Open to Me the Gates

Psalm 118: 14-29 

Psalm 118; Martin Luther’s favorite Psalm as cited by C. H. Spurgeon (The Treasury of David.)

While in hiding in the Coburg Castle during 1530, Luther wrote an extensive commentary on Psalm 118.  On the wall of the room where he worked was written his personal motto: "I shall not die but live and recount the deeds of the Lord."  Psalm 118:17

This is the central message of the Psalm 118 which speaks of Jesus, and through Him, all believers. 

Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. Psalm 118:19 

Christian and his companion asked the men to go along with them: so they told them that they would; But, said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream, that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate.

Now I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and as they entered, they were transfigured; and had raiment put on that shone like gold. 

As the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold the city shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. 

Then I heard in my dream, that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, "ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD."

I heard the men themselves singing with a loud voice, saying, "BLESSING, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB, FOR EVER AND EVER."

Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan – Baptist minister (written during years of imprisonment in England- published 1684)