2/16/2012 9:39:52 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Christ & His bride
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 45: 1-2
Message of the verses: Charles H. Spurgeon has this to say in his introduction to Psalm 45: “Title. The many titles of this Psalm mark its royalty, its deep and solemn import, and the delight the writer had in it. To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim. The most probable translation of this word is upon the lilies, and it is either a poetical title given to this noblest of songs after the Oriental manner, or it may relate to the tune to which it was set, or to the instrument which was meant to accompany it. We incline to the first theory, and if it be the true one, it is easy to see the fitness of borrowing a name for so beautiful, so pure, so choice, so matchless a poem from the golden lilies, whose bright array outshone the glory of Solomon. For the sons of Korah. Special singers are appointed for so divine a hymn. King Jesus deserves to be praised not with random, ranting ravings, but with the sweetest and most skilful music of the best trained choristers. The purest hearts in the spiritual temple are the most harmonious songsters in the ears of God; acceptable song is not a matter so much of tuneful voices as of sanctified affections, but in no case should we sing of Jesus with unprepared hearts. Maschil, an instructive ode, not an idle lay, or a romancing ballad, but a Psalm of holy teaching, didactic and doctrinal. This proves that it is to be spiritually understood. Blessed are the people who know the meaning of its joyful sound. A Song of loves. Not a carnal sentimental love song, but a celestial canticle of everlasting love fit for the tongues and ears of angels.
Subject. Some here see Solomon and Pharaoh’s daughter only — they are short sighted; others see both Solomon and Christ — they are cross eyed; well focused spiritual eyes see here Jesus only, or if Solomon be present at all, it must be like those hazy shadows of by passers which cross the face of the camera, and therefore are dimly traceable upon a photographic landscape. "The King," the God whose throne is forever and ever, is no mere mortal and his everlasting dominion is not bounded by Lebanon and Egypt’s river. This is no wedding song of earthly nuptials, but an Epithalamium for the Heavenly Bridegroom and his elect spouse.
Division. #Ps 45:1 is an announcement of intention, a preface to the song; #Ps 45:2 adores the matchless beauty of Messiah; and from #Ps 45:3-9, he is addressed in admiring ascriptions of praise. #Ps 45:10-12 are spoken to the bride. The church is further spoken of in #Ps 45:13-15, and the Psalm closes with another address to the King, foretelling his eternal fame, #Ps 45:16-17.
The words “nuptials” and “epithalamium” are words that describe a wedding and Psalm 45 pictures the wedding of Christ and His bride. Matthew 25 speaks of this event.
There as some who say that Solomon’s marriage to an Egyptian princess is what this psalm is about, but that may have been the original intent of Psalm 45 when it was written, however Psalm 45 is about on who is far greater than Solomon. Dr. Wiersbe writes “But it’s clear that one ‘greater than Solomon’ (Matt. 12:42) is present in this beautiful psalm, and that one is Jesus Christ, the King of kings. If this were merely a secular love song, why would it be given to the chief musician to be used in the worship of the Lord at His sanctuary? That would be blasphemy. Solomon was not a warrior (vv. 3-5), and certainly an inspired writer would not address Solomon as ‘God’ (v. 6). Hebrews 1:8-9 marks it as a Messianic psalm, so whatever may have been the historical use of this psalm, the ultimate message is about Jesus Christ and His bride, the church (Eph. 5:23ff; Rev. 19:6-21; 22:17). The writer presents four picture of our Lord and in so doing also described His bride.”
We find a new word in this psalm, “Shoshannim” (Lilies) and this identifies the turn to which it was to be sung (see 60, 69, 80).
The Gracious Son of God (vv. 1-2): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.» My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.”
From time to time whenever I read the commentary from Dr. Wiersbe I say to myself that there is no way that I can even think to try and just gleam from the truths that he writes and condense it into something worth reading and this is one of those times. I have mentioned before how much I have learned from both John MacArthur and also Warren Wiersbe, for I read from the commentaries of Warren Wiersbe most everyday and I have mentioned many times before that it is said or Warren Wiersbe that “he puts the cookies on a shelf where you can reach them.” Today we will all partake of these cookies.
This is a song for the heart from the heart of an inspired and excited writer. His heart was ‘bubbling over’ with his theme, for it is the greatest theme in the universe: the glories of the Son of God. Jesus endured the cross ‘for the joy that was set before Him’ (Hebrews 12:2), which was the joy of presenting His bride to the Father in glory (Judg. 24; John 17:24). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ in this world (John 16:14), and He inspired this writer to do just that. The King described in this psalm is both God (v. 6) and man (v. 2), and that can only be Jesus.
“The writer began with the beauty of the King (v.2), ‘fairer than the children of men’ literally, ‘beautified with beauty.’ King Saul was known as a handsome man (1Sam. 9:2; 10:23) and so was David (1Sam. 16:12), but none surpass Jesus. When He ministered on earth, our Lord had no special physical beauty (Isa. 53:2), and when His persecutors were through with Him, He didn’t even look human (Isa. 52:14) ‘Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.’ But today, Jesus Christ is the center of heaven’s glory and the focus of heaven’s worship (Rev. 4-5). We love Jesus even though we have never seen Him, but one day we shall behold the King in His beauty (Isa. 33:17), and we shall be like Him (1John 3:1-3). The writer also marveled at His gracious speech, but so did the people who heard Him preach and teach on earth (Luke 4:18, 22, 32; John 7:46; See Mark 1:22; 6:2; 11:18). Visitors from distant lands came to hear Solomon’s wisdom (1Kings 4:29-34), but the Father has hidden all the treasures of divine wisdom in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:3). Solomon died, and except for what he wrote in Scripture, his wisdom died with him, but Jesus is blessed forever (v. 2), has a throne forever (v. 6), and His name will be praised forever (v. 17). In the Bible, ‘forever’ can mean ‘as long as you live’ (Ex. 21:6), but here it means ‘for eternity.’ He is “King forever’ (29:10).”
One of the things that I appreciate most about Warren Wiersbe is how he writes about our Savior, for it seems to me that there is something even more special to his commentaries when he is writing about Jesus Christ and that is why I felt it necessary to share what he wrote here.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I truly find it hard to think about what the enemies of Jesus Christ did to Him before He was crucified, and even the crucifixion itself is difficult to fathom, yet I know in my heart of hearts that it was necessary to provide salvation for me and for all who chose to accept this great salvation that Jesus Christ provided. To try and understand how the God who created all that we see and even when it comes to the stars, things we have not seen, would subject Himself to such a great punishment, and when you think of it with Scripture in mind the punishment of man was not what was so difficult for our Lord, it was the punishment of God on Him as He hung on that cross. Luke tells us that while He was in the garden that he was sweating blood, because of the agony that He knew He was going to go through, and I believe that Scripture tells us that the agony that He was agonized over was separation from His Father and punishment for my sins and all who would eventually come to Him in faith.
Michael Card has written a song, and sings it too, and in this song about the cross of Christ he says something like this: There was no need to nail Jesus to the cross for His Love would have kept Him there. This is what is called “agape” love, and it is a word that means action, not feelings so much. God gave His Son to die on the cross because He loves us, which was action. There is one single verse in the Bible that explains this better than any other single verse and that is 2Cor. 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” It seems that I have many favorite verses, but this is one I truly believe in and yet realize that the only way that I can understand even a little bit about this verse is because of God’s love for me.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Praise the Lord for the indescribable love that He has for me and be ready to tell others about this love.
2. Continue to learn contentment from the circumstances that I go through, trusting the Lord to teach me to be content.
2/16/2012 11:15:08 AM
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