Ancient Gates

Shane & Shane's “Ancient Gates” opens with singing at the ancient gates and a melody of ceaseless praise that grows stronger from age to age. It pictures a throne beneath the Name of names, with one seated on it who reigns, and a kingdom that is already here and getting closer.

The chorus invites worshippers to praise him as though they are already in glory. Here and now he is just as holy, and Jesus is worthy of it all. The second verse describes a Lord who lives in everlasting light, where the streets of heaven have no night and every tear is wiped away so that no sorrow is known. The bridge turns to the congregation, telling them to worship with a joyful sound, sing until the voice gives out, release their worship wherever they are and bring him every prayer-soaked lyric. The last line borrows the description of the One who was, who is and who is to come. The song links the worship of earth to the worship of heaven, which makes it an effective opener or closer for a service. It also suits private moments when a listener wants to remember that praise is not only a Sunday event but something already happening around the throne.

The gates lifting up their heads is Psalm 24:7. Unending praise to the holy One is Revelation 4:8, and light with no night is Revelation 21:23-25.