I just don’t like to see a man shirk and hide when he has every right to walk with pride.”
–Luke Short (First Campaign)
“And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”
–1 Samuel 9:6 (NKJV)
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The first part of Psalm 45 spoke of the groom, this week we shall look at the bride. The bride is supposed to be the focal point of the wedding, at least in modern times. Even in a royal wedding, such as this is, the bride is who everyone talks about and gazes upon.
Upon reading this portion of Psalm 45, you need to read it with the idea of a royal wedding, plus the grand wedding of the Groom–Jesus Christ, and His bride–the Church.
10 – Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider: forget your people and your father’s house,
11 – and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord.
12 – The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts.
13 – In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.
14 – In colorful garments she is led to the king; after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.
15 – They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; they enter the king’s palace.
16 – Your sons will succeed your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 – I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever. (HCSB)
G. Campbell Morgan said this about Psalm 45, “Nowhere in the Old Testament writing do we find a nearer approach to the disclosure of the secret of the Church than in this psalm.” The “Bride” is led into the presence of the King with “a joyful, enthusiastic procession” (NLT) to stand before Him, pure, clean, and holy.
How can the Bride stand before such a stunning groom? How shall she respond?
1) There is a break with the past (vs 10). Marriage does involve transfer of loyalty and affection.
2) There must be a genuine respect (vs 11). One can marry from false motives–money, power, security. When a couple truly love each other, they do everything possible to make honor and servanthood a two-way street.
3) There is pride in belonging (vs 12). A bride not only marries the groom, but all he represents.
4) There is a delightful appearance (vs 13-15). The bride is lovely. Not all can dress lavishly and adorn themselves with expensive clothing, but all can enter their husband’s presence with “joy and gladness.”
5) From wife to mother (vs 16-17). Smart is the bride who picks not only a good husband, but a good father; likewise the groom chooses not only the woman he loves, but also a great mother to his children. (George O. Wood)
Perhaps one of the hardest things to do is to move away from parents. I know of so many who must stay where the were raised. They are bound to their homeland. This is utterly wrong if they are a true servant of the Lord. We must go where He sends us. “When we commit ourself to God, it’s like a marriage. We need to forsake all others… Make the Lord the center of your attention and loyalty.” (William Petersen)
Think back to your wedding. I can remember mine and then the subsequent separation of my wife from all she knew. She put her trust in me (and the Lord) and we moved 900 miles from her home, and 900 miles from mine. We had to depend upon each other and the Lord. One more thing in contemplating this Psalm. Think of how the Lord delights in His Bride. Think of how much He then delights in us.
“The Bride eyes, not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace,
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.”
–Anne Ross Cousin