I first posted about this hymn on my previous blog. Many places that I looked call this an advent hymn. I don’t know. I kinda see it, and yet, I kinda see it as something more. I’ll let you make up your mind about that. Anyways, let’s learn more about Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!
Lyrics
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 doth He bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!
The Lord is just, a helper tried,
Mercy is ever at His side,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe He brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Savior, now,
Mighty in deed art Thou!
Oh blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the ruler is confessed!
Oh happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this king in triumph comes!
The cloudless sun of joy He is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss:
O Comforter divine,
What boundless grace is Thine!
Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin:
To Thee, O God, be praise,
For word and deed and grace!
Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee—here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal,
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won!
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.
Author and history
Georg Weissel (note the lack of an e on this first name!) was a Lutheran pastor out of Germany. In his day this area of land was known as East Prussia. His dad Johann was both judge and mayor of his town, Domnau.
Being a pastor was a second career for him, he had started off as the rector of a school. After his finished his studies, he became the pastor of the newly built Altrossgart Church in Königsberg in 1623. He remained there until his death in 1635.
Weisel was well-known as a poet, and wrote 20 hymns as well. These hymns he generally wrote to mark the greater festivals of the church year.
Lift up your heads ye mighty gates, was based on Psalm 24
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may 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;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Ponderings
Did you know I’ve written songs based on scripture? Yes I have. It’s not as easy as it sounds. And no, I haven’t shared them with more than one person (she helped me write the music for them).
So I am always amazed at someone who can take scripture and then turn it into a GOOD song. Whether it’s a simple one like last week, or a more complicated one like today.
Did you take time to read the words of this song? Following along with Jesus promised, Jesus here? Then onto Jesus our helper, Jesus will return? The doctrine in this song is worth looking at.
I love this Psalm, Annette! Thank you for sharing the lovely hymn as well. 😊
oh thank you, it’s a wonderful song isn’t it? 🙂
I haven’t listened to the tune (everyone is asleep and I don’t have my earbuds out here) but I absolutely am caught by the words of this one. I don’t know it and this particular Psalm has never caught my attention like this. I’ll be digging into it more though. I really like this.
Oh Good, good songs do that don’t they? 🙂