In the Waiting: Psalm 24
Have you heard the good news? The King of Glory is coming!
Who is this King?
He’s the LORD, strong and mighty. He’s the God of Angel Armies. He’s the Creator of the earth and sky and all that exists - everything, everwhere - world without end.
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all its peoples belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1 NLT)
He’s the Faithful One who called Abraham and Sarah and promised more descendants than could ever be counted.. He came through on his promise and a nation was born through “King-Glory’s” covenant. He’s the Redeemer and Rescuer who delivered the Israelites from the Pharoah and brought them out of Egypt. He’s the Great I Am who came near to Moses and revealed himself as “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy…slow to anger, filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Ex. 34:6)
He’s Immanuel (God With Us) who enters our darkness with love’s piercing light. ‘He lavishes unfailing love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin.’ (Psalm 34:7a)
Our coming King is holy and just - without sin. Who can stand in his presence? Yet he took on flesh and became a “friend of sinners,” showing us that union with Love’s Family is possible, not by our doing but by God’s amazing grace.
Wake up, you sleepyheard city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter. (Psalm 24:7 The Message)
After weeks of preparing our hearts for the coming King, the time has finally come.
Life up your heads. Who is this King of Glory?
“Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.”
Advent/Christmas Antiphon I with Psalm 24
Antiphon:
Heavens, pour down your waters from above:
let the Just one descend.
Open up, O earth and let the savior bud forth.
1. The earth’s fullness belongs to the Lord
for all that is substance and breath,
2. all things
from pebble to star
are born from his love.
3. Open your highways and gateways,
ancient paths and new roads, open!
for the Lord of glory is coming.
4. Who is this Lord of glory,
he who lifts all his creation
into the dance of life!
5. Open your highways and gateways,
ancient paths and new roads, open!
for the Lord of glory is coming.
6. Who is this Lord of glory,
the maker of all worlds.
He is the Lord of glory!
© 1975 The Benedictine Foundation of the State of Vermont, Inc., and Catherine De Vinck