Psalm 24, Part 2: Who Is This King of Glory?
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David’s goal of bringing the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem occasioned the composition of Psalm 24. It was to be sung by two choirs answering each other from afar.
The same verses are “used in the Sabbath morning and afternoon services of the modern synagogue before the Torah is returned to the ark.” Were David’s words penned solely to welcome the ark to Jerusalem? Did he, perhaps, in vision, see the ascension of Christ following His mission to save lost humanity? Ellen White paints a vivid picture of Christ’s triumphant return to His heavenly home: “All heaven was waiting the hour of triumph when Jesus should ascend to His Father. Angels came to receive the King of glory and to escort Him triumphantly to heaven. After Jesus had blessed His disciples, He was parted from them and taken up. And as He led the way upward, the multitude of captives who were raised at His resurrection followed. A multitude of the heavenly host were in attendance, while in heaven an innumerable company of angels awaited His coming. As they ascended to the Holy City, the angels who escorted Jesus cried out, ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.’ The angels in the city cried out with rapture, ‘Who is this King of glory?’ The escorting angels answered in triumph, ‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in!’ Again the waiting angels asked, ‘Who is this King of glory?’ and the escorting angels answered in melodious strains, ‘The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.’ And the heavenly train passed into the city of God.” “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! / Behold the King of glory waits”
