I’m excited to approach Psalm 45 afresh, for this is the psalm that Jonathan Edwards said, “is the Song of Songs in a nutshell.” For those of you who are new to us (and welcome!) I have, with the help of the dear sisters on this blog, been working on a book on the Song of Songs for four years! They have prayed, tested my attempts (twice!) and encouraged me so! I am now in the editorial process with the same editor who did The God of All Comfort and Idol Lies, and I love and trust her. So when Elisa told me I was way over peoples’ heads, I listened. I don’t want my readers to be like deer caught in the headlights. Instead, I want them to be like the child in this picture, experiencing the wonder of a God who loves them, who sings over them, who set the stars in place, yet, is mindful of them.
We belong to a God who is a bridegroom who sings over us. He asks us to leave the things of this world, our idols with their siren songs, and be married to Him, and Him alone. With these little deaths we experience more of Him, this “most handsome” of the sons of men. God uses the metaphor of romance and a wedding, for it is the least inadequate metaphor for this intense love.
This is the best song, living up to the title “Song of Songs,” and this is the noble theme that stirs the heart of the sons of Korah, causing them to write their love song to the King. Psalm 45 is meant to affect our hearts, to help us experience God’s love. So slow down this week, savor, and allow HIS Spirit to penetrate your heart, for this psalm has a mighty power to do so. So, “Hear, O daughter, and incline your ear!”
Mike Reeves, whom many of us have grown to love, looked at verse 10 and said, “Ohhh — there is such gospel here.” Do you see it?
Hear, O daughter, and consider, and
incline your ear.
Forget your people and your father’s house,
and the king will desire your beauty.
Psalm 45:9
Let us ponder what this means.
SUNDAY:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
For me, as a writer, my best books (and blogs) have come when my heart overflows with something wonderful I have discovered from the Lord — and I ponder, since I know all Scripture is inspired by God, exactly how this works for the writers of Scripture. Does God give the theme and then they compose the words? Or does God simply dictate to them — but then how is it we see their personalities flowing forth? I have come to recognize how Paul writes, how Solomon writes… Is it different with different genres? Did God dictate Leviticus but give the Psalmists freer rein?
Tight or
freer rein?
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8
C. Revelation 19:11-16
6. Many are the tribulations of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently.
Ponder this from Jonathan Edwards:
Christ was a person of infinite majesty. It is he that is spoken of, Psalm 45:3. “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.” It is he that is mighty, that rideth on the heavens, and his excellency on the sky. It is he that is terrible out of his holy places; who is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea: before whom a fire goeth, and burneth up his enemies round about; at whose presence the earth quakes, and the hills melt; who sitteth on the circle of the earth, and all the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, who rebukes the sea, and maketh it dry and drieth up the rivers, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, from whose presence, and from the glory of whose power, the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction; who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who hath heaven for his throne, and the earth for his footstool, and is the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and of whose dominion there is no end.
7. This is your King. Worship Him here through prayer. It is not that God desires His praise for Him, but for what it does in our hearts. Our hearts must be affected by His glory or we will never turn from our idols and experience His presence.
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?
9. Now, on the basis of all the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say?
What often fills my heart with wonder is that way the 66 books of Scripture, written by many authors, are tied together by the inspiration of God. Here we have an echo of the primary verse about marriage, beginning in Genesis 2:24 and repeated four times until it culminates in Ephesians, where we are told that the leaving, cleaving, and becoming one flesh points to the mystery of Christ and His bride. Do you see? Jesus left His Father in heaven, His mother at the cross, in order to cleave to His bride. Now He asks her, both on an individual and a corporate level, to leave the world, “her father’s house and her people” (think of Ruth leaving idol-worshipping Moab to cleave to God’s people). There is pain in leaving, but it leads to intimacy with her Bridegroom.
10. So, we must ask ourselves, what does God mean when he says “leave your people and your father’s house?” (Charles Spurgeon says it is “renouncing the world so as not to have a divided heart.” Mike Reeves says: “There is such gospel here.”)
11. With every death, there is a resurrection. Where have you “died” and seen a resurrection in your life? How has taking the time to gaze on His beauty affected your heart?
12. What do you think this means for the invisible church, true believers of every tribe and nation? For the local church?
13. Read Psalm 45:13-16 and discover what happens to this bride.
Thursday-Friday: Mike Reeves on Enjoying God
This is a message from Mike Reeves who draws upon Jonathan Edwards. Edwards knew what it meant to enjoy Christ, and was concerned when thousands who were proclaiming Christ during the Great Awakening could recite the doctrine but showed little affection for Christ. Edwards said famously, “There is a great difference between knowing honey is sweet and having a sense of the taste of it.” You can recite the Apostle’s Creed, agree with the great doctrines of the church, and even defend them to an unbeliever. All this may be evidence of a heart for God, or it may only be in your head. Do you delight to sit under his shadow, as Mary of Bethany did, “hanging on His every word?” Do you long for His presence? Do you fear quenching His Spirit for it is so sweet to you? Are you enjoying Christ? See what you can discover from this message and share your notes and comments.
How to Enjoy God – Mike Reeves
14. Notes and comments
Saturday:
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
106 comments
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The way you call relieving ourselves from our idols, “little deaths,” just penetrated my heart so. It means that I give something I love up here on earth to have more of Him in my life. wow.
My son leaves today on a 6 week tour of Europe. He is excited and I am not so much. I will admit that I have made my children idols in the past. Allowing them to “die” and me to focus on Christ more is kind of scary. I wish it wasn’t this way. I have several distractions (one of which includes “extra worship” today). I will be adding extra prayer into each day specifically for this child. Thank you for any prayers for my son, WWP, and his safety for the next 6 weeks.
Laura-you got it. I will be praying. Love your heart how tender he is making you. 🙂
Laura, I will pray for him and for you!
prayers for your son Laura!
Laura, I can see how this statement really did penetrate your heart….”It means that I give something I love up here on earth to have more of Him in my life.” I am also right there with you in admitting that I, too, made my children idols; I can’t say it’s all in the past as I still struggle with it today, but I am awake to the battle now where as before I was “asleep”. I am praying for your son, too, for his safety while traveling Europe, and for YOU, too….to rest in Him and to give Him your anxieties, worries, and fears. I read this in a book I have by Fern Nichols, in which she talks about praying for her son, Troy, when he had to have a kidney removed when he was three years old. She prayed, using 1 John 4:18 TLB, and it’s the verse about perfect love casts out all fear. The way she prayed has helped me understand this verse better. She writes, “I need not fear Someone who loves (Troy) perfectly, for His perfect love for (Troy) eliminates all dread of what He might do to (Troy). And if I am afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to (Troy), and shows that I am not fully convinced that He really loves (Troy). We can place the name of our children in there!
