October 18, 2023 -- Psalm 45:1-6 -- The Psalm Series: Preparing for the holy wedding day
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Psalm 45:1-6 ESV
What a contrast to Psalm 44, which was a lament—a heart-crying out to God. Today there is a wedding poem. It is reminiscent of the Song of Solomon. When you think about it for a minute it’s placement here makes sense,. Life is hard. There are obstacles and troubles. But the ultimate answer to the prayer of the previous psalm “Rise up, come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love! (Psalm 44:26) is found in today’s text. The people of God, the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ, anticipates her wedding day.
What helps the believer face hardships and persecution and the hatred of the world arrayed against Jesus and His followers? It is the knowledge that Jesus Himself is preparing the marriage feast of the Lamb in the new heavens and the new earth. He is strong, tearing down all opposition and His work includes one day defeating even death itself. For us to live is Christ and to die is gain. Like a bride and a groom who are preparing for their wedding day, so the believer in Christ and the Bridegroom Jesus, are preparing for this day of wonder and blessedness and joy!
Jesus has taken us, His people, from the slave-market of sin. Jesus has sent His Spirit to purify us, to assure us of His tender love and His unwavering commitment. He is declaring His strength and ability to overcome all obstacles so that the wedding feast will happen. And we, His bride, anticipate this. We pray for this. We hate sin and refuse to yield to temptations because of this glorious day which is approaching. When we fall into sin and give in to temptation, we are reminded that Jesus has already redeemed us for His Own. He knew, and knows, the worst and ugliest things about us and He is making us holy unto Himself.
In the Book of Esther, before the woman Esther could meet with King Ahasuerus, she had to go through a year of beautifying. Six months beautifying with the oil of myrrh and then six months with spices and ointments (Esther 2:12). If an earthly king could require such intense beautifying treatments, how much more should Jesus, the Most Excellent of Men, the Holy One, expect His people, His Bride, to be made pure. He is beautifying you with truth, meekness and righteousness.
Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. How gracious and tender a Father You are to send Jesus, the Son of Your love, to fetch us as His bride. Thank You for the beautifying work of the Holy Spirit. Forgive us for the times we are stubbornly reluctant to receive such tender, cleansing work. How silly and small-minded we are, readying ourselves, showering, dressing nicely for things like a court appearance or a job interview but thinking we can slouch slovenly towards You with little or no preparation. Renew in us a wondrous sense of Your holiness and terrible beauty so that we will fully submit to the regime of beautifying You have prepared for us so that we can with awestruck joy and great anticipation prepare for our holy wedding day. This we pray in Jesus’ great Name. Amen.
https://youtu.be/vEPAKmwHhdg?si=R2HN4dKhWGcz7w5M Shane and Shane “Psalm 84”
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