Sharper Iron — The Psalter: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 24.

Psalm 24 may have been composed for the entrance of the ark of the covenant into the tabernacle. The LORD comes to His sanctuary as the Creator, Owner, and Preserver of all things. The one who ascends with Him on His hill is holy both inside and out, having remained free from idolatry. Such righteousness is not our own doing, but it is God’s gift to us through His Son Jesus Christ, who has lived entirely without sin for our sake. Psalm 24 calls upon the gates of the tabernacle to open wide to welcome the LORD as the King of glory. Similarly, the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to receive Jesus as our Savior. We welcome Him with joy, not only now in Word and Sacrament, but especially on the Last Day.

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David.

24 The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof,^[a]
the world and those who dwell therein,
²for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

³Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.^[b] Selah

⁷Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
⁸Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
⁹Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah

Footnotes

Psalm 24:1 Or and all that fills it
Psalm 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).