.7,9)

Love you guys! - JDP