that the King of glory may come in

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 be lifted 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!

Psalm 24:7-10

In the time of David and the Kings of old, there was a time of great rejoicing when the arc of the covenant would come into the holy city (see 2 Samuel 6:16-19).  Though David was a king, he knew that the LORD was THE King.  There was a call to the city "Open your gates!"  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!

In the time of Herod the King a messenger from the LORD came to speak of a greater king than Herod.  The angel spoke to a young woman named Mary, a woman who was willing to open herself to the King of glory.  In a sense, it was as if the call to the city of old, came to a young woman, "Open your gates!" and open herself she did.  The honor of having the King of glory come the dwell inside!

In our own time each is his or her own king or queen, and yet at Christmastime we sing of a baby king.  A baby who grew up to be a man, a man who took his own cross, a cross on which he died, a death though, which could not hold inside the King of glory!  The King of glory cannot be contained even in death.  And the Risen King of Glory now pours Himself into those that open their gates through His Holy Spirit.  "Open your gates!"  he calls.  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!

Soon will come a day when the kings of this earth lose all their crowns and thrones and only One King will shine brighter than the light of the sun.  The King of glory will come to the open gates of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, and the dwelling of God will be with humans.  That city's gates will be open!  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!