Psalm 24 is a psalm written by King David that expresses truths about God’s sovereignty, the character of those who may ascend into His presence, and the identity of the triumphal King of glory. In verse 7 of this psalm, there is an exhortation to “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” This verse comes within a section proclaiming the identity and attributes of God, so what does it mean for us to “lift up our heads”? Let’s explore this passage further.
Context of Psalm 24
Psalm 24 begins by declaring that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord, who founded it on the seas and established it on the waters (v. 1-2). The theme is introduced – God is the sovereign owner and ruler of all creation. Verses 3-6 then describe who may ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. Only those with clean hands, pure hearts, who do not worship idols or take false oaths will receive blessing from God and righteousness from the God of their salvation (v. 3-5). This establishes a key truth – only the righteous may enter God’s presence.
Then there is a shift starting in verse 7, as the focus turns to the triumphal arrival of the King of Glory. Verse 7 is a call to the gates and doors of the temple to open and welcome the glorious King. Verse 8 asks the question “Who is this King of Glory?” and verse 9-10 respond that He is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord strong and mighty in battle. So this final section is proclaiming the identity and attributes of God as He enters the temple.
Meaning of “Lift Up Your Heads”
When verse 7 says “Lift up your heads, O gates!” it is a personification of the gates of the temple. Though gates are inanimate objects, the psalmist speaks to them as if they were people who could actively lift their heads. To “lift up the head” means to look up in anticipation and welcome (Psalm 3:3). It communicates the action of eagerly looking for the arrival of an honored guest or dignitary. In ancient times, this was a way to show respect and honor for someone of importance as they approached (Psalm 110:7).
So by saying “Lift up your heads, O gates”, the psalmist is poetically saying – “Get ready and look sharp for the coming of your King!” It’s as if the ancient gates of the temple are being told to be on the lookout and get ready to honor the glorious arrival of the King of Glory. The repetition with the doors in verse 9 emphasizes the need for all the entrances to actively prepare for the coming of the great King.
Some other things implied in the command to lift up the heads include:
- A posture of respect and reverence before God’s majesty
- Preparing one’s heart to receive God’s presence
- Looking expectantly for God’s arrival, being aware and alert
- Recognizing one’s need for God’s coming
So in summary, the command to “lift up your heads” means to eagerly anticipate the coming of the Lord, be ready to welcome Him, and demonstrate an attitude of honor and respect for His glory and majesty as He enters the temple.
Application for Us Today
While on its surface verse 7 speaks of literal gates, this image also communicates an important truth for us as believers. Here are some ways we can apply the principle of “lifting up our heads” today:
- Posture our hearts to welcome God’s presence – We should cultivate an attitude of joyful expectation for encountering God’s presence and eagerly prepare our hearts to receive Him.
- Acknowledge God’s glory – Lifting our heads is a physical way to express our recognition of God’s supreme glory and majesty.
- Look expectantly for Christ’s return – Like servants anticipating their master (Luke 12:36), we should be alert and eagerly await Christ’s promised return, being ready to welcome Him back.
- Humility – Lifting our heads portrays a willingness to submit to God’s greatness and bow our own heads in humility before Him.
- Reverent worship – We lift our heads to honor God as the glorious King of Kings, worthy of our heartfelt praise and worship.
The overall message for us is that we must prepare our hearts to receive God’s presence, actively looking for Him and seeking Him with an attitude of humble reverence and expectant joy. We demonstrate that God is worthy of all honor and praise as we lift our heads and lives to welcome Him in all His glory.
Old Testament Background
The imagery of lifting heads would have been readily understood in ancient Near Eastern culture. When an important king was approaching, it was common to make preparations to welcome them by opening the city gates and having the gatekeepers stand at attention. We see a similar example of this when King David returned to Jerusalem after Absalom’s defeat:
“Then the king said to Zadok, “Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” […] So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.” (2 Samuel 15:25-26, 19:15)
The people went out to meet and welcome King David back with joy and honor. In the same way, the psalmist calls on the temple gates to lift up their heads in eager anticipation of welcoming the arrival of the great King of Glory.
New Testament Context
Psalm 24 is quoted in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 2:8, which refers to Jesus as “the Lord of glory.” Though the religious rulers of the age did not recognize Him, the irony is that by crucifying Christ they were putting to death the very King of Glory that Psalm 24 prophesies. And Hebrews 2:7-9 tells us that while Jesus was made for a little while lower than the angels, through His death He is now crowned with glory and honor. In light of the New Testament, we see that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the triumphal King of Glory that the psalmist eagerly looked for.
