Sunday of the Week of Advent I

Lift up your heads, O Gates; lift them high O everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is this King of glory?”
“The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.”
Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is he, this King of glory?”
“The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24)

Although the first Sunday in Advent doesn’t find most of us ready for Christmas Eve, our culture has been pushing us toward the baby Jesus since Halloween! However, the church year — the cycle of readings appointed for worship and devotion — encourages us to hold off a while on Bethlehem, the stable, shepherds and the nativity. The first weeks of Advent, following Christ the King Sunday, remind us that Jesus, born as a baby in Judea, was born to be the “King of glory!”

This psalm is a proclamation of Jesus Christ, triumphantly approaching the eternal temple in heaven. The question is, “Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? And who can stand in his holy place?” Of course, the answer is, “those who have clean hands and a pure heart…” And who is that? Who has clean hands and a pure heart? No mere mortal. No sinful human being.

The psalm then, is a dialogue as heavenly beings question, “Who is this approaching the heavenly gates?” And the psalmist answers, “Open up, and you’ll see! The King of glory will come in — and the King of glory is Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords — Jesus, who by his death, resurrection and exaltation is LORD of the hosts of heaven!” It is right that the everlasting doors of heaven should be opened for the Lord Jesus Christ, strong and mighty!

This psalm also calls on the kings of this world, all nations and peoples to open the “doors” of their hearts, homes and kingdoms, as well, to welcome the King of glory, the Lord of hosts. The prayer of Advent is, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Let us open ourselves and our lives to his coming!

Prayer: O Lord of Hosts, you are King of glory! Thank you for your birth at Bethlehem, to be the savior and redeemer of the world — and of me! Amen.

Advent Action: Begin the season of Advent by joining in Sunday worship!

Today’s devotion was written by the Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism.

• Archive of NALC Devotions   • Original image   • Click any of our Scripture graphics to enlarge and save for use in bulletins, newsletters, blogs, and websites.