PSALM 45

10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; 11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He [is] your Lord, worship Him. … 16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth. 17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

PSALM 45:10-11, 16-17

A ROYAL WEDDING

When I do pre-marriage counseling one of the key sessions we discuss is the matter of “leaving and cleaving” (Genesis 2:24). Or another way to put is is we speak to the matter of in-laws. When the father walks the bride down the isle and puts her hand in her very-soon-to-be husband’s hand it is no small gesture. In a very real sense, the bride and groom are leaving their families and beginning one of her own together. Family loyalties change on that day. Husband is to prefer his wife over his family and the wife is to prefer her husband over her family. That is how it is supposed to work. Too many relationships fall apart because of a failure of one party or both to “leave and cleave” (Genesis 2:24).

Here we see a royal wedding Psalm. This speaks of more than just an earthly king and queen getting married. (Especially since verse 6 calls the king, God). This represents the Lord and His Bride, the church (see Ephesians 5 and the end of the book of Revelation).

In a very real sense when we commit to Christ we become His and He becomes ours. We have a promise that we will leave and go with him to a place that he has prepared for us (See John 14). We will dwell with him there forever! What a joyous and exciting celebration that will be!

The note of application that stuck for me today comes in the form of a question. Am I leaving and cleaving to Christ or do I allow old world allegiances too much agency in my life?

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your amazing love! I am grateful for your amazing covenantal love. Thank you for the pictures and metaphors all through out your word that point to how you care for us as a shepherd cares for sheep, as a good groom cares for his bride. Thank you that you never quit on us that you never give us. Thankyou for your kindness and gentleness. We love you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.