“Lift
up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the
King of glory shall come in.” Psalm 24:7
Psalm24 is the last in the trio of
psalms picturing Christ as the Shepherd. In this psalm we see Him as the
victorious Shepherd. He was the suffering Shepherd in Psalm 22, the caring and
tender Shepherd in Psalm 23 and now in this psalm He is seen ascending into His
glorious throne and being welcomed as heaven’s gates open to the Victor. One
day the gates of the city of Jerusalem will open to this victorious Shepherd as
He returns to take His rightful reign on earth. Peter speaks of this as the
coming of the Chief Shepherd who will also offer crowns to His loyal
under-shepherds. In Psalms 22-24 we see the past, present and future work of
our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
John W. Peterson wrote a beautiful
hymn expressing the triumph of Psalm 24. “Open wide, ye everlasting doors, let
the King of glory in; now returning from His earthly wars, He the victory did
win. See the rich red wounds He bears, scars of battle now He wears; He has
wrested Satan’s throne, He must reign and He alone!” Praise God for the mighty
victory of Christ the Suffering Good Shepherd, the Tender Great Shepherd and
the Victorious Chief Shepherd of our souls.
Dear
Father, Thank You for the complete work of Christ our Shepherd for us, the
often wandering sheep of Your pasture. Amen.
The
Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop
you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in
the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be
enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen
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