Thank you everyone for praying! He made it to London and began his exploring. He and I can text for “free,” so we have been a lot so far. Susan, thank you for the Fern Nicols bible pick; I have done that with another scripture for myself. I will begin that today. Did your son make his destination as well?
Yes he did, Laura. He began his first day in the ER today. He has many more upcoming travel plans, too….a rotation with the Navy in Jacksonville, FL, in late Sept. or October; plans to fly to San Diego, CA, in September to interview at the Naval hospital there for a residency, a friend’s destination wedding in Mexico in December….and perhaps to London next spring with friends to a soccer match.
Praying right now, Laura. And yes, with every death there is a resurrection.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
That love and romance is the ‘least inadequate’ of metaphors. His love is so great that there truly is no way to fully understand aside from heaven. However, God created this metaphor in the beginning knowing we would need to understand love and relationship. We need to be able to understand the gospel. And so the metaphor is difficult given our culture but it is created by God and so we can trust the process in searching it for understanding.
Also “little deaths” like Laura, I have been seeing how idols amd their siren songs don’t leave…we just hear His song louder but temptation always lurks, sometimes unseen…sneaky
Dee – you and your book have been in my prayers as you continue to edit and be used to reach those who need to hear.
Thank you, Jill!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I love the picture of Mia-so much is there! The wonder of the Gospel-how He whispers to us through creation and desires we draw near like a child.
This also reminds me of how upside down the Gospel is. I used to think, I will let go of this-die this little death-and then repent and draw near Him..but I am learning that isn’t how God resurrects us..It is the opposite..The wonder of the Gospel-the Wonder of His Love, the wonder that He sings over us, that He waits for us peering at us through the lattice, that He comes mightily to rescue us-Psalm 18. He melts us to repentance and He fills us up with His Love. I used to not be secure in His love but in the past 5 years He has melted me to be. Grateful! AND so..I am still in this sinful body yet covered in His righteousness..I can still hear those old lying thoughts..and so He is still helping me and He will complete His work in me. I am grateful!!
Melting us with His love. Beautiful.
oh Rebecca, your passion for Him stirs my heart–so thankful for you “He comes mightily to rescue us-Psalm 18. He melts us to repentance and He fills us up with His Love.”
This is beautiful, Rebecca, and He so SHINES IN YOU! Yes, it is His love that draws us to repentance…love this, “The wonder of the Gospel-the Wonder of His Love, the wonder that He sings over us, that He waits for us peering at us through the lattice….”
OH SO MUCH stood out to me, and I haven’t even read the whole lesson yet! First, Dee’s teachable heart–listening to her editor, others–I’m convicted of how I can shrink from correction at times. And her unquenchable desire to teach others, her patience in wanting no one to miss the jewels.
Miabelle’s picture is just stunning
The “little deaths” of leaving the things of this world. There is a pain, a sense of loss initially, and sometimes a deliberate act required on our part to let go, other times the things seem ripped from our grasp–and yet, He rushes in, to fill us with Himself.
Something moved me when I read this: “So slow down this week, savor, and allow HIS Spirit to penetrate your heart”. First thought was “how do I slow down, now?!” so much at once right now–but then my eyes began to fill and I felt this pull, this need to listen, to heed this call, and allow the power of the psalm to melt my heart anew. VERY excited for this week. I feel such a desperate longing for this solid food.So thankful.
1. What stands out and why? “With these little deaths, we experience more of Him”, and “the metaphor of romance and a wedding is the least inadequate for this intense love”. I resonate with both of these. The first one in a reactive kind of way, for He keeps calling me to die to food but I keep resisting Him. And the second one because in the best times, that is what I know of His love; that glimpse and hint of what will come someday.
2. The process of composition : maybe like having an urge or unworded picture, and then describing that to the best of your abilities. It is God giving the urge and the picture, but a person putting it into words and helping shape it. At least, that is how I would describe how it is when I journal and feel that He is writing with/through me. Is it different with different genres? Maybe And it may just be different personalities. Some people only hear God in nature, others only in Scripture. Some get pictures, others get words. Some only get an impression .
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
First, his heart is filled, filled with praise. It reminds me of George Muller’s instruction to ‘make ourselves happy in the Lord’. Then the psalmist pours out praise, directed to the King, from the overflow of his heart. His tongue becomes God’s pen,writing the Word of God, Script-ure.
I am feeling so out-of-it, as I haven’t posted on this blog for about three weeks. I kept wanting to get back, but life just kept rolling the barrels toward me, it seemed. It was just one thing after another. First we had the entire interior of our house painted by professional painters — yes, they did the painting, but I had to do the preparing. I emptied the contents of six closets (one was a walk-in). Also had to empty any piece of furniture that contained breakables. Then after they finished painting, there was the task of getting everything back in place again. Next I had a dental implant installed. Then I had to take my computer to the computer store to be serviced (I was afraid to install Windows 10 myself), so I was off-line for a couple of days. When I got my computer up and running again, it was time for me to proof-read my P.E.O. chapter’s yearbook (38 pages). I guess being a nit-picky person makes me a good proof-reader 🙂 I hope I can hang on this week — sorry for dropping the ball so badly for the last three weeks. Thanks to all of my sisters who carried the torch forward in spite of whatever was going on in their lives!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Seeing the picture of Miabelle was almost nostalgic. It took me back to when I was that age, sitting in my swing. My profile actually looked a lot like hers, except I had pigtails — I think she had a ponytail from what I can tell from her silhouette. My swing had chains instead of ropes. However, the feeling was the same! There was wonder, awe, deep appreciation for nature, and the knowledge that God was behind it all.
I really felt for you, Dee, when Elisa informed you that you were writing over the heads of your readers. I think that would be so hard to take! I can sort of imagine what it would be like to write my heart out in a book, and then be told I had to do it differently. Coming up with a second version would be almost emotionally impossible for me. Yet that is why you are the writer, and I am not — I applaud your openness and maturity. I trust God helps with the re-write too!
So glad to have you back, Deanna!
Swings do transport us back to childhood and that sense of wonder. 🙂
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
I see that it is free reign under the control of the Holy Spirit-God quickened him and grabbed his affections, and this is the overflow of his heart.
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
I see see preparation to begin writing; anticipation. He is getting ready to construct beautiful sentences to the king through emotion – from his heart.
