Psalm 45

A wedding song

I wonder how many of you chose – Love Divine, all loves excelling, – as a hymn for your wedding. It is really a prayer. Do you remember the last verse? –

Finish then Thy new creation,

Pure and spotless may we be;

Let us see our whole salvation

Perfectly secured by Thee!

Are you looking forward to that day?

In Heb.ch.1 v.8 the writer says – “But about the Son he says” – then he quotes Ps.45 v.6,7. The writer sees Psalm 45 as a prophecy of Jesus and that is the way I’m going to treat this very precious psalm.

Ps.45 – a prophecy of Jesus and his bride

Let’s go through it verse by verse –

v.1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I write my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer.

The writer is excited, he feels stirred within by the Holy Spirit; his pen is his way of communicating the joy within his heart.

These next verses are addressed to the king – Jesus

v.2 You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed. 

Our Lord, the Son of God, came as a man – the most excellent of men – as we read his precious words in the gospels they are truly – anointed with grace – and, yes, God has blessed him for ever; the victory is eternally his.

v.3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendour and majesty.

The battle is fought and won so now – Gird your sword upon your side – take off the battle clothes – clothe yourself with splendour and majesty. – this is a victory parade.

v.4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.

In your majesty ride forth – when Jesus entered Jerusalem he rode on a donkey. Riding on a horse would add to the sense of majesty but Jesus showed forth his majesty in humility – he was riding on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness – he had displayed awesome deeds of healing and deliverance but the greatest was the battle won on the cross; he will ride forth victoriously. He will return.

v.5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies, let the nations fall beneath your feet.

Yes – the sharp arrows of his words still pierce the heart – and yes, the nations will bow their knee to Jesus.

v.6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.

Hallelujah! – Son of Man – Son of God – now on the eternal throne and his kingdom is ruled with a sceptre of justice.

v.7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

There is no darkness, no deceit, in Jesus, only light and truth. He came as a man but – God the Father, whom he obeyed, set him above all men by anointing him with the oil of joy.

v.8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of strings makes you glad.

Myrrh, aloes and cassia were all spices used in the anointing oil for the High Priest – Jesus is our High Priest – but also, they were included in the oils used by Nicodemus when Jesus was placed in the tomb.

From rich palaces – the music of strings makes you glad. – the music of strings represent harmony, peace, unity – that causes our Saviour to rejoice.

v.9 Daughters of kings are among your honoured women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

Daughters symbolise peoples and kings symbolise nations – there will be those honoured from all nations and, at his right hand, the royal bride dressed in the finest gold – the gold of Ophir.

How did he win this Royal Bride?

Paul wrote in Eph.5 v.25/27 – Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.[IR1] 

Isn’t that amazing – the victory – the church without stain or wrinkle – holy and blameless – the church Jesus died for.

Again, if we read Rev.19 v.6 – 9 – The wedding of the Lamb –

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like peals of thunder shouting:

“Hallelujah! – For our Lord God Almighty reigns, – let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory! – For the wedding of the Lamb has come, – and his bride has made herself ready, – Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Rev.1 9 v.7 – For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

And his bride has made herself ready. How?

Let’s go back to Psalm 45 – addressed to the Bride

 v.10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father’s house.

The invitation – turn away from the past – leave it all behind –

v.11 the king is enthralled by your beauty; honour him, for he is your lord.

The King – Jesus – gave himself for you because he loves you – honour him and accept Jesus as your Lord.

v.12 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favour.

Remember Jesus went to Tyre and met a woman of great but humble faith – gentile nations and their leaders will seek your favour.

Have you accepted that simple invitation – have you turned away from your past and to follow Jesus?

Let’s go back to Rev.19 – the gown for the bride

Rev.19 v.8 Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear.

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Note – the bridal gown was given – Fine linen – the righteous acts of the saints – comprising the acts of love, of faith and of service that the church fulfils daily.

Back to Psalm 45 for more on the gown –

v.13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.

Gold – refined in the fire – hammered gently to be formed thin and fine and then interwoven with thread. The testing and trials of faith interwoven with the righteous acts of love.

v.14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.

The gown embroidered with creative acts of patience, perseverance and love.

Virgin companions – those companions who have travelled with the bride – virgin – washed, every stain removed, without blemish from the past – a new creation; the glorious fellowship of the church.

v.15 They are led in joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.

The Lord and his church united eternally before the throne.

To the king and Bride – The happy couple

v.16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land.

The union of Christ and the church will bring increase – sons being fellow heirs with Jesus.

v.17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

All generations and all nations will praise you for ever.

Turning back to Rev. 19 v.9 – Then the angel said to me: “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of Lamb!”  – The invitation to be there. All those whom we have loved at the wedding feast – have you accepted the invitation? We don’t want anybody to be lost.

Look at the invitation from Psalm 45 again

v.10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father’s house.

The invitation – turn away from the past – leave it all behind –

v.11 the king is enthralled by your beauty; honour him, for he is your lord.

The King – Jesus – gave himself for you because he loves you – honour him and accept Jesus as your Lord.

That is an invitation of love – accept it, it is freely given.

As a prayer – take the hymn – Love Divine all loves excelling and read it quietly as a prayer and meditation.

Are you looking forward to that day?

   

Category: Sermons , The Bridge

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