Marriage from God’s Perspective

Transcript

GRM 1250
11/29/2020
Marriage from God’s Perspective
Psalm 45 and Selected Verses
Gil Rugh

We are going to the Book of Psalms again and we are going to Psalm 45, just picking up in the order as we have looked through some of these Psalms. We have been looking at the section of Psalms and we are looking at Psalm 45. This Psalm is a contrast to some of the Psalms that have been the subject of our studies. Some of the Psalms deal with discouragement, depression, trials and difficulties, opposition from enemies. This is a Psalm of a different kind. This is a Psalm of celebration and rejoicing over a wedding. It is the wedding of the King of Israel and his bride. Neither are specifically identified, but it is the marriage of the King and the woman who is to be bride. It is a celebration. It is a joyous occasion. There are no discouraging things in the Psalms if you will. There are enemies, but they are just mentioned because they are to be defeated, but this is talking about how special marriage is.

Sometimes when we think of the Old Testament, we think of problems of polygamy, concubines. We think of someone like Solomon who had many wives and many concubines, and even David with multiple wives. We pick up on thinking it is a negative time and even marriage gets viewed through that negative glass, but really the Bible is consistent. With the creation in Genesis chapters 1, 2, and 3, that whole account. In chapter 2 of Genesis, God establishes marriage. Creates the man out of the dust of the earth, says he is not complete yet. Then he takes a side part of the man and makes the woman. Brings the woman to the man, and that’s foundation and the beginning of marriage. It is God’s intention for His creation. Men and women will be joined in marriage. Thousands of year later Christ will be asked a question about marriage and He responds by saying haven’t you read the Old Testament? This is in Matthew chapter 19, particularly verses 4 through 6. Did you read what is written in your Old Testament Scriptures? That in the beginning God created a man and a woman, male and female and joined them in marriage. That is God’s intention. That runs through and sin has brought certain disorder. Rebellion, disobedience, failures, sin of all kinds entered the picture, but God’s purposes and plans have not changed.

When we come to look at a passage like Psalm 45, we are viewing it from God’s perspective, and He is going to talk about marriage and the King’s role here as the groom; what he is to be and how he must function. He is going to talk about the queen who is the bride, to be joined in marriage and what her role and responsibility and character is to be. They haven’t changed. So, we read it and say, well, it is a little bit idealistic. But isn’t that the way we are? Even when we come to marriage, you don’t say well, he is ugly, but I married him anyway. She gets on my nerves, but I decided to marry her. No, we usually look at marriage and think of people, and we think, are they in for a surprise! Why? Because right now all they can see is the beauty in one another, how much they love one another. This is what getting everything I want and how wonderful it is! Really that is the way it should be and too bad we don’t keep thinking like that. That is the way marriage is presented and the way it is to be, the way God intends to bring blessing.

I am not minimizing the serious impact of sin. You end with a husband who is not what you expected or a wife that you didn’t expect, that is the reality of the world. It doesn’t change the perspective God has for us in marriage. That is what he is going to talk about in Psalm 45. We don’t know who the bride or groom are, but we know he is the King, and she is to be the queen. You will see in this Psalm that a title is given, “A Song Celebrating the King’s Marriage”. And then you have the instruction that it is “For the choir director…” It is, “A song of Love”. It was to be given to the choir director and he would be in charge of storing these songs. Then they would be part of the music, the worship of Israel at the tabernacle, then later the temple. So, this is something to be sung and it would be a reminder of God’s blessing in marriage.

We will see that even if you are single, there is something being unfolded here because we are going to see three basic emphasis that come out of this Psalm. The first is the historical situation and that is the basic thing we need to interpret and see correctly. This is a time in history where a King of Israel is taking a bride to be his queen. God will talk about them both, that is the historical situation. Then there is a prophetic anticipation that we will look at because this Psalm is applied to Christ and we will see anticipates his marriage, the marriage of the Lamb, the church and Christ. Then we will look at a present application because it is applicable to us where we are right now today in our marriage relationships. What God says must characterize us and the responsibly there.