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
I have never even thought of this question and I have no idea what Gods intention was. My mom always told me that God would make sure the Word came out as God wanted no matter who wrote it. I suspect He wanted poetry to be written in the Psalms to be able to “hit” those people who needed to hear flowery words to understand? I’m a more “plain Jane” reader who needs the prose to get the message across, so I need help “translating” much of the flowery stuff. I also have trouble with riddles and double talk, so I really don’t understand many of the parables either. I think this makes the bible the most unique book of this world, and that is why it is the most sold book every year. There is something for everyone (Not that we shouldn’t read all of it)!
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
This set of verse just exudes Jesus to me…the most handsome, the fiercest warrior, the one who defends us, and who holds grace, truth, humility, and justice, ready to freely bless us.
You keep claiming not to “get poetry” — and then, you do! 🙂
Maybe you are wearing off on me Dee!
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
Scripture as a whole? I may be totally missing the point but I recall there are varying structures-chiastic, parallellism, etc..obviously all inspired by God so if chiastic then the center point , the crux of the chiasm is the main point God is emphasizing in a passage. The varying literary techniques are how God emphasizes and communicates to us-making His word beautiful, piercing the heart, arresting, and capturing our affections.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16
This verse is more personal, she is speaking of her love’s mouth being sweet and lovely. She says he is her beloved and best friend. In the Psalm, the writer says the person is the most handsome and a defender. He is the most awesome warrior.
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8
The description in these verses conjures up images of the kings warriors who are armed to the tee. This is similar to the king himself, described in the Psalm.
C. Revelation 19:11-16
These passages reveal a King, again equipped with the most royal gear, including battle equipment, who is coming to defend and save those who are His. He again, projects faithfulness, truth, and justice. He is on a white horse, meaning He is good. His royal robe, bloodied, reveals that He is Lord of Lords; above all. He is with His army, as in the Psalm, and they are also dressed in white for goodness. He has a sword, with which He will use to defeat those who are not in compliance; who do not accept Him for who He is.
https://youtu.be/4CGkt67F2uI
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see? We get to see “behind the scenes” here. The composer is speaking of a noble theme that has stirred his heart. So he is either intensely inspired and this psalm is pouring forth or he has had his eyes opened to something and it has been ruminating in his mind for sometime to the point of clarity. A couple translations render this “speedy writer” vs “skillful writer.” Either way the psalmist is showing us part of his inspiration for writing instead of just writing. We also get to see that he is writing “to the king.” He clarifies his audience.
such rich thoughts from this group!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Elisa! Especially when you mentioned Dee, that she had been your editor for The God of All Comfort as well as Idol Lies, I just so see God’s Sovereign hand at work in the process of your writing on the Song! Ultimately all that matters is that the book greatly glorifies Him! He is clearly putting the pieces together and even allowing constraints to come into the process to winnow the work and chase away the chaff! Elisa has now made her way into my prayer journal alongside you Dee! What a gift she is to you. 🙂
Oh Jackie — love for you wells up in me. Thank you! Elisa is amazing.
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
This verse is SO quickening!!!! The psalmist here is writing from his overflowing heart!! And God is PLEASED with our overflowing hearts!!! He is writing for an audience of ONE, the KING! Ah, but his tongue is like “the pen of a ready scribe”……how intriguing! I don’t normally think of a scribe as writing from an overflowing heart….rather, writing what has been given to him. So in this verse I see BOTH!! I truly hope that I am not injecting things into this verse that are not there….but aren’t both there? Oh how this is consistent with how I see the Scriptures in their entirety being written! And even overarching into the big picture of God’s Sovereignty, Election, Predestination and yet, the will of man…..it all is there.
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
Well….I started in on this a bit in question #2 I guess. I surely believe what the Scriptures themselves say – that Scripture is “God breathed”. Period. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21….). I also believe that God delighted to use the wills, intellects and personalities of those who did the actual writing! So I believe that BOTH are a part of the process – free rein and tight rein!! 🙂
John MacArthur’s excellent, short article on this is instructive: https://www.gty.org/blog/B160715/how-did-god-guide-the-biblical-writers Good food for thought……
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
We have been so privileged, Dee, to journey with you as you write your book on the Songs….TWICE on the blog! I know that I have learned so much about Him and it has stretched me to know Him in new ways. I pray for you as you rework and rewrite parts of your manuscript according to the suggestions of your editor. Yet, you are so gifted, Dee, in taking the words of Scripture and elevating them poetically – using metaphor, songs, art, and drawing your readers to more depth and contemplation. We get to experience this each and every week! I was wondering as you shared a couple weeks ago about having to rewrite and also having many summer guests, if you would be sharing with your guests and asking for their feedback on your ideas for the book?
The picture of the child, Miabelle, gazing with wonder at the night sky, also stood out. We just returned from the beach in NC. My daughter and I went out several nights on the beach after dark to view the stars and constellations. She had an app on her phone that helped us identify some of the stars; I had noticed a very red “star”, only to learn it was really Mars! The constellations are even mentioned in the OT, like Orion, and I like to imagine the ancients using their imaginations to see pictures in the sky. I also shared with my daughter the passage in Job which talks about how God determined how far the proud waves would go; they can only go so far and no further. To think that we can stand so close to the ocean and all the water it contains and it’s POWER is amazing.
I also like from the opening, “We belong to a God who is a bridegroom who sings over us. He asks us to leave the things of this world, our idols with their siren songs, and be married to Him, and Him alone.” And, how God uses the metaphors of romance and weddings to describe what our relationship with Him should be. I was looking in Hosea this morning and how He leads her into the desert wilderness to allure her there….it is there that He restores her and then she sings to Him as in the days of her youth….and she shall call Him “my Husband”….and He will betroth her to Him forever….He will betroth her in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion and faithfulness. Those are some awesome “wedding vows”! I was contemplating, what is it that He really wants from me? There are so many things I could say; that I should do this or that, or try to be better….but the truth is, He offers me so much and has done so much for me, and I have nothing to give back to Him, BUT MY LOVE. I believe that is what He wants the most. Yet I even have to pray for Him to give me a heart that loves Him, because I can’t manufacture that love all by myself. I realize I am no different from the ancient Israelites who promised undying love and devotion to Him, only to turn astray so quickly, to complain about why He brought them out to the desert to die, and wasn’t life better back in Egypt?
You are so encouraging, Susan. I love the picture of you and your daughter on the beach under the night sky.
Susan, I have taught astronomy for a long time and just in the past couple of years learned that Aristarchus, an astronomer of the past, is mentioned in the bible. So cool. I also have learned just recently that the “star” of David that the wise men followed was most likely a comet. Funny, I even have a date; March 5. When I was on the way to the hospital to have my youngest (the one in Europe), we saw the comet “Hale Bopp.” It was on March 4 in 1997. That got me wondering if it was the same comet? Comets have periods that are rhythmic; Halley’s comet is every 76 years. My initial search gave me a value of about 2500 years for the comet Hale-Bopp. I need to verify that number on the NASA near earth objects website. Will let you know what I find ?.
Laura, I remember seeing this comet also….we could see it in the sky in the west, if I remember right. I just had my two boys in 97 and I remember taking them outside to look at it. I think we could see it for several nights in a row.
Excited for the new book! “Forget your people in your father’s house” I’m not sure who the people are… but I wonder if the Lord knows how much a distraction our family can be. I know I am always concerned about my family, my daughter, making sure they are happy and ok etc,… maybe the Lord is saying take your eyes off them. They are distracting you from Me. Excited to go deep this week!
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
I‘m sure there is a much more theologically-based answer out there! But in my simple thoughts, it seems that first God woos the heart of the writer, shapes and molds it to incline to His words, and then the writer reflects what God has done in his heart and shown to the writer of Himself. God is multi-faceted and each of the various writers show us something new of Him. When their own personality comes through, it is another expression of God, for He has made and shaped them.
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
He is the most handsome, above all others. He speaks grace-filled words. He is blessed forever by God. He is mighty, victorious, righteous. He defeats the enemy.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16
Both mention His grace-filled speech: “His mouth is most sweet” and Ps. 45:2 “grace is poured upon your lips”
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8
“wearing swords and expert in war, …his sword at his thigh” and Ps. 45:3 “Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!”
C. Revelation 19:11-16
Oh, I love the White Horse! “The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges” and Ps. 45:4 “in your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness”
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?
He is the One Eternal King. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He is anointed by God.
9. Now, on the basis of all the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say?
I am loved, desired by, the King. All else pales in comparison. “Forget”—think of no longer, where I have come from, all of my past—I am now the King’s. He has washed away my past and makes me beautiful. I am humbled, I bow to Him.
10. So, we must ask ourselves, what does God mean when he says “leave your people and your father’s house?” (Charles Spurgeon says it is “renouncing the world so as not to have a divided heart.” Mike Reeves says: “There is such gospel here.”)
It makes me think of our spiritual adoption as God’s children. We leave our heritage of Adam, we leave behind where we came from. We enter into a new family, a new Father.
11. With every death, there is a resurrection. Where have you “died” and seen a resurrection in your life? How has taking the time to gaze on His beauty affected your heart?
One simple way for me—when we had been trying to get pregnant for several years, I remember the day I “died” to my plan for how our family would be created. And after a season, He breathed life through 2 amazing children, chosen by Him for our family, in His own creative, beautiful way –much brokenness and loss, but ultimate beauty.
Another thought that came to mind is the ways He graciously pulls out the weeds of my various forms of pride, and replaces with seeds of grace. I was thinking recently how terribly critical I used to be when I would see unruly children. I was an education major, and was certain that whatever behavior problems I saw in kids were a direct result of poor parenting. Wow. Then I became a parent! I spent years reading all kinds of books—but so many things I could not “fix”. But the humility has changed me. I see unruly kids now and no longer feel judgment but empathy. I say a prayer in my head for God to grant the parents special wisdom and patience, and to draw the child’s heart to Himself. I feel a deep desire to reach out to struggling parents–those trying to “fix” their children, and immersed in self-blame; and I want to pour His grace upon them. I had that very opportunity yesterday after Church and it was a blessing to me to be able to offer that life-saving rescue to another.
Love your testimony — Wow — then I became a parent.
I definitely can see that some of my grandchildren have been challenging from the start, and some so easy. Miabelle and Lily respond so differently, raised in the same way. Miabelle says, “Yes, Mama, I’d be glad to.” Lily does a low growl but grudgingly obeys. 🙂
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
It would seem that the psalm was recited at first, not written. The verses were recited for the king. Perhaps after the king’s approval, they were written. But I don’t see written scripture yet in verse 1. The words are spoken. “My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
In my Life Application Study Bible, these words precede verse 1:
A poem to the king (possibly Solomon) on the occasion of his wedding. While this psalm was written for a historic occasion, it is also seen as a prophecy about Christ and his bride, the church, who will praise him throughout all generations.
The “noble theme” flows through the entire Bible, of which the gospel is part. That theme is that God has loved His people from the beginning and continues to call His people to Him, ultimately redeeming them with the sacrificing of His Son, Jesus Christ.
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
I believe it is well accepted that much of the early scripture began as oral tradition and was later written down. Some later scriptures may have been written down first. Whatever form it took was a part of God’s plan, and humans were the tongues or the hands to transmit the message God wanted recorded. These people were motivated by God inspiring them by His Holy Spirit.
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
This definitely reminds me of the wedding procession in the Song of Songs (SOS 3:6-11) The king is excellent, anointed, blessed, clothed in splendor, and He has power and protection. He rides forth in victory and majesty.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16 SOS would say that He is altogether lovely.
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8 I think I covered this in my answer to question 4.
C. Revelation 19:11-16 He is called faithful and true. He judges with justice and wages war. On his head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood (this is different from SOS, and pertains more directly to Christ’s sacrifice). All of His horses were white, and his armies are clothed in white linen. Jesus came first as the sacrificial Lamb, but He will return as a conqueror to execute judgment.
4. He is THE most excellent of men, blessed by God ahead of time. His right hand (which I take to be a picture of Jesus, the Sonhood of God) displays awesome deeds. His sharp arrows (which could read ‘pointed words’) pierce the hearts of the King’s enemies (of which I used to be one). The nations fall beneath his feet (not just one kind of person, but every kind)
5B. Solomon’s carriage comes with warriors, prepared for the terrors of the night. The Day of the Lord is sometimes referred to as a time of great darkness. So even as our bridegroom approaches, there is overwhelming darkness around us. But the bride, having eyes only for Him, is not threatened or discouraged.
7. Worship Him. Not for Him alone, but for how it changes us, helping us to turn from our idols and experience His presence. This idea catches me up short. I can’t conjure up worship, and mostly worship is more cerebral for me, knowing I should, knowing I must, yet not able to really make it happen on my own. But I must try, because He is worthy of all praise, and because He has commanded it. Now to think that there is a part of worship that is for my sake blows me away, and I have to ponder that.
I can identify with your answer — so often cerebral, but Lord, melt our hearts and kiss us! As Donne said, “Unless you ravish me, I will never be chaste.”
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
He is perfect, and his lips are full of Grace. He is mighty and clothes himself with splendor and majesty. He rides forth in his majesty victorious in truth, humility and justice. He will accomplish great deeds. Those who are against him, He will pierce their hearts with arrows and they will bow before Him.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16
His lips are anointed with Grace- in the Psalm..and His mouth is sweetness itself- in The Song
He is clothed in splendor and majesty-in the Psalm…and He is altogether lovely in The Song.
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8
In the Psalm it is about Jesus girding His sword on his side ready for battle. In The Song it is about the warriors surrounding Jesus with swords on their sides-along with Jesus having a sword on his side..they are all experienced in battle..wow- Is this us in the future with Him? 🙂 Reminds me of Revelation!
C. Revelation 19:11-16
Oh…duh..yes Revelation. :)) How exciting..I’ve never connected these three passages like this before-I’ve never seen this connection! In the Psalm He is clothed in splendor and majesty..in Revelation his eyes are like a blazing fire, his head has many crowns, dressed in a robe dipped in blood. In the Psalm he is riding forth victoriously in truth, humility and justice, in Revelation with justice He is waging war..The whole passage relates to Psalm 45, and The Song-but it is more detailed and The Song and Revelation include us with Him in battle clothed in His righteousness.
2. Psalm 45:1, Derek Kidner writes, “is one of the rare occasions when the psalmist allows us to glimpse the process of composition.” What do you see?
A couple of translations….the psalmist says his heart is stirred, or astir, or overflows….with or by a noble or a good theme. He says his verses are addressed to the King. I believe that just as in The Song of Songs, where the king mentioned was Solomon, yet, in the shadows, you see The King, the Lord Jesus, in the background; so too in this psalm, King Jesus is also addressed. The psalmist says that his tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. I believe what I am seeing here is something like 2 Timothy 3:16, which says that all Scripture is God-breathed. The psalmist is being inspired by the Holy Spirit to write these verses because a noble or a good theme placed in his heart would come from God, and I think (?) when he refers to a skillful writer that he is not referring to himself, but to the Lord. The Lord is the “writer” and the psalmist is the instrument.
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
This morning especially ……I awoke crying out to see the beauty and power of my King . For yesterday came the news of the death of Stacy, my friend with the same cancer as my daughter. Our lives were so entwined over the past year and a half. Stacy was Jewish….as it seems so many of the friends God is bringing into my life are these days….and I was priveleged to share the gospel and the Word with her…..though I do not know where her heart landed in the final days of her life on earth. We spoke every week and I was blessed to have her dog living with us for several months of crisis…..and this morning my heart is literally aching deeply. Once again….I need the beauty of my King to overwhelm my sorrowful soul…….
The first phrase of v. 2 really struck me – I’ve found all my life that as I come to love someone I “forget” what they physically look like to some degree! By that I mean that the more I love someone the more beautiful they are to me…..no matter that the earthly shell may age or gain weight or become disfigured or disabled….oh how MUCH moreso with the King of Kings!!! Isaiah tells us that “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Is 53:2) All of Scripture shows us that he set aside his privelege and took on the form of a humble servant….and who even really LOOKS at a servant? Ah but THIS servant was filled with grace and truth (John 1:14). This servant gave a glimpse of Who he is to Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration…..this servant is the one to whom one day “every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. (Phil 2:10). Oh, but what a warrior He is! At the cross He rode out in the cause of “truth and meekness and righteousness” (v. 4). The Gospel comes to us as sharp arrows (v. 5)….bringing a deep conviction of our sin, our utter helplessness. We, who were his enemies, fall to his arrows and are reborn into LIFE in His Kingdom! Oh, Glory!!
Jackie, my heart aches for you. I am praying for you as you are led through yet another sorrow, praying for Stacy’s family, and for your daughter. May your prayer be answered for all of you: to see the beauty and power of our King.
oh dear Jackie, I am so sorry. Praying now for you…you have endured SO much pain…I wish I could do anything, but I am praying dear friend. So thankful the Lord allowed Stacy to know you, to not only hear the Gospel from you, but SEE it, as you so reflect Him with your life, your love for others
Jackie, I am so sorry. I pray that He will overwhelm you today with His beauty, His comfort, His peace. You were a good and faithful friend to Stacy.
Jackie
I too lift you and Stacy’s family in prayer. What a relationship I believe you had and I pray she saw and accepted Jesus as her Savior and that one day you will be united in heaven. Praying for your mourning heart and He will comfort you during this time and the days ahead.
Jackie, I’m so sorry for all that you are going through, praying.
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written?
This is a big question! I remember talking once with someone who isn’t a believer about the Bible, who was rather argumentative about how do we know anything in the Bible is true. This person took a piece of paper, scribbled a sentence or two, and said something like “There – that’s true.” The point was, for this person, that it’s just words written by men, and what makes them true? I have often wondered at some things that I read in the Bible, even in the gospels, as to HOW did the writer get this information? For example, we are told that when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He went a distance away from his disciples to pray, and they fell asleep. Yet, Jesus’ prayers to His Father are recorded. I have wondered, but who was listening to Him and heard Him if they weren’t right there with Him and they fell asleep? How did they know what He said? Did He tell them, or was it revealed to them by the Lord? We aren’t told. Some of the Bible is historical account, or eyewitness accounts, as in the Gospels. Yet there is a mystery, too. Since Paul wasn’t one of Jesus’ followers until later, we know that Jesus revealed many things to Paul (I think of it as sort of catching Paul up). David and other writers of the psalms share their “prayer journals” with us, yet we’re also told that David was a prophet and many of his psalms foreshadowed Jesus. It is amazing, and mysterious. God must have given the writers so much discernment, too, to discern the voice and inspiration of God from their own thoughts and opinions. And, as Dee mentioned, each writer is still given free rein to express his own personality through what is given through inspiration.
I just thought of something else: in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul does make a distinction between what was given to him by the Lord, as in verse 10: “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband” and what is from Paul. as in verse 12: “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her…” So I see Paul being so careful not to misuse his authority or to make claims that this is what God says when it is Paul’s own conviction.
Susan, interesting on what you remembered Paul saying in 1 Corinthians….
Susan, my mom always said that she believed God would make sure the people doing the writing were “translating” His message correctly. I asked her about this very thing years ago. I believe she was correct.
3. What thoughts do you have on how the Scriptures were written? I have always thought that God ordained the writings. He spoke and convicted man’s heart to write from His inspiration in response to the life He orchestrated for each writer and then He preserved it and inspired men through it to have them hold to the writings and protect the writings.
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king. He is the most excellent of men. The king speaks with grace, God has blessed Him forever (One translations says “therefore”). This king does battle in splendor and majesty on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness…in this the king is to pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies….so now there are two kings? Or is he using the royal third person….other translations seem to indicate that it is a second King?
