Psalm 24:7-10
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—He is the King of glory. Psalm 24:7-10 (NLT)
If you are like me, you might skim through this repetitive passage and skip right over the treasures that lie within it. The author, David, uses a few simple adjectives to describe the Lord: strong, mighty, and invincible. Our treasure here is the reminder that our God, the Lord of heaven’s armies, isn’t just an ordinary guy, but is robust, powerful, and incapable of defeat.
In these verses, David is calling for the gates and doors of Jerusalem to be opened up to allow for the entrance of the Lord’s presence in to the city. Yes, he is calling for a city to physically open its gates for the Ark of the Covenant; but when I began to ponder this idea further, I wondered how it might be implemented into my life. I am certain that there are a multitude of ways in which the “gates” of my heart have blocked the entrance of the Lord’s company. Aren’t we all a little resistant at times? Thankfully for me, though, God continues to knock at those doors in order to soften my heart daily.
Along the same lines, our treasure also includes the fanfare that ensued with such an arrival. When a prominent figure visits a city, like a politician or celebrity, the proverbial red carpet is rolled out. Traffic is cleared, security is increased, and extra staff are present to ensure this distinguished visitor feels welcomed. I wonder if I am intentional about inviting and embracing the Holy Spirit with genuine pageantry and grandeur like we see for dignitaries in our world.
Questions for Reflection
- Remind yourself of the strong, mighty, invincible God that has filled you with his Spirit.
- Like the gates and doors of Jerusalem, how have you blocked the entrance of the Lord’s presence in your life?
- Think of ways you have rolled out the red carpet for the Holy Spirit’s entrance into your heart.
Prayer
Dear God, I praise you for invading my life with Your strong and mighty Spirit. Forgive me for the ways in which I have resisted or blocked Your entry into my hardened heart. Thank you for your unceasing knocking and pursuing of me. Please help me not to forget to continually celebrate Your presence. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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