The Glorious Gate

In my daily readings I observed various psalms that spoke of gates, and this reminded me of the 80's Terry Clark praise song, "These are the Gates."  The first verse goes, "These are the gates to the Kingdom.  These are the courts of the everlasting King and we enter in with praise and thanksgiving.  We enter in with praise and thanksgiving with praises on our lips, thanksgiving in our hearts, in loving worship of our Lord."  The song captures well the attitude of God's people who enter His kingdom, thanking God with gratitude for the grace He has extended to all people through the Gospel.

In the Old City of Jerusalem today there are many gates with different names with long, storied histories.  The Gate through whom people enter the kingdom of God is distinct and unique because it is a Person sinners enter by faith.  Jesus said concerning the sheep of His pasture as the Good Shepherd in John 10:9:  "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."  Since Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He is the exclusive path to God the Father and eternal life (John 14:6).  This righteous Way of salvation was spoken of in Psalm 118, a song filled with Messianic allusions.  Psalm 118:19-21 reads, "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD. ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. ²¹ I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation."  We could never find or open a gate of righteousness, but God has graciously opened it for us by the Gospel.

When I read this, my mind goes to Psalm 22 that begins with the words Jesus famously uttered from the cross in Psalm 22:1:  "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?"  David prophetically sang of what would take place when Jesus was crucified.  His song contains lyrics the Jewish religious rulers hurled verbatim at Christ with scorn (Matthew 27:43; Luke 23:35).  Psalm 22:16-18 continued from David's perspective:  "For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; ¹⁷ I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. ¹⁸ They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."  David may have been singing figuratively concerning himself, but by the power of the Holy Spirit he sang literally of what Jesus endured on Calvary.  Psalm 22:21 marks a major shift in the psalm from supplication to praise when God answers:  "Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me."

For all those who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ, our prayers for forgiveness and salvation have been answered with a resounding yes according to the Gospel.  By faith in Jesus we have spiritually entered the Kingdom of God, the narrow way that leads to eternal life.  Our hearts have received Jesus gladly even as subjects rejoiced to open the gates of the city for their returning king to enter.  As many as have received Him, to them Jesus gives the power to become children of God, born again by faith in Him.  Psalm 24:7-10 sings from the page with joy for all God's people:  "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. ⁸ Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. ⁹ Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. ¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."  Let us give God praise and thanksgiving, for the victorious King of glory has come in.