Tags
bride of Christ, cross, Jesus, Psalms, royal bridegroom, the LORD, wedding
Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz
Reading: Psalm 45:10-17
Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:
Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
The city of Tyre will come with a gift,
people of wealth will seek your favor.
All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.
I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
(NIV)*
Reflection
If we interpret Psalm 45 as a messianic psalm, as most Bible scholars do, then it logically follows that Jesus is the royal bridegroom and the church is his chosen bride. For reasons we cannot fathom, the King has fallen in love with us. Now this would make sense if we possessed some godly characteristic or showed some inclination to holiness. But the scripture declares while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
I am reminded of some romance novel, where the gallant lover takes off his coat and lays it in the mud so his lady love can step across a puddle without soiling her shoes. Jesus is that gallant lover. But he did more than lay down his coat. He lay down his life that we might cross from death to life. Now that’s true romance! Jesus has romanced us into his kingdom, and I for one, am forever grateful.
Listen to the psalmist’s advice, “Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”
If you have bowed your knees at the foot of the cross, He is your Lord. Be beautiful for Him; you are his betrothed. The apostle Paul reminds us of this truth with these words of admonition: I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him (2 Corinthians 11:2).
Having been redeemed by Christ, it’s now time to make yourself presentable before Him, the eternal Lover of your soul.
Response
LORD God, help me to love what you love and hate what you hate. Anoint me with your joy as I seek to follow you in every aspect of my life. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your Turn
What do you love? What do you hate? Do some of these things need to change?
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* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA
Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!
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I love the Psalms 