[Biblemat] hymn study, "Lift Up Your Heads"

[Wayne S Walker]

Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study.

"LIFT UP YOUR HEADS"
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates...and the King of glory shall come in"
(Ps. 24.7)

     INTRO.:  A hymn which encourages us to lift up our heads to see the
King of glory is "Lift Up Your Heads."  The text was written by Georg
Weissel, who was born in 1590 at Domnau near Konigsberg, Prussia, into
the prominent family of Judge Johann Weissel who was later Burgermeister
(mayor).  After studying at the University of Konigsberg from 1608 to
1611, Georg later enrolled for short periods at the Universities of
Wittenberg, Leipzig, Jena, Strassburg, Basel, and Marburg.  With such a
good education, he became rector of a school at Friedland near Domnau,
but resigned this post after three years to return to Konigsberg and
resume his theological studies at the university there.  In 1623, at the
age of 33, he became minister with the newly erected Altrossgart Church
at Konigsberg, where he remained the rest of his life.  

    Of some twenty of Weissel's hymns, four have been translated into
English, and this one, entitled in German "Macht Hoch Die Tuer," is the
only one which has continued in common use.  Believed to have been
produced around 1631 to 1634 before Weissel died at Konigsberg on Aug. 1,
1635, its first appearance was in the Preussische Fest-Lieder, Part I, of
1642 edited by Johann Eccard at Elbing.  The English translation was made
by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878).  It was first published in her 1855
Lyra Germanica, Book I. Some books contain alterations made by F. Samuel
Janzow (b. 1913).  The tune (Truro) used in many books today, including
those of our brethren, was composed by an anonymous musician.  It was
first published, with the hymn "Now to the Lord a noble song" by Isaac
Watts, in the 1789 Psalmodia Evangelica: A Collection of Psalms and Hymns
in Three Parts for Public Worship, edited by Thomas Williams (18th c.).  

       It is possible that Williams himself may have composed the music. 
No further information seems available on him.  Weissel's hymn was
originally in eight five-line stanzas, but this tune requires four-line
stanzas, making a total of ten.  Most books use only from three (as is
the case of our books) to six.  Among hymnbooks published by members of
the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of
Christ, the song appeared in the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J.
Nelson Slater.  Today, it may be found in the 1986 Great Songs Revised
(where the same tune is used again with "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"
by Samuel Medley) edited by Forrest M. McCann.  The same tune is also
used with the text "Christ Is Alive" by Brian Wren in the 1992 Praise for
the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand.

     The song exhorts the world to be ready for the coming of the Messiah
to bring salvation to mankind.

I. Stanza 1 tells us to acknowledge Christ as King
"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!"
 A. Jesus Christ is the King of kings: Rev. Rev. 19.11-16
 B. Of course, when the Psalm was written, the people of Israel were
looking for the King to appear; now that He has come, we look for Him to
appear again: Heb. 9.28
 C. However, because He has come, we can say that the Savior of the world
is here: Lk. 2.11

II. Stanza 2 tells us to look to Christ for help
"A Helper just He comes to thee; His chariot is humility.
His kingly crown is holiness, His scepter, pity in distress."
 A. One reason Christ came is to be a Helper, giving aid to those who are
tempted: Heb. 2.16-18
 B. He is willing to Help us because His life was characterized by
humility and lowliness: Matt. 20.4-5
 C. He is able to Help us because He His life was characterized by
holiness, being without sin: Heb. 4.14-16

III. Stanza 3 tells us to confess Christ as Ruler
"O blest the land, the city blest, Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes To whom this King in triumph comes!"
 A. We need to confess Christ as Ruler or Lord: Rom. 10.9-10
 B. The hearts and homes of those who thus confess will be blessed
because He will confess them before God: Matt. 10.32
 C. However, to receive such blessings, we must allow Him to come in
triumph into our hearts by accepting His invitation to come to Him: Matt.
11.28-30 

IV. Stanza 4 tells us to make our lives a temple for Christ   
"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."
 A. We should fling wide the portals of our hearts so that Christ can
dwell in our hearts by faith: Eph. 3.17
 B. This will make our bodies His temple: 1 Cor. 6.19
 C. To make ourselves fit as His temples, we must turn from earthly use
to Heaven's emply by being adorned with prayer and with joy: Phil. 4.4-7

V. Stanza 5 tells us to open our hearts to Christ
"Redeemer, come, we open wide Our hearts to Thee; here, Lord, abide.
Thine inner presence let us feel; Thy grace and love in us reveal."
 A. We should want Christ to abide in us: Jn. 15.4-7
 B. Feeling the inner presence of Christ is not a matter of some kind of
physical sensation but the knowledge from what has been written that if
we have the Son we have eternal life: 1 Jn. 5.11-13
 C. Through the influence of His word in our hearts, His grace and love
are revealed to us: Col. 3.12-16

VI. Stanza 6 tells us to follow the leading of Christ through His Spirit
"And let Thy Spirit lead us on Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame Be offered, Savior, to Thy name!"
 A. The instrument by which the Spirit leads us on is the word of God:
Eph. 6.17
 B. The goal toward which we are following Him is the prize of the upward
call of God: Phil. 3.14
 C. When we reach that goal we shall join with the redeemed of all ages
to offer eternal praise to the Lamb: Rev. 5.11-12

     CONCL.:  The omitted portions are as follows:
2. "Life and salvation He doth bring; Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing.
We praise Thee, Holy Father, now, Creator, wise indeed art Thou."
4. "The end of all our woes He brings; Wherefore the earth is glad and
sings.
We praise Thee, holy Savior, now; Mighty in word and deed art Thou."
6. "The cloudless Sun of joy He is, Who bringeth pure delight and bliss.
We praise Thee, Holy Spirit, now; Our Friend and Comforter art Thou."
8. "Thy King will then be glad to come And live within thee as His home;
Our highest praises now we bring, To Thee, our God, our Lord, our King."

      Brotherly,
Wayne S. Walker
9024 Amona Dr.
Affton, MO  63123
home phone: (314) 638-4710
office phone: (314) 544-1612
e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com
website: www.defenderoftruth.com

     Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth
website.  Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book
that I have written entitled Songs of Zion.  It can be ordered from the
publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com.  And
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