We will walk through it first looking at a historical situation. You will have to have that in the back of your mind then, because we won’t be coming consistently back to it, but we will be looking at other Scriptures and the way they use it. This Psalm breaks down simply that the first verse is an introduction, the writer or author of the Psalm, we are not sure. Some think it is the sons of Cora and in their musical responsibility have written it. This is one of the songs in connection with the marriage of the King. Others think it is an unknown writer and it was just entrusted to the sons of Cora for their singing it. They were musicians at the tabernacle and temple to lead the Israelites in their worship in singing these truths, but it was to be sung. It is a song, and it would be repeated because it does have application beyond just this particular historical situation of this King and his bride. So, it would be a reminder as it was sung as part of their worship. Then you see the importance of these things and these truths in worship.

The writer of Psalm 45 is overflowing with joy and excitement at being privileged to write this for the King and instructing him, and for the bride who is the queen and instructing her. He will write his introduction in verse 1. Then verses 2 through 9 are addressed to the King, basically. Then verses 10 through 15 are addressed to the queen, the bride. Then verses 16 and 17 form a conclusion. He talks about coming generations that will be coming from this relationship which puts it all in context. Verse 1, “My hear overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” This is what I have to say to you, I’m putting it in writing. A song to be accompanied by the stringed instruments, if you will. It was part of Israel’s worship. You see its importance. It would be sung as part of that and he is moved by the Holy Spirit. It is a good thing. It is something that needs to be celebrated. It is part of worshipping before God because He established the marriage relationship at the beginning of creation. It is not a culture phenomenon. Not something developed by man.

When we talk about it as a creation ordinance, it applies to all God’s creation, saved and unsaved. It has been observed that way. Basically, by all civilization down until our day when we take corruption to a new level and can’t even understand the difference between male and female, we have corrupted the concept of what marriage is. But God established it, so it is a good thing. It is something to be written and celebrated and sung over and over. So, we know he wants to talk to the King and address him. “You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.” The King is handsome. He is not only handsome, but he is gracious. You might see a man who is striking in his appearance, but when he opens his mouth and talks he is crud and rough. That is not this man. His speech fits with his appearance. He is attractive and his speech is just as attractive. He speaks graciously but it is all credited to God.

Remember God has blessed you forever. This is a continuing blessing from God for you. You didn’t make yourself, your appearance. So, when we come to these kinds of things, we have as I mentioned, as we began, it is seen through the ideal, somewhat idealistic. You read this in the Song of Solomon. It is about a marriage relationship between a man and a woman, between Solomon and one of his brides. You think, oh well, sometimes people say we put too much emphasis on the physical appearance. Well, we say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is an element of truth to that. We have all picked someone else to marry. Why did you marry that ugly guy sitting next to you? Why did you marry that unattractive women? She is not unattractive to me! He’s not unattractive to me! So, there is a certain way we see them as desirable for us. There is a beauty in them we see. We are attracted, otherwise most of us would be unmarried, let’s face it. I told Marilyn, tall, dark, and handsome; short, light, and take what you get! I don’t fit those descriptions, but she married me. She has good taste, so that is the picture here. He is handsome, but people think, well, if I don’t fit this, there is nothing wrong with the physical beauty. Even though we all can’t be the most beautiful, the most attractive, the most handsome, whatever.

There is attractiveness to the one God has prepared for us and we fit together, and we love and appreciate the beauty we see in one another. Here it is in that ideal form, in picture. There are no flaws talked about. I perform marriages and I see this young couple just sitting here, and they don’t see anything wrong with the other one. Maybe I ought to stop here and give them a realistic talk. But you would say that would be totally out of character. That is the way they ought to look at each other, so that is where we are, and it is all from God. He has brought that blessing. The blessing of this person to the King. The man to this queen. Then he is going to talk about the responsibility of the man. He has to step up as a husband, as the King, and they blend together here, because his role as her husband will also be, to be her King. His job gets into the picture. He is to function as a man as God created him to be.

“Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One…” And that is a strong word, O Mighty One. It is the same word used for mighty, the Mighty God. He is the Mighty One. “…in Your splendor and Your majesty!” He has a beauty. He has an attractiveness and note here, “And in Your majesty ride on victoriously…” Now he is coming to a wedding. Here is the instruction for him where he is going from here. This has to be the kind of man he is, fulfilling the responsibility that God has placed upon him as King. “And in Your majesty ride on victoriously, (and you ought to underline) for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness…” This is not a self-driven selfish man. He is going to war, he is the protector, the provider, he is the King that takes on a national identity. But it is for the cause of truth and righteousness and he does it with humility and meekness, so there is no arrogance here. There is nothing here to puff him up as self-importance. Like Nebuchadnezzar, is this not mighty Babylon which I have built with the might of my power! No, none of that. This is a godly man, and his concern is for truth, for righteousness, and to function with godly characters of humility and meekness.

“…let Your right hand teach You awesome things.” He is to grow, mature, and exercise his power properly for the cause of truth and righteousness and not to lose his humility and meekness. God had to remind the King sometimes, I took you when you were little. You were insignificant. That is where the meekness, if we forget that, self takes over. So, each to go out. “Your arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.” There his enemies are the enemies of truth and righteousness. That is his cause. Those who approach truth and righteousness are his enemies. You see he is of godly character because God is a God of truth, characterized by righteousness. He is a God who hates wickedness. So, the King is manifesting Godly character here. For the bride that is important. This is the kind of man she wants as a husband. The kind of King who can serve as a godly King. God has blessed him, that is evident, and he acknowledges that with humility and meekness. He is concerned for truth and righteousness.

Then the address to him in verse 6. The emphasis, righteousness characterizes this man as he rules and will rule. “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” His kingdom is characterized by righteousness. It must be characterized by righteousness. That was his cause in verse 4, truth and righteousness. The mark of his kingdom is the scepter of uprightness, the scepter which is the sign of his power and reign. Its righteousness concern is that God’s will is done. He is addressed here, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” Now it doesn’t mean they are deifying the King. Down in verse 7, he will say, “…therefore God, Your God, has anointed You…” He is called God in verse 6 because he acts as God’s representative and it’s important we understand the significance of this. He is God’s representative to the people. God has put him in that position. He is ruling over these people and in that sense he stands in God’s place to them. To disobey him will be to disobey God.

A couple of examples, this is the name for God, Elohim. That is a plural, the im on the end, im is a plural. Sometimes when it is referring to God it is referring to His majesty, the greatness of His person. Same word that would be used down in verse 7, “Therefore God, Your God…” And it is used of other individuals in the Old Testament. Come back to Exodus 7, where it is used of Moses. Exodus chapter 7, verse 1, God is going to send Moses to Pharaoh to prepare for the deliverance of the people from slavery in Egypt. So, in verse 1, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I make you as God to Pharaoh…’” Now note that little word ‘as’. They put it in English to somewhat soften it, but literally it says, “‘I make you God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.’” You see it is like a prophet was a spokesman for God, now Moses will stand before Pharaoh in God’s place, and Aaron will be Moses’ spokesman to Pharaoh. Remember Moses said, I can’t speak, so his brother Aaron will be the spokesman. You see God puts Moses in that position. I’m making you as God, not elevating him to deity, obviously, but the seriousness of the position. You will be there standing in My place, you will be the physical presence of Me, so to speak. What you say through Aaron is My word. What happens when Pharaoh disobeys Moses; he is disobeying God. It is a personal affront and challenge to God, so it’s used of Moses in that place.

You are in Exodus, come over to chapter 21. You see it’s just not of a great man like Moses, but in chapter 21 of Exodus, verse 6 it says, “…then his master (this is the slave who decides he wants to remain with his master and his instruction) shall bring him to God…” You have in the margin, if you are using the same edition of Bible that I am, “Or, the judges who acted in the God’s name” because that’s God. The word is God, Elohim. You are bringing him to God, but these are really the judges that are in charge in Israel. They are the legal actors here, so this slave will be confirmed as a permanent slave, by his choice to this master. They are called this because they are carrying out God’s will in this matter, what God has instructed in His law. When they are doing that, they are acting on God’s behalf, so they get the recognition. That drives home the point that when God appoints these people in this position He expects them to obey, and disobedience is disobedience to Him. We will get to this in Romans 13, where God has declared when you disobey the rulers that I have appointed, you disobey Me. That is the principle and why they can be called God in the Old Testament.

