What does Psalm 24:7 mean?

David appeals to Jerusalem to make room for the King of glory to enter the city. Today, when a prominent dignitary like a royal person visits the nation's capital, a flurry of activity precedes his arrival. Traffic is cleared, flags are hoisted, and security is enhanced. Every precaution is taken to welcome the distinguished visitor. Jerusalem's gates were the site where official business was transacted. David's call to the gates was a poetic summons to the whole city of Jerusalem to welcome the King of glory.

Tradition suggests this psalm is connected to when David brought the ark of the covenant back from the home of Obed-edom (2 Samuel 6). The ark that represented God's presence was about to enter Jerusalem. When it had been seized by the Philistines, Eli's daughter-in-law bore a son and called him Ichabod, saying, "'The glory has departed from Israel!' because the ark of God had been captured" (1 Samuel 4:21). Now that the ark was about to enter Jerusalem, the glory of the King of heaven and earth was returning.