The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 24: 7—10

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!

MAKE WAY FOR THE KING…

Early Advent celebrations had a focus upon penitence. Interestingly, it would be late in the Dickens era before there would be such a focus on children during Advent and Christmas. As you go over some of the history, you find that the adults seemed to get most of the attention. This changed in the English-speaking world with the writings of Charles Dickens. There was a concerted effort to give children a magical experience at Christmas time. I love the traditions, the colors, and the lights of the holiday season. I enjoy the “enjoyment” of the children in the season. We just do not want to lose the Living Christ during it all. Take note of hymn 198 from the Trinity Hymnal, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!”---it is one of the most Christ-centric pieces based upon a Psalm (Psalm 24) that you will find. It is an Advent Hymn. It asks us to consider our heart before the LORD Jesus Christ---how well have we received Him? How well do we make room for Him each day?

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!

Lift up your heads ye mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits;

The King of kings is drawing near, the Savior of the world is here.

A helper just he comes to thee, his chariot is humility,

His kingly crown is holiness, his scepter, pity in distress.

O blest the land, the city blest, where Christ the Ruler is confessed!

O happy hearts and happy homes to whom this King in triumph comes!

Redeemer, come! I open wide my heart to thee; here LORD, abide!

Let me thy inner presence feel; thy grace and love in me reveal.

So come, my Sovereign, enter in! Let new and nobler life begin!

Thy Holy Spirit guide us on, until the glorious crown be won.

Based on Psalm 24

Georg Weissel, 1642 / trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855; alt.

PRAYER

LORD, here I am, wholly yours. I come to surrender myself , my whole life and being, to be entirely and always at your disposal, and for your use. Accept a devoted, self-resigning soul.

I have here brought you back a stray, a wandering creature---my own self. I heard what a Redeemer has done and suffered to reconcile us. Against your known design, I can no longer withhold myself from your plan for me.

And I yield myself to you because I love you. I make an offer of myself to be your servant---your servant O LORD. You have loosed my bonds, and now I desire to bind myself in new ones to you, that are never to be loosed. Amen. John Howe

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason