Thursday 22 March 2012

Psalm 45: Wedding Preparation

By Andi Norton

Psalm 45 (NIV) 
(Please, Can I encourage you to read the whole psalm. It is so amazing) 

Weddings, we've all been to our fair share, some good ones, but the occasional one will be fantastic.

Dressed with the wonderful bridesmaid dresses, flowers, grooms tie all colour- coordinated, add to that a brilliant word shared by the minister, fantastic speeches mixing humour with wit and then of course the magical kiss and first dance.

I think the best part of any wedding is when on the odd occasion a friend of the bride and groom writes a song just for them, we were blessed at our wedding with one of these.

In the psalms we can see just that, and it was customary that whenever a new king was enthroned his song was sung - and it was titled, 'The wedding song of the Sons of Korah.’

We can see the words of a great poet in motion as the psalm kicks off, but this time there seems to be a change. As the psalmist describes a victorious king clothed in majesty and splendour, truth and humility, who pierces the heart of his enemies. We are then brought to focus on this king to be special. For this King will have nations fall at His feet, this King's throne will last for ever and ever, it will NEVER END!

It describes a King who will reign for ever, our King Jesus echoing the words of Isaiah 9:7


Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and
upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

This song sings of a great truth to come. That Jesus will return to the earth and with His people march and take up His throne, it fulfill everything Jesus said he will do.

He said He would die that he would rise again and then when He ascended that He will return.

When Jesus comes a second time He is coming for His bride - for a great wedding - now this is going to be the ULTIMATE WEDDING!

And we can see in this song there is a direction to us the bride (the daughter in the song), a direction which we need to listen to and pay careful attention to (vs10)

As like any wedding day it is the role of the bride to be beautiful, hours will be spent on choosing the right dress that flatters, hours spent on hair and make-up to look radiant and beautiful for her future husband, as she leaves her father's house to start a new union with her husband.

The same is expected of us from our future marriage with the King of kings.....
Forget your people and your father’s house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
   honour him, for He is your Lord.

13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;

The reality is Jesus is returning for a spotless Bride, and very often we can look at our lives and not see a very purified, spotless life, we can often see as Priscilla described so well a murky fish tank of a life.

The good news is though that we have been purified and sanctified by Christ, that was the point of His first coming.

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

Ephesians 5:25-32 (NIV)

And He is coming again for His bride for the ULTIMATE WEDDING DAY! Hallelujah!

So in the mean time, rejoice, celebrate, look to what's to come, prepare yourself, groom yourself, there is a great work to be done to prepare for a wedding, and so we must get ready, but never loose focus that he has accomplished all of it already, all we need to do is stand firm and get ready for the Great and terrible day. (Joel 2)

Lord, Thank You that you gave yourself up for the church, to purify her to prepare us for your Victorious return.
Lord, you describe that day as Great and Terrible. Great for us your bride but terrible for so many who don't know you. Lord, help us to radiate your love to those who don't know you. To stand firm and prepare ourselves for that day.

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