6. Many are the tribulations of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently.
I went through a period of having more to do than I felt I could manage. I couldn’t figure out on my own how to schedule things so they didn’t collide disastrously with one another, and also some of the things I had to do were beyond my knowledge of how to do them. I finally threw my hands into the air and said “O Lord, please choreograph all of this so it turns out right!” And He did!! He led me steadily through it all, sliding me the information I needed just before I had to have it, and smoothing the path ahead of me. And I praise Him for it!
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?
His sovereign kingdom is forever. He loves justice and hates wickedness. His robes are fragrant with perfume. He is surrounded with music and joy. His bride is at his right hand and is adorned in gold.
9. Now, on the basis of all the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say?
Christ is the King! This beautiful section of poetry presents images of Christ’s bride, the church, sitting at his side and enjoying all the benefits of His kingdom. He loves his people, delights in them, and wants the best for them.
6. Many are the tribulations of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently.
We have a situation in our family that is less than desirable. My husband tends to “freak out” and not be rationale during these types of times. I have changed so much over time…I was much like him years ago. With all my bible study and learning about how Jesus lived, and trying to emulate Him more in my own life, I don’t freak anymore. I think my calmness to tough times, and trying to see the beauty out of ashes, has worn off some on my husband. He freaked at some news recently, and then calmed down much quicker than I expected. I believe it is through Jesus’ fight for my hard work of trying to be more like Him that my husband is being changed too. Thank You Jesus, my Savior!!
A beautiful love song! King Jesus is the most excellent of men, anointed by the very Spirit of God. He is blessed Forever! He has so much strength and power that His enemies and the nations fall beneath His feet.
He fights for me every day. The enemy might try to fill my head with a negative thought, but He has given me His Sword, His Word to fight back.
8. God has set Him above and anointed Him with the oil of joy. I don’t think I understand the oil of joy. I think of Christ before His ultimate fulfillment as a “man of sorrows and familiar with grief”. His robes are fragrant with the spices used to embalm Him. From palaces adorned with ivory, the music of strings makes Him glad. Our bodies are His dwelling place, His palace. Our mouth is adorned with ivory and our vocal chords give music to Him. Daughters of Kings are among His honored women, and the Bride is at His right in Gold. We are daughters of the King, and part of the Bride. We are gowned in hand woven garments that speak of having been refined by fire,precious and costly and beautiful to Him.
12. What does this mean for the church? I think when we are too set on getting what we want now, we forfeit seeing God’s hand at work to bring it about in His timing. And we don’t learn how to really stand with Him and rely on Him. That can be disastrous in extreme testing. Jeremiah says if you can’t handle racing with men, what will you do with horses? It has been relatively easy to be His here in the West, but when that changes, how will we manage if we’ve never learned how to really wait on Him?
Great question Mary. I think of him going to the cross “for the joy set before him” — and what was that? Gaining us, His Bride!
Mary and Dee…Heart melting- He went to the cross ‘for the joy set before him’-and what was that? Gaining us, His Bride!
6. Many are the tribulations of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently.
My tribulations are from the evil one when He whispers lies. He’s been attacking my family for quite some time but Jesus has fought for me through the power of His Word. Last week when we were in Habakkuk and I was meditating on 3:17-19 God gave me that in this desperate time spiritually for my son. When satan would whisper-see, God doesn’t keep his promises, or see, you are a horrible parent God came to me again reminding me that this drought season isn’t a punishment or condemnation for HE is not condemning me, He is shaping me to be like Him so exult in Him and rejoice in Him-my salvation! HE is my strength, not my circumstances…through my weaknesses He makes me strong for HE is my strength..so these trials are actually his mercies for His plan isn’t to condemn but to make my feet like hinds feet and make me walk on my high places.
Then with other challenges in my life the past few weeks He has given me Romans 8: 31-39-NOTHING separates me from His love-none of these trials or distresses for those are gifts to help me to die to myself so that I can experience His love deeper and draw nearer..and so He can be my strength. They are mercies to help me let go of this World-for He is better, bigger, more excellent- more beautiful. Through these trials He is helping me not to have a divided heart! Satan wants me to have a divided heart. I don’t want a divided heart yet I know there are days and seasons I do and I have sensed his nudging-pulling me away from it and closer to Him. SO glad.
…and this puts me in wonder: It isn’t just about me. Him fighting for us glorify’s Him to others -as the power of His Word changes us we are encouraged and we encourage one another, and unbelievers will witness His love and power in us via His Holy Spirit-a mystery, but sooo amazing!!
I agree with Dee.
Rebecca — when God meets you through His Word you meet us through sharing your excitement!
Dee, Yes..what on this Earth could be better than Revelation 19:11-16? And this-Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. I can see why Twila memorizes whole books-so let’s drink Him in!
Rebecca, this question made me think of the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, and then I read your post about “My tribulations are from the evil one when he whispers lies. He’s been attacking my family for quite some time but Jesus has fought for me through the power of His Word.”
A mighty fortress is our God
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe,
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
from age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.
Susan, I love that song-and how appropriate! What blows me away is that God turns satan’s work around to His glory-to conform us into the image of Jesus.
4. Read Psalm 45:2-5 and describe the beauty and power of this king.
The beauty of this king: “You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips.” So he is handsome and he stands out above other men. The part about grace and his lips suggests that his handsomeness does not make him proud or arrogant. His power: He is a warrior-king. He takes up his sword; he is mighty. He rides forth majestically and defends the cause of truth, justice, meekness, and righteousness. He is victorious in battle, his sharp arrows hit their target which are his enemies.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16 – “His mouth is full of sweetness and he is wholly desirable.” This is similar to Psalm 45:2 which says that grace is poured upon, or through, his lips – a “sweetness” of his mouth, and also that he is fairer than the other men – handsome, desirable.
B. Song of Songs 3:7-8 – these verses describe the coming of Solomon in his traveling couch, surrounded by his sixty mighty men, all of them wearing their swords, ready to guard and to defend. Psalm 45:3-4 describes not soldiers but the king himself with his sword on his thigh, riding forth in majesty and victory, to defend and protect.
C. Revelation 19:11-16 – this passage describes a great and final battle. There is One who will come, riding on a white horse, and He is called Faithful and True. He is going to wage war. He is wearing many crowns and clothed in a robe dipped in blood. This is clearly the Lord Jesus, as verse 13 says that His name is called The Word of God and verse 16 says that He has a name written on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He has a sword with which He will smite the nations. He is coming to judge. Psalm 45:3-5 also describes a battle scene and it certainly seems that this king in the psalm is a picture of the Lord Jesus, riding forth in splendor and majesty with his sword, and all his enemies will fall beneath him.