Go back to Psalms and go to Psalm 82. We don’t want to spend too much time on this, but I don’t want there to be misunderstanding. In Psalm chapter 82, verse 6, God is speaking, “I said, ‘You are gods…’” There is the plural translation because Elohim is plural all the time. Sometimes it might be the plural of majesty or greatness even though talking singular, but can be translated plural, it’s the word Elohim. “‘…You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High…’” So, in a sense you have that connection to God. I had a professor in Bible college, he would lead the class in prayer, and he would say, “Lord, make us little Christs.” I always go, ‘Hmmmmmmn!’ I can understand why he is saying that. We are to be like Christ. We are in that sense to be Christ’s representatives here on earth. Others should see His character in us and our obedience to Him.

All of you are gods, now that is important because when you get to John’s gospel chapter 10, and we will have to go there now. I was going to quote it to you but, in John 10, they are going to accuse Jesus of claiming to be the Son of God and elevating himself to that level to be God. Jesus is going to turn Old Testament Scriptures back on them, because these are Jews who know the Old Testament Scriptures. In John 10, and for time we will jump down to verse 34, “Jesus answered them, ‘Has it not been written in your Law…’” The Law there, is not used just for the first five books of Moses. As it often is referred to in the Old Testament, the first five books, the Law of Moses, come at the beginning, and so you can use it to refer to that rather than just a specific one, the Law. This comes out of Psalms chapter 82, verse 6, which we just read. “…‘I said, You are gods’?… If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” In other words, you have to think through your Scripture. Jesus here uses that. It doesn’t mean he is not God in a fuller and greater way, but He is pointing out there an ability to handle their Scriptures consistently and to take them seriously. But there you can see God.

When you come back to Psalm 45, the King here is in a special role. This doesn’t mean every wife will have to call her husband God. His position is to be recognized. The King here is in God’s place over Israel. His scepter of righteousness. He needs to take this seriously, because God does, and there are consequences for not. He is a God of righteousness. You better be one of righteousness. You better hate wickedness. Verse 7, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness…” You can’t say, well, I love them both and then love darkness rather than light. They didn’t love darkness along with light. They loved darkness rather that light. That is the contrast. We were children of darkness now we are children of light. If you love righteousness, you will hate wickedness. The lovers of wickedness don’t love righteousness.

“Therefore God, Your God…” It makes clear here when he called him God, because he was standing in God’s place as King. There is a higher authority that rules over the King. “…Your God, has anointed you…” You are in that position by God’s appointment. That’s why you have to love righteousness and hate wickedness. “…with the oil of joy above Your fellows.” He pulled you out when you were nothing. He elevated you above those who may have been preferred before you. David was called out, he wasn’t the one that would have been normally picked, and so on it goes. This is God’s anointing and with the oil of joy. But he already recognized that joy you have in that position God has given you, is a result of His action. That keeps the meekness, the humility before us. As Paul said, I am what I am, by the grace of God. There is no other explanation. Why do you sit here today hearing the word of God? Blessed to know the truth, to know the Savior, and there are many other people in the world who don’t. Well, they might have been picked before us because God has done it. The King cannot lose sight who has ultimate region and authority here. They must carry out his responsibly diligently, carefully, and accurately.

Verse 8, and here is he coming into the wedding. Everybody gets ready for the wedding and the groom doesn’t spend as much time as the bride, but he is to look good. Of course, the King has to be very good here. “All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia…” These perfumes and the spices are very valuable, very costly! But they are fitting for his role. He fits the role. He is what you would expect of the King. “Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.” We have an old hymn that was drawn with perhaps a misapplication of this, but a song that some of you will remember. The palaces weren’t all ