Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

This Sunday, December 11, is the Third Sunday of Advent.

Verse of the Season: Isaiah 11:1-2

This week’s sermon is: “Are You the One?”

This week’s readings are:

Isaiah 35:1-10

James 5:7-11

Matthew 11:2-15

Psalm 146

Message: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

In the season of Advent we remember that Jesus is coming … again!

In U.S. American culture we tend to think of welcoming Jesus in a very individualistic way.

Scripture is more … communal

-       Philippians 2:9-11 - … God highly exalted [Jesus]
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
¹¹ and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Watch for it!

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

-        Originally German – written in the early 1600’s-         

-        Takes language and images from Psalm 24 – especially v. 7-10

Lift up your heads, you gates!

Rise up, ancient doors!

Then the King of glory will come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, you gates!

Rise up, ancient doors!

Then the King of glory will come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory?

The Lord of Armies,

he is the King of glory.

-      Pattern

o   Father, Son, and Spirit

§  All Three active in our salvation

§  King, Helper, Christ

§  Apocalyptic – we don’t experience all (some, yes!) of this in this life, but we will when Jesus comes again.

o   Our response

§  Over and over – Praise rooted in God’s Salvation

§  Not just that God is Great – not necessarily good news

§  God saves, he comes to save

o   A closing prayer to the Triune God

§  Redeemer, come and open wide my heart to Thee; here, Lord abide!

§  O enter with Thy grace divine; Thy face of mercy on me shine.

§  Thy Holy Spirit guide us on

§  Until our glorious goal is won.

§  Eternal praise and fame we offer to Thy name.

 

Notice who is active through out the hymn.

-        God

-        Even v. 4 – our response – “To God alone be praise for word and deed and grace!”

Beautiful hymn placing ourselves in God’s hands – looking for our King, Redeemer, Helper, Savior to come to us.

Give it a listen. (Two versions in our hymnal)

Read the Lyrics.

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits.
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here.
Life and salvation He doth bring;
Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.
To God the Father raise
Your joyful songs of praise.

2 A righteous Helper comes to thee;
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.
The end of all our woe He brings;
Therefore the earth is glad and sings.
To Christ the Savior raise
Your grateful hymns of praise.

3 How blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O peaceful hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless sun of joy is He
Who comes to set His people free.
To God the Spirit raise
Your happy shouts of praise.

4 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for heav'n's employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
So shall your Sov'reign enter in
And new and nobler life begin.
To God alone be praise
For word and deed and grace!

5 Redeemer, come and open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
O enter with Thy grace divine;
Thy face of mercy on me shine.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.[1]

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[1] Lutheran Service Book, CPH, Hymn 340 & 341