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PSALM 45:1-9 (NIV Version)
For the director of music. To the
tune of ‘Lilies’. Of the sons of Korah. A Maskil. A wedding song.
1.My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for
the King; my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer.
2.You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed
with grace, since God has blessed you forever.
3.Gird your sword upon your side O mighty one, clothe yourself with
splendour and majesty.
4.In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility
and righteousness; let your hand display awesome deeds
5.Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of king’s enemies, let
the nations fall between your feet.
6.Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, a sceptre of justice
will be the sceptre of your kingdom
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 .
8.All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from
palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad
9.Daughters of kings are among your honoured woman; at your right
hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
I have been so looking forward to the study
of this particular Psalm as this was the Psalm, that after Brian
had asked me to take on the leadership of this amazing department… the
Holy Spirit literally seared these beautiful verses on my heart.
For three whole days and nights I wrestled with mostly insecurity,
as the sweet but firm voice of my heavenly Father spoke possibility
into the core of my being. It is hard to put into words… but needless
to say, I still lean into this experience most days as I am reminded, ’not
by might, and not by power, but by the Spirit of God’. What a great
comfort…..
We start as the title informs us… a song in praise of the king on
his wedding day. In one study bible the title says… ’the king undoubtedly
belonged to David’s dynasty, and the song was probably used at more
than one royal wedding. He is addressed as one whose reign is to
be characterised by victories over the nations.’
The title also implies that it was composed and sung by a member
of the Levitical temple choir, as there is such a close link between
the temple (housing the earthly throne room of Israel’s heavenly
King) and the Davidic dynasty (the Lord’s appointed leaders over
His people outlined through the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles).
The song falls into two parts… the first we’ll look at this week,
and that is… it is addressed to the king… the second, addressed to
the bride…. (Part 2).
This Psalm begins so beautifully, as the Psalmist makes known that
his heart is full of good content… that the theme and rhythm of his
heart is overflowing with a great song… A good heart produces good
thoughts. We all know it, but way too often do we ignore the true
state of our heart. I believe this is because heart surgery in the
spiritual is painful… but SO necessary in this life as disciples
of Christ.
When you read the Word of God with a full heart, it is amazing what
you see… when you read with a bitter or sad heart, it is amazing
what you will CHOOSE to see… or rather, CHOOSE NOT to see. Writers
who write from a full heart usually overflow with God-centred, rich
words of love… their hearts overflowing with a good theme. Heartless
songs are an insult to heaven. It is cold, and not at all intimate,
and they certainly don’t inspire the listener to a rich life experience.
I find when my own heart starts to falter… or starts to whine…I need
to fill it with gratitude again, fill it with thanksgiving, remind
your heart from where your strength comes… and TEACH your heart what
to accept and what to reject. ‘My tongue is that of a ready writer’… oh
that people would always remember our lives as encouraging, filled
with optimistic thoughts and speech, filled with life giving words,
full of vision… spilling over with praise and adoration to the King
of Kings.Spurgeon…’Such a wonderful condition of heart, in a gifted
mind, creates that auspicious hour in which poetry pours forth her
tuneful numbers to enrich the service of song in the house of the
Lord.
The Psalm continues gracefully… you are fairer than the children
of men… it is as though the Psalmist is overtaken by the internal
and external beauty of his subject… and pours out compliments of
the heart… these are the only compliments that ever truly matter.
Do you remember the first time you met Jesus… I’ll never forget the
beauty I beheld in the form of my Saviour… such breathtaking purity,
such diligence in His love for me, such beauty I’ll never ever forget… GRACE
Himself reached into my world and lavished His own life upon me… One
word from Him and I am changed forever…Just like Saul from Tarsus… one
word from Jesus and he became Paul the apostle, one revelation and
the woman at the well was changed forever, Saint Francis of Assisi… one
moment of a God revelation, and he was eternally changed. One encounter
with Christ… and you truly are blessed forever… I pray you truly
let this thought invade your heart today.
‘
Gird thy sword upon your thigh’… I LOVE this… Get ready for battle… get
ready to fight against injustice. And not fighting alone in the natural… but
this is talking about winning the great life battles, understanding
His glory and His majesty… His dominion, His power… being robed in
the presence of Jesus…there is not a finer outfit to be had!!!He
is mighty to save, and He is mighty in love. Our precious Jesus can
never be made too much of for even Heaven itself is only JUST good
enough for him. I feel like Robert Fergusson now… ’Are you getting
this!!!!’
‘
You love righteousness and hate wickedness’…this is so straight to
the point. God Himself has never been neutral when it comes to right
and wrong… and as you know, in the world we live in, the right way
is the way of compromise… ’well, if it’s good for you then it must
be OK’, but that IS NOT the way of God. His ways, His thoughts are
not only higher, they are also PRECISE! We need to imitate Christ
and his loves… Notice He HATES these ACTS of the heart of the ungodly… injustice,
wickedness, evil schemes… BUT He still LOVES mankind. For God SO
LOVED… that He gave His finest… What Jesus Himself always loved and
fought for was TRUTH. This fact will never change.
It then talks about being set apart from your companions, being anointed
with the oil of joy. I will never forget the period of time when
I literally felt the hand of God setting me apart… and funnily enough,
I never was given more gift, more talent, He had already entrusted
me with all I needed to fulfil His plan for my life… No, what He
did was anoint me with the oil of Joy!!! I have from that day to
this tried with all my heart to ‘serve the Lord with gladness’ and
to be totally honest, sometimes… that is ALL I’ve had… and guess
what, it has always been enough!!!
The divine anointing of God has always caused a beautiful aroma to
flow from His throne… He is delightful to every sense… Jesus bestows
nothing inferior or of secondary value to those He treasures… And
lastly… that the King’s daughters will be among your most honourable
women… that literally, God’s girls will find themselves gathered… and
remember, in the days we are talking about, this is a radical concept… that
even the girls will stand at this time and be counted as a critical
part of the royal family… And as a husband would never allow his
wife to be humiliated, neither will the heavenly husband… He will
speedily run to her side… what a glorious picture.
So, a glimpse of what we have here…The King, strong in body and heart,
girds himself as a warrior, robed as a monarch, mounts a chariot,
is prepared with the sharpest of arrows, and conquers his foes. He
then ascends his throne, fills the palace with the perfume from his
secret chamber…and his bride is before him, with daughters of the
finest princes all around.Spurgeon … ’FAITH IS NO STRANGER TO THIS
SIGHT, AND EVERY TIME SHE LOOKS, SHE ADORES, SHE LOVES, SHE REJOICES
AND SHE EXPECTS…..’
HOW DOES THIS EXPERIENCE COMPARE TO YOUR DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE OF
LIFE ??? Is your heart filled with the good news of Christ… do you
stand against things that are WRONG… are you operating out of revelation
of who you are in Christ?? All great questions to be asked, possibly
will need some time this week to answer….. SELAH… when you can, and
put this Psalm to the test in your own life.
Love you, praying for you, standing with you. YOU ARE THE FINEST!!!!Darls…. |
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