Behold The King Of Glory Rides

 

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."
(Psalm 24:7-10)

Entry Of The Christ In Jerusalem

(1897)

Jean-Leon Gerome

(1824-1904)

French painter

Behold the King of Zion rides,

But not in vain array;

The people wave their goodly palms,

With garments strew the way;

And loud hosannas fill the air

From crowds that, surging, throng;

'Tis meet to honor Him who rides

With cheer, and shout, and song.

O Zion, of your God beloved,

The day of strife is nigh,

Yet comes He not with armor clad,

And sword upon His thigh;

The weapons of your mighty king

No other hand could wield;

The might of God in His arm,

The will of God His shield.

See, in the cross, without the wall,

The King immortal dies;

Not now hosannas fill the air-

The shouts of hell arise;

But in that hour of triumph, deemed,
Satanic might is slain,

For He who bows the head in death,

Shall rise to life again.

O Zion, hail your mighty King

Your palms around Him wave,

And strew your garments in the way
Of Him who rides to save;
And when He mounts His regal throne,

By bloody conflict won,

Give homage to the King of Heaven,

God's one eternal Son.

"Behold The King Of Zion Rides"
Translated from ancient Greek
by John Brownlie
(1857-1925)
Scottish clergyman and hymnodist