HYMNS OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 24:7-10,    

Lift up your heads, you gates;   
be lifted up, you ancient doors,   
that the King of glory may come in.   
Who is this King of glory?   
The LORD strong and mighty,   
the LORD mighty in battle.   
Lift up your heads, you gates;   
lift them up, you ancient doors,   
that the King of glory may come in.   
Who is he, this King of glory?   
The LORD Almighty—   
he is the King of glory. 

Today I have chosen to present to you the Advent hymn, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates. You will note that Georg Weissel (1590-1635) began verse one of this hymn by quoting the words of Psalm 24:7: 

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. 

“The King of Glory waits. . .” In the church year, the Advent season is a season of waiting. If you have young children in your family, no one needs to tell you how anxious they are for Christmas to finally come. For Christian children, they not only wait for the gifts under the tree but also the celebration of the birth of Jesus. 

Verse one says the King of Glory, the King of kings, is drawing near. Verse two says this King will be a “righteous Helper. . .holy. . .showing pity to those in distress . . . He comes to bring an end to all our woe replacing it with gladness and song. 

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. 

The historical context at the time of the writing of this hymn was the thirty years war fought primarily in Germany, but also in Spain, France, and Sweden. Millions died during these years from war related injuries, disease and famine. One can’t help but think the hymn writer had in mind Jesus’ promise, “. . . surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)  

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 Spriit raise  
Your happy shouts of praise. 

“How blest” the hymn writer wrote, “the city” . . .where Christ (is) ruler (and is) confessed.” God sent His Son Jesus to set His adopted children free from their bondage to sin, Satan, and the world. This includes from war, pestilence, and famine too.   

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. 

As you experience the Advent season this year, the last two verses of today’s hymn raise a very positive, upbeat of hopefulness that is founded in Christ Jesus. 

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! 

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. 

As you wait to celebrate Christmas, today’s hymn encourages you, no matter what is happening in your personal life at this moment, to put your faith and trust in Jesus who came into this world to set you free from your sins and the sinful grasp of the world. (See John 8:31-32) 

Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates // LSB 341