Psalm 45
“The Kingdom of heaven,” we are told by a uniquely reliable source, “is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son” (Matt. 22:2), “that marriage’s consummation being the definitive aim of our destiny, and all of history constituting the courtship that prepares and anticipates the yet undisclosed hour of its fulfillment” (Patrick Reardon). Thus, the end of time is announced by the solemn proclamation: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matt. 25:6).
This understanding of history as the preparation for a royal wedding ceremony is so pervasive and obvious in Holy Scripture that we Christians, taking it so much for granted, may actually overlook it or give it little thought. Indeed, in this modern materialistic world there is a danger that we too may forget that the present life is but the preparation for another, its varied blessings but rehearsals for the greater joy.
To counter such forgetfulness of our future, therefore, God’s Holy Word repeatedly reminds us of that coming wedding day of the King’s Son: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready…. ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” (Rev. 19:7, 9).
Thus too we are warned against the grave danger courted by those who refuse their wedding invitations (Matt. 22:3-10; Luke 14:17-24), as well as the exclusion awaiting those who fail to prepare for the future wedding but presume they will enter (Matt. 22:11-14; 25:7-12).
Psalm 45 is the psalm that anticipates and most descriptively foretells that future royal wedding. Its lines describe the “bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:2). There is even more description of the King’s Son, however, that Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world: “You are fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured upon your lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever.”
This week we will look at the wedding of all weddings in Psalm 45. Join us as we consider this future wedding and how we must prepare. In his book on the psalms, Patrick Henry Reardon closes this reading with a warning and an invitation:
“Inasmuch as ‘the form of this world is passing away’ (1 Cor. 7:31), then, a certain measure of detachment is necessary to prepare ourselves for the wedding feast of the King’s Son, a certain using of this world as though not using it, a refusal to take seriously its unwarranted claims on our final loyalty. So our psalm once again warns us: ‘Listen, O daughter. Consider and incline your ear; forget your own people also, and your father’s house. So the King will greatly desire your beauty. Because he is your Lord, worship him.’”
Will you be at the wedding,
Pastor Wayne
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