THE KING OF GLORY

“Who is this KING of GLORY? The LORD of hosts, He is the KING of GLORY” – Psalm 24:10

The GOD of GLORY also manifests as the KING of GLORY: “Who is this KING of GLORY? The LORD of hosts, He is the KING of GLORY” (Psa.24:10). This is a name of God that only occurs in this one psalm! Calling God the “King of Glory” means that all glory belongs to Him; He is the Source of glory; the most awesome, most powerful King, and should be taken seriously. Psalm 24 is a song about the Glory of God, reflecting the glory days of Israel’s great King David.

The gates of Jerusalem were significant for God’s people beyond providing protection and access to the city. These gates had quite a tale to tell of royalty, glory, splendor, and victory. Here, the gates of the holy city were personified to welcome the coming King. The psalmist called to attention and commanded the “gates” and the “ancient doors” to “be lifted up” to admit the King of Glory. This implies that the entrance wasn’t high enough to accommodate the Glory of the King of all kings.

The King of Glory in Psalm 24 is connected with the Shekinah Glory, God’s promised manifestation “in the cloud above the mercy seat” (Lev.16:2b). The mercy seat in the Ark of the Covenant was considered to be God’s glorious “throne” on earth (2Sam.6:2; Psa.80:2). It was from the mercy seat that God spoke to Moses (Exo.25:22). Psalm 24 appears to have been written to commemorate the entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem during David’s time (2Sam.6:12-17). The King of Glory came through the gates of Jerusalem and through the doors of the temple with a great procession as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to its permanent home on Mount Zion! A jubilant reception awaited Him: “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in” (v.7). David asked, “Who is this King of glory?” Immediately, he answered with a resounding declaration: “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (v.8).

Above all, God’s glory is revealed to the world in the Person of His Son. JESUS is the “KING of GLORY, the LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (v.8)! His entrance into Jerusalem amid the shouts of a jubilant crowd could be seen as another fulfilment of Psalm 24 (Mathew 21). Jesus is the One with “clean hands and a pure heart” who can “ascend into the hill of the LORD” and “stand in His holy place” (vv.3-4). On our behalf, He “will receive the blessing from the LORD” (v.5). Jesus Himself claimed to possess the Father’s Glory when He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the GLORY which I had with You before the world was” (Jh.17:5).

John likewise attested to Christ’s glory: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS GLORY, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jh.1:14). Peter also wrote, “For He received from God the Father honor and GLORY when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2Pet.1:17).

One of our chief tasks as believers is to spread the fragrance of the Splendour of our great Lord and Savior Jesus – the King of Glory! In doing so, we shall never be denied access to any gate that ought to open before us. When people ask us, “Who is this King of glory?” as followers of the King, who has called us into His dominion, we must be fully equipped to enlighten their darkness. As we worship and praise the King of Glory, He’ll grant us access into His realms of Glory and draw us closer to Himself. The Matchless King of Glory, in all His splendour, majesty and beauty of His holiness, is worthy of all our worship, as we behold His Glory in the face of our Lord Jesus. Who is this King of Glory? Jesus Christ our Lord!