Among other things, Christmastime is one where we like to think of welcoming others. We welcome guests to our home for Christmas parties and gatherings. Or perhaps we are the guest that comes to someone’s home. Churches welcome guests to their special Christmas programs and concerts. People also like to count down the days till Christmas. Many people like to get Advent calendars for that purpose. Even secular TV will often remind us of how many days are left till Christmas. What are we looking forward to? Why the anticipation, the welcome? Is it just the presents, the gathering for a nice, special meal? Is it just looking forward to Santa Claus for the children? Today’s psalm gives us the answer of Who to welcome and look forward to.
The closing verses of Psalm 24 give joyous cries of welcome for the arrival of a king. The verses also give instructions to open the gates and doors, possibly of either the city or the royal palace, in welcome for this king. This is a psalm written by David. As we know, David was king, first of just the tribe of Judah, and then of the whole nation of Israel. However, as we read this psalm, it is evident that David is not speaking of himself as the king who is to be welcomed.
David identifies this king as the King of Glory. Who is this King of Glory? Even the psalm asks the question, one that David quickly gives the answer to. David assuredly tells us that the King of Glory is the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD of hosts (vs. 8, 10). The term Lord, when only the “L” is capitalized, and the rest is lower case, usually refers to an honorific title that one would give a king or a nobleman, or title used when speaking to a master. However, when the word is written in all capital letters it is always specifically referring to Yahweh. As we read these verses, we see that the word LORD is written here in all capital letters, thus the King of Glory is Yahweh.
David is calling upon all people to lift up their heads, be alert, be ready, open the doors and gates, so that the King of Glory can come in (vs. 7). The whole household, the whole city should be ready to welcome Him. As David describes Him, Yahweh is strong and mighty in battle. There is no foe or enemy that He cannot readily defeat. The Lord Jesus Christ defeated sin and Satan at the Cross. When He rose again, He defeated death.
There are many who fight against God, and are His enemies. The Lord Jesus is certainly not welcome by many. Here at Christmastime, the day set aside to honor and celebrate His birth, His coming to earth, He is frequently not welcomed. Nativity scenes on public property are banned and taken down. Many traditional Christmas carols are not played on the radio because they are “too religious”. Even some TV Christmas specials, ones that were shown for so many years, are not shown anymore because, again, they are considered “too religious” and thus too offensive. It seems that Jesus is no longer welcomed at His own birthday! Many today do not even consider Christmas a celebration for Jesus, and that it is only a time to give and get presents, a time for Santa Claus.
Christians are openly persecuted in some places, and subtly persecuted in other places. However, the King of Glory is strong and mighty in battle, and Yahweh will defeat His enemies. We see that the King of Glory is also the LORD of hosts (vs. 10). The word hosts refers to an army, and who would be in God’s army, but countless legions of angels. They are far more powerful than any earthly enemy that thinks they can come against God! We picture here the time when the Lord Jesus will return at His Second Coming, when He will permanently and forever defeat every one of His enemies.
Right now, though, believers are counting the days, the hours, until Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus. That little babe we see in Nativity scenes, whose birth we celebrate, is the King of Glory! Have we opened up the doors and gates of our hearts and homes for Him? Is He a part of your Christmas celebration, or is it just decorated trees, Santa Claus, and snowmen? Let us lift up our heads, open our doors, and welcome the King of Glory in!
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