ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Falaite Novema 12, 2021

Lift up your heads

mou hiki homou ‘ulu na

Saame 23-24 (Psalm 23-24)

(24:7-8) ‘a e ngaahi matapā, mou hiki homou ‘ulu na; ‘Io, mou mahiki, ‘a e ngaahi matapā tupu‘a: Kae hū atu ‘a e Tu‘i Lāngilangi ki hena. Ko hai tū ‘a e Tu‘i Lāngilangi?

Ko Sihova, ko e to‘a mo e mafi; Ko Sihova, ko e to‘a ‘i he fepaki.

(24:7-8) Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O 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!

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Psalm 23

In the Messianic application this psalm properly follows that in which the work of the Christ as Saviour is portrayed. It is to those whom He has won through His passion that He becomes known as the Shepherd.

Of course, this psalm, as written, is even more wonderful because of the fact that its author did not live in the light of Jehovah which has come to us through the Incarnation. It shows us how very clearly faith saw through the mists of those preparatory days to some of the most precious-things about God. We still read the wonderful words of Jehovah and understand them, but the revelation of Him in Jesus is our interpretation and the psalm becomes richer for that fact. It is an unruffled song of rest. All the circumstances of the pilgrimage, want, weariness, journeyings, wanderings, perplexities, the shadowed mystery of the valleys, the thronging enemies, and the infinite beyond, are present and the singer knows them. They are mentioned however, only to sing of their negation by the graciousness of the Shepherd. Want is canceled. For weariness He has green pastures of rest. On journeys He leads by pleasant ways. From wanderings He restores. Through perplexities He guides and that by right ways. In the valleys of death's shadow His presence cancels fear. In the presence of enemies He makes a feast and is a Host royal in bounty. And finally the path runs on, not into a tangled wilderness but by the King's own palace.

Psalm 24

This is the final psalm of the three, and as in Psa 22:1-31 the words so far exceed the possibility of exhaustion by any circumstances originating them as to create an opinion unanimously in favor of their Messianic application. In this song the Saviour who through suffering triumphed, the Shepherd; who through pilgrimage leads His own, is seen ascending to the place of power and authority.

The first movement recognizes the sovereignty of Jehovah over the created world and its inhabitants (verses Psa 24:1-2 ). There is, then, a question which recognizes a need. The hill of the Lord which is the place of authority (see Psa 2:6 ) is vacant, and it is asked, “Who shall ascend into it?” The answer declares the need for purity of conduct and character. Suddenly the antiphonal chanting of angels breaks forth. Some are accompanying the King as He approaches the place of power. Others wait, guarding the entrance. The first company claims entrance for Him. The second assembly challenges His right. The answer tells of might inherent and of victory in battle, and through the lifted portals we see Him pass and know Him for “Jehovah of hosts.” By our calendars, yesterday He passed through Psalms 22:1-31. Today He is exercising the office of Psalms 23:1-6. Tomorrow, He will exercise finally the authority ofPsalms 24:1-10; Psalms 24:1-10.