When Christ returns, we as believers will lift our heads at last to welcome the King of Glory into His full kingdom. Until then, we live with expectant hope looking forward to that day. Titus 2:13 calls us to be “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Lifting up our heads is a posture of eager expectation as we await to welcome Christ in glory.
Reflections on Eagerly Awaiting Christ’s Return
As Christians, the eager expectation of Christ’s return should be part of our daily lives and the lens through which we view the world. Here are some reflections on what it looks like to lift our heads in joyful anticipation of seeing our King face to face:
- It transforms how we see our present troubles – whatever we face now is “light and momentary” compared to the eternal glory to come (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). This hope lifts our heads above anxiety and uncertainty.
- It motivates us to live boldly and share the Gospel – knowing Christ could return any day gives urgency to speak the truth (2 Timothy 4:1-2). The time is short!
- It enables us to walk by faith – we have not yet seen our King with our eyes, and yet we live confidently trusting His promises. This hope gives us endurance and perseverance (Romans 8:24-25).
- It causes us to purify ourselves – we want to be ready to meet our Lord with prepared hearts, unhindered by sin and distraction (1 John 3:2-3). Our holiness is motivated by the desire to be ready for His coming.
May Psalm 24:7 inspire us to lift our eyes from the troubles of this world and look expectantly to Jesus, the King of Glory who will one day return for us. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Deeper Analysis of literary features
Psalm 24 masterfully utilizes vivid poetic devices to paint a memorable picture and draw the reader into worship:
- Personification – By addressing the gates and doors as people who can lift their heads, the psalmist brings them to life in the reader’s imagination.
- Repetition – The parallel structure of verses 7 and 9 (lift up your heads/be lifted up) emphasizes the importance of preparation and adds poetic impact.
- Dialogue – The back and forth question and answer between the worship leader and the gates/doors engages the reader as if part of a dramatic exchange.
- Contrast – The lofty gates and doors are depicted as humbling themselves and lifting their heads to welcome the supremely exalted King of Glory.
- Majesty imagery – Descriptions of the temple gates emphasizes grandeur and size, underscoring the supreme majesty of the King who deserves such an imposing welcome.
These creative techniques would have captured the imagination of psalm singers and drawn them into the experience of anticipating the King’s arrival. The psalm skillfully uses emotion, imagination and the senses to portray the incomparable glory due to God alone. This artistic craftsmanship underscores why the psalms have inspired worship for millennia.
Ancient Gates as a Picture of Access to God’s Presence
The gates of the Old Testament temple had rich theological symbolism for ancient Israelites:
- They marked the division between the profane and the holy – one could only pass through the gates in a state of ritual purity
- They were manned by gatekeepers from the Levite tribe, who guarded the sanctity of the temple
- The veils and curtains within the gates got progressively more restrictive as one approached the Holy of Holies
- Only the High Priest could enter through the final veil into God’s direct presence once a year
So for an ancient worshipper, the lifting of the temple gates signaled access to the presence of God in levels available to them. It was a profound picture of the grace of being allowed to draw near to the Almighty Creator. That’s why the gates are personified as honored participants in receiving the King of Glory. They represent the passageway into the joy of God’s presence.
Of course, in Christ we now have direct access into God’s presence through the torn veil of His flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20). He has opened the gates of heaven to us through His finished work on the cross. And one day the Bible promises that the gates of the New Jerusalem will never be shut (Revelation 21:25). So for believers, lifted gates are a powerful picture of free access into eternal joy in God’s presence.
Conclusion
Psalm 24:7 uses vivid poetic imagery to depict the gates of God’s temple lifting up their heads in awe and anticipation of the coming of the King of Glory. Though addressing inanimate objects, this verse reminds us to eagerly look for the Lord’s arrival with hearts prepared to welcome Him.
For ancient Israelites, the temple gates symbolized the passageway into God’s holy presence. For Christians, Christ has now opened the way for us to freely commune with God. And one day, the gates will be opened fully and forever!
Until then, may Psalm 24:7 inspire us to keep looking up as we eagerly wait for our blessed hope – the return of our King Jesus. He alone is worthy! Let’s lift up our heads every day in joyful anticipation of that glorious day. Hallelujah!