Thursday 13 July, 2017
Psalm 45
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. A wedding song to the tune of “Lilies.” 1 My heart is full of beautiful words as I say my poem for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. 2 You are the most excellent of men. Your lips have been given the ability to speak gracious words. God has blessed you forever. 3 Mighty one, put your sword at your side. Put on glory and majesty as if they were your clothes. 4 In your majesty ride out with power to fight for what is true, humble and fair. Let your right hand do wonderful things. 5 Shoot your sharp arrows into the hearts of your enemies. Let the nations come under your control. 6 Your throne is the very throne of God. Your kingdom will last for ever and ever. You will rule by treating everyone fairly. 7 You love what is right and hate what is evil. So your God has placed you above your companions. He has filled you with joy by pouring the sacred oil on your head. 8 Myrrh and aloes and cassia make all your robes smell good. In palaces decorated with ivory the music played on stringed instruments makes you glad. 9 Daughters of kings are among the women you honor. At your right hand is the royal bride dressed in gold from Ophir. 10 Royal bride, listen and pay careful attention. Forget about your people and the home you came from. 11 Let the king be charmed by your beauty. Honor him. He is now your master. 12 The people of Tyre will come with gifts. Wealthy people will try to gain your favor. 13 In her room, the princess looks glorious. Her gown has gold threads running through it. 14 Dressed in beautiful clothes, she is led to the king. Her virgin companions follow her. They have been brought to be with her. 15 They are led in with joy and gladness. They enter the palace of the king. 16 Your sons will rule just as your father and grandfather did. You will make them princes through the whole land. 17 I will make sure that people will always remember you. The nations will praise you for ever and ever.
The writer’s heart is indeed full of beautiful words for the king on his wedding day. And what a brilliant king: speaking gracious words; riding out for what is right and true; loving what is right and hating what is evil. Wouldn’t it be great to have a king like that! And what a wonderfully blessed bride: beautiful; dressed in glorious robes; honoured with gifts. How good would it be to have a king like that?
But then I remember I do have such a wonderful king: Jesus (Revelation 19:16). He’s everything that wonderful king is and more. He’s the one who puts on glory and majesty as if they were clothes; He rides out with power; His right hand does wonderful things; His throne is the very throne of God; and His kingdom will last forever.
And even better: the Church (us) is his wonderfully blessed bride (2 Corinthians 11:2). He chooses us to be with him forever. He gives us gifts, and honours us beyond what we deserve.
I’m struck by how blessed I am: Blessed to have a king like him; Blessed to be chosen by my king; Blessed in the intimacy of my relationship with him.
Oh Lord, fill my heart with beautiful words to praise my wonderful king, you. “I will make sure that people will always remember you. The nations will praise you for ever and ever.”
Written by David Cornell
Thanks David. I’m struck by the words of the first part of verse 8 in The Passion Version “Your royal robes released the scent of suffering love for your bride;”
Suffering love – what an amazing way to describe Jesus love for us, for the church – His bride. Not an arrogant, controlling, demanding love – but love that suffers “for” the one who is loved, love that suffers “because” of the the one who is loved. This is love that bears all things, is patient and kind, that does not boast and always rejoices in the truth and does not keep a record of wrongs. (1Cor 13:4-7) This is the love of Jesus to us and the love Jesus expresses through us, the church, His bride. Lord Jesus – thankyou for loving us with Your suffering love – may we respond to Your love our Lord and King.