6. Many are the tribulations of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently.
I believe one ways He fights for me (a lot) is to keep me from giving up. I can get so discouraged about a situation, a relationship, or even about my slow, snail-pace of spiritual transformation and growing in maturity, that I just want to throw in the towel. I will think, why even try anymore? He restores my hope, encourages me with His Word or by other believers, to persevere.
5. Compare the above passage to the following and note similarities:
A. Song of Songs 5:16 – his lips have been anointed with grace vs his mouth is sweetness itself
B: Song of Songs 3:7-8 – gird your sword/ride out victoriously vs warriors with swords/experienced in battle
C. Revelation 19:11-16 – both these passages describe a king who has power and authority and who rides victoriously. But the king in Both verses is faithful and true, humble and righteous. Truth being the repeated characteristic. This king does not conquer for selfish ambitions but for the truth.
6. Many are the tribulation of His bride, but He will fight for you. Give an example of how He has fought for you recently. Maybe I haven’t been letting Him fight for me. Perhaps I have stumbled into self-sufficiency again and have done things by my own intuition and effort. It is possible to be in the “I-can-do-it-valley” and forget you have a savior who will fight for you and go before you. Maybe I haven’t been seeing His hand because I have been too busy doing it myself … Perhaps I have been wondering where His beauty is… And yet He is still there fighting for me, out of my awareness and sight, not giving up … Even as I cry in misery that once again here I am in the same sin, in the same bind, in the same ugliness that mocks me time after time and I wonder, “when” … As the evil one accuses me of an identity contrary to what The King has given… He fights for me, in truth, humility, faithfulness, and gives me His righteousness for I have none. Praise be.
2. I see a very excited songwriter ready to burst forth like a thunderhead full of refreshing rain that can no longer be contained. He knows exactly what he is going to write about and who he is writing to. His audience of one, “to the king.” The lines and melody are ready and just need to flow out, they are coming so complete and quickly he has a hard time getting them out fast enough to keep up.
3. God breathed, written with reverence and awe.
4. Magnificent as has never been seen or experienced before.
5. A – Mouth and wisdom that come from it embody all that is unfathomably beautiful.
B – Noble skilled warrior ready for anything.
C – Rider strength and power of divine rider and horse as one, galloping, beautiful and terrifying, flying and delivering justice.
In my past, I had many years of working with horses under my belt by a young age. I had an experience of a lifetime, alone early one morning in a vast New England field with wooded edges, and fallen rock walls. I called to the large herd of domestic horses. I couldn’t see or hear them. The ground began to shake beneath my boots. I remember bending my knees to steady myself and staring at the ground in disbelief as the rumble intensified and the thunder of galloping hooves hit my ears in a simultaneous crescendo of sound and sensation. Then afraid and awestruck I saw them, mains flying and nostrils flaring with their powerful breath, their large bodies stretched long in the full out run. Just like a living movie. That’s the perspective that I have been blessed with for those verses. I don’t know if I was able to consciously really put the experience together with the verses. I always knew something strong was there but I don’t know if I have identified it so clearly before.
What a scene you have painted, Dawn! Wow.
Thank you, Dee, it’s such a blessing to learn from you. The love and time you put into teaching us is amazing.
. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?He loves righteousness and hates evil9. Now, on the basis of all the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say?He desires me!
10. So, we must ask ourselves, what does God mean when he says “leave your people and your father’s house?” (Charles Spurgeon says it is “renouncing the world so as not to have a divided heart.” Mike Reeves says: “There is such gospel here.”)I am not really sure to be honest, leave behind our old ways? leave behind old beliefs and find the truth?
11. With every death, there is a resurrection. Where have you “died” and seen a resurrection in your life? How has taking the time to gaze on His beauty affected your heart?Today two Jehovah witnesses came to my door. This is the 4th time they have been here. Today after some small talk we sat down for 2 hours and went through the Bible….they mentioned they don’t believe in Hell or the Trinity. I finally realized we were just going to have to agree to disagree. They said fire really means grave and not a real fire. They said that The Bible shows that Jesus is subordinate to God referring to “The head of the Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3) Jesus himself said: “The Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28)….. I pointed them to Genesis and the word “us” and “our imagine”… My old self would just want them to know the truth before they left, but I know I had to ” die ” to control. It is hard as the stakes are high…. Hopefully my actions, not my words, will lead them to the truth “a resurrection”. Anyone have any books they recommend for witnessing to a Jehovah witness or can speak to the verses they mentioned?
Natalie — I’m so proud of you for showing the love and kindness of Christ to them. So many Christians represent Christ so poorly with rudeness. Because they have been taught how to interpret through a filter passages about Christ’s Deity, often a personal testimony is the best way to go. There are books, but they are not allowed to take them.
Natalie, you are brave! I just can’t seem to get myself to do what you did. It is hard, awkward, and although I have much conviction, I stumble over passages and the actual pointing to things in the bible to back me up. I guess I haven’t studied it enough. I have memorized and danced John 1-1:14 though, and it speaks to this very point of Jesus/God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-14 ESV
7. Dearest Lord, thank you for giving me patience. Thank You for being holy. Thank You for giving your life for me. Thank You for your grace. Although I sometimes don’t understand why things are what they are here on earth, I will be faithful, until the end. Allow my suffering to make me strong, firm, and steadfast. Amen.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
10. So, we must ask ourselves, what does God mean when he says “leave your people and your father’s house?” (Charles Spurgeon says it is “renouncing the world so as not to have a divided heart.” Mike Reeves says: “There is such gospel here.”)
I think both Spurgeon and Reeves can be correct. There is a leaving something and a going toward something. There needs to be a bit of renouncing the world – so none of its features become an idol. However, there is a going to Christ and making Him King of our lives. Personally I have never felt becoming monastic is the answer. We need to keep one foot in the world so we can be good evangelists and servants for the King.
Also I am thinking of the passage in Matthew 12:43-45: “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation. “
The commentary pertaining to those two verses (from the Life Application Study Bible) says, “Just cleaning up one’s life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to enter.” So I derive from this that just renouncing the world is not enough, but we must also fill ourselves with Christ and the gospel.
I have posted this a couple of times. Sorry if it ends up here several times ?. Something weird is going on….
