Preaching

‘King And Queen’

Psalm 61:1 – 3
1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those in chains;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

A short preach, yet a preach that is different to any preach that has gone before. Psalm 45 is a Messianic Psalm; it is a poem about the Messiah, the anointed one who we know as Jesus. The poem describes Jesus as the King of Heaven and earth. However the psalm is not just about the King Jesus and His grandeur. The psalm is also about those who know and love Jesus they are called the Kings bride. The poem is also about the beauty and splendour of us His bride.

In heaven the bride is a magnificent Queen. Bear in mind as you listen to the psalm that the bride, who is made Queen, represents us, individually and all of us together. The psalm is about you and I transformed by the righteousness, holiness and perfection given to us by the King as the bride price. The bride price is also called the bride dowry. This is what it says in Ho 2:19,20 I will betroth you as my wife forever; yes, I will pay your bride-price in righteousness, and in justice, and in loving kindness, and in mercy.
20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness: and you will know the LORD.

The bride price is given in the grace of five gifts from God, righteousness, justice, love, mercy and faithfulness. 1Co 6:20 says, ‘you were bought at a price.‘

As psalm 45 is inspired by the Holy Spirit, the images are from God; we need to allow ourselves to absorb these pictures and see ourselves as we are seen right now in heaven both as individuals and all of us together. And so through this psalm we have a window into heaven and even more than that, the poem gives us a glimpse into the very heart of God.

I’ve rewritten the psalm in slightly different words, a paraphrase of the psalm clarifying the poetic truth.

Lord God you have appointed your Son Jesus as Sovereign, and anointed His head with the oil of joy, ordaining Him as King and establishing His Kingdom. You have made Him a King whose lips are anointed with grace, a monarch who God has blessed forever.

You are a Messiah called mighty, with the sword of the Spirit at your side, that declares your glory and majesty. A majesty that will prosper and flourish in truth, humility and righteousness. The throne of your power, from where You oversee Your Kingdom will be endless. Your reign will be eternal.

The symbol of Your authority is the sceptre of righteousness, a symbol which declares that Your sovereignty is founded and grounded in righteousness. A righteousness that You love to the extreme. You are adorned and anointed with gladness. Even your robes are scented with righteousness.

Your garments announce Your purity they declare aloud Your Holiness. You are surrounded by those who honour you. And at Your right hand is Your bride, Your Queen. You have made Your bride beautiful, You have clothed her with the divine reflecting Your beauty, with robes of the finest gold that pronounces her purity.

Listen beautiful bride let your eyes be fixed upon your Sovereign Lord, have eyes alone for your King. For His gaze is exclusive, He looks at your beauty and desires only you His bride and Queen. Be devoted to Your King for He loves you completely. You O royal daughter gifted beyond measure.

Your appearance gives honour to your King, whose glory shines throughout the courts of heaven. The King’s bride enters the magnificence of heaven adorned with robes of gold that shimmer with many colours. As you enter the bridegrooms palace, the halls of the Kings house are filled with rejoicing, with delight and happiness.

The royal household is astounded at your beauty, astonished at your loveliness because Your King adores you, you will be renowned and celebrated throughout eternity. Esteemed forever because of your God whose name is Love, because of your King whose name is Peace, because of the Spirit of Liberty lives within you.

You the bride, who’s honour, is at the right hand of the King of Glory, will share in all that He has and in all that He is, for you are one in Him. In the Realm of God together; as one united forever-more, in the Kingdom without end.