Lift up Your Heads. Ye Might Gates - Hymn with Lyrics

 

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!

2. 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.

3. Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.

4. Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!

Scripture;

1 Chronicles 16:29; 

Psalm 24; 

Isaiah 11:12; 

Zephaniah 3:17

The hymn "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" has its origins in the 17th century and is based on a psalm from the Bible. Its words were written by Georg Weissel, a German Lutheran pastor and hymnist, in 1642. The hymn draws from Psalm 24:7-10, which is an invitation to the King of Glory to enter the gates of a city. The passage describes the triumphal entry of God or the Messiah into the holy city, which became a symbol of divine authority and triumph.

The Story Behind the Hymn:

1. Georg Weissel's Context: Georg Weissel wrote this hymn during a time of religious and political upheaval in Europe, specifically in the context of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which deeply affected Germany. This war was a devastating conflict involving many European powers, and it had a significant impact on the religious landscape of Europe, with Lutheran and Catholic forces battling each other. Weissel was writing from a Lutheran perspective, seeking to provide hope and comfort in such turbulent times.

2. Psalm 24 and its Theme: Psalm 24 speaks of the majesty and holiness of God, and it calls the gates to open wide for the King of Glory to enter. The psalm was seen as a prophecy of the coming Messiah, which for Christians was fulfilled in the arrival of Jesus Christ. The hymn’s lyrics invite the people of God to open their hearts and lives to the coming of Christ, celebrating His victory over sin and death.

3. The Hymn's Message: The hymn "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" echoes the anticipation of Christ’s second coming, where God's glory and sovereignty are celebrated. It combines biblical imagery with the hope of salvation, encouraging believers to prepare themselves for Christ’s reign. The hymn emphasizes the triumph and majesty of Christ as the King of Glory.

4. Musical Setting: The hymn was first set to music by Johann Crüger, a German composer and church musician, who worked in the mid-1600s. Crüger was known for his contributions to Lutheran church music, and his melodies became well-known and enduring in the tradition of hymns.

The hymn was later translated into English by William Henry Havergal in the 19th century, further popularizing it in English-speaking Protestant churches.

Today, "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" is often sung in Advent services as it expresses the themes of Christ’s coming—both His birth at Christmas and His future return in glory.