In our Psalter, #58 is titled “The Triumphal Ascension of Christ,” and #59 is called “The Divine King and the Worshiper.” Both of these songs are based on Psalm 24, in which David proclaims a royal welcome into heaven for the exalted Savior. The Psalm originally seems to have been written to describe the ascent of the Ark of the Covenant to Mount Zion and the new temple, symboli­cally representing Jehovah’s presence among the people. This foreshadows the Christ typified by the ark, specifi­cally His glorious ascension into heaven. His glory shines forth through the glorious names David attributes to Him, especially the title, “The King of glory,” which the Psalmist, himself a king, uses five times. We are reminded of Revelation 19:16, where the glorious Christ is called, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

When asked, “Who is the King of Glory?” David’s reply is, “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle, the LORD of hosts” (vv. 8, 10). The glorious ascending Christ is Jehovah, the almighty, invincible Cap­tain of our salvation. He is in authority over the entire heavenly host. When the gates lift up their heads and when the everlasting doors lift up their heads, the King of glory “shall come in!” This prophecy is fulfilled in Luke 24:51:

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

What a glorious entry it was! David addresses the glorious King,

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captiv­ity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.Ps. 68:18

Christ was taken up from earth into heaven in the sight of His disciples. He continues there for our interest until He comes again to judge the living and the dead. He is our advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven. We have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He as the head will take us, His members, up to Himself. He sends His Spirit as a down-payment, by whose power we seek the things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God, and not things of the earth.

The Second Helvetic Confession (XI, 11) states:

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, in the same flesh, ascended above all visible heavens into the highest heaven, that is, the dwelling place of God and the blessed ones, at the right hand of God the Father. Although it signifies an equal participation of glory and majesty, it is also taken to be a certain place about which the Lord, speaking in the Gospel, says: ‘I go to prepare a place for you’.John 14:2

The apostle Peter also says: “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21).

Notice that the glorious ascended Christ is on the very seat of God, equally participating in God’s glory, “who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:6). Let us glorify the ascended King of glory by trusting Him, believing in Him, living out of Him, and living for Him.

Remember, dear believer, your Savior is none other than the King of glory! Rest alone in Him, conscious of the fact that,

it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.Rom. 8:34