7. Dearest Lord, thank you for giving me patience. Thank You for being holy. Thank You for giving your life for me. Thank You for your grace. Although I sometimes don’t understand why things are what they are here on earth, I will be faithful, until the end. Allow my suffering to make me strong, firm, and steadfast. Amen.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
7. This is your King. Worship him here through prayer.
Lord Jesus, YOU alone are worthy of our praise, YOU alone are worthy of our worship. Psalm 42 tells me that my soul is thirsty, and how often I continue to thirst because I drink from other wells which do not satisfy. YOU are the well of life-giving water, the only One who can satisfy my thirst, and it’s not about what You can give me or help me with, but just to gaze upon Your beauty. You are majestic, mighty, and clothed in splendor. You are a Shepherd-but also a Warrior King….You are my Knight in shining armor and You hold up a banner over my head, and Your banner over me is love. Please let me live in Your shadow, in Your shade, close by Your side and under Your protection. Please stir my heart with a noble theme – that You love me and help me to love You in return.
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?
His kingdom is, and will be, forever and ever. His scepter is righteousness and He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. This surely describes Jesus, as King David was promised that one from his line would have a kingdom that would be forever. God hates sin/wickedness, and Jesus is God. It says in verse 7, “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your companions” – this sounds like God the Father anointing His Son, Jesus – and Jesus is the One before whom every knee will bow. Verse 8, describing how all his garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia sure sounds like Song of Songs – pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes – your name is perfume poured out.
Susan — you did a great job confirming it without even using Hebrews 1!
11. With every death, there is a resurrection. Where have you “died” and seen a resurrection in your life?
I think I have seen the death-and-resurrection sequence in my life when I have moved from one chapter of my life to another. When I first got married, it was just me and my husband, blissful and seeing to our selfish desires – furnishing our home and putting up curtains, planting in our yard, making things look nice. When we became parents we put all of that on a back shelf (died to ourselves), as we concentrated on providing for and protecting our children. I lost my old identify and became “Karen and Wendy’s “Mom.” As parenthood became more challenging (and we learned that we could not necessarily make our children do what we wanted them to do), we died to our control and turned more and more to the Lord for his guidance in the lives of our children. When our children left home – now what are we going to do? The Lord provided. I remember at this point praying during a morning watch at a retreat, asking to be led to do something about homelessness. Little did I know the answer would come that very day still at that retreat, when the Chairman of the Elders said “We need someone to go to a meeting to get information about how our church might help to run a homeless shelter.” My hand shot up. I went to that meeting and got involved on the steering committee for a local Interfaith Hospitality Network. IHN (which now goes by the name of Family Promise) is a program in which churches house homeless families in their church buildings on a rotational basis. Our church would do that one week out of every two months, and when the “guests” came to our church, I was in charge. I can assure you that I found myself giving up my “comfort” to do that! A couple of times it could have been potentially life-threatening. But I developed a confidence that God would get me through all of that. I could go on, but this is getting lengthy. I hope you can get my drift!
How has taking the time to gaze on His beauty affected your heart?
When I actually do that (gaze on His beauty), it makes everything else in my life seem so much smaller and unimportant. Mundane things that get blown up into monumental proportions will shrink back down to proper size again. Gazing on His beauty fills me with happiness and joy, dispelling the dread and drudgery that threatens to drag me backwards.
Thank you for sharing that, and for stepping up to do the work, there is so much need for more help for the homeless.
Good thoughts — love what gazing on His beauty does for your heart, Deanna.
Oh Deanna! I just took a work break and read your entry here- I am SO glad you gave us this “lengthy” entry, for you have such a lovely way of sharing a long view of a life lived for Christ! How I love the way your hand shot up in response to the challenge to go and learn how to serve the homeless!! How the Lotd has led you from furnishing your own home…..to caring for and serving those with no homes at all. You remindme that life with Him is never dull!!
14 and 15.
Absolutely amazing, such complete truth is spoken with passion, energy, and enthusiasm, the true love of God’s heart, actions and intentions. Logically it is the exact opposite of what Satan wants everyone to believe. The deceived Luciferian’s’ claim Satan gave Adam and Eve access to what was good in the Garden of Eden and he continues to accuse God of withholding all good things. He always tries to get us to doubt God’s character, goodness, and integrity.
The content in this program shreds the lies and presents the truth, the purity, and Holiness of Almighty God and His love, His suffering, His mercy. We don’t have to beg for it or buy it with hard work. Christ died not to create indentured servants, and sadly I see more people living that lie than not.
It has only been very recently and with the help of an excellent mentor that I have broken free of this. I am training to walk in my new identity, to receive the exuberant love of God and truly live in the power and gifts that He has put in each of us so we can accomplish what He has told us to do in His word, and as His Spirit instructs us.
Just a few days ago my old self quickly tried to overwhelm, and kill off the fledgling before newly sprouted feathers were even dry. To protect this new life that God has been trying to get me to receive. It is with stubbornness, that I praise God, trust Him, and am walking by faith and not by sight, forcing my brain to accept the simple yet profound concept, God said it, I believe it.
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus?
I learned that my king is forever. and holds those accountable who choose to not follow light instead of darkness. He is a king who loves righteousness and hates evil. He is anointed by God with oils and spices, and has a royal robe.
I’m not quite sure how we know it is Jesus here…the text speaks of a king, Jesus was a king. My version says God sent a representative too. The kingdom lasts forver and judges. He does have myrrh, and other spices and oils associated with Him when he was born and when He was crucified. However, how else do we know?
Hebrews 1 quotes this passage and says it is Jesus, But you found many indications that it is!
9. Now, on the basis of all the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say?
powerfully heart melting: after gazing at His majesty-He is LORD- how could she hold onto her idols? When we let go of our ‘lifeless gods’ and cling to Him we honor Him as Lord and He makes us more like Him. I love “Let Him be enthralled by your beauty”. Creator God who set the stars in place-is mighty yet sings to us, and is mindful of us-melting us to let go of whatever hinders and divides us so that He can draw us nearer changing us.
7. This is your King. Worship Him here through prayer.
Oh God, You are My God
and I will ever praise you!
Oh, God, You are my God
and I will ever praise You!
I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
Step by step You lead me
and I will follow You all of my days.
8. Read Psalm 45:6-9. What else do you learn about your King? How can we be sure this is speaking of Jesus? We know it is not a human king because his throne is forever and he is addressed as “God.” One way we can know is that Jesus said the Psalms and prophecies were about Him. So when we see a throne forever, or a kingdowm of righteousness we know it is speaking of God or Christ and since God has anointed this God it must be Christ for there is none other can claim to be one with God. (Hebrews also says it is speaking of the Son.)
9. Now, on the basis of all of the above, we have verses 10-11. What does this say? It is a command for us to hear, to consider, and then to come bow to this King. It says our identity is found, not in who we have been and by the name we are called but rather, in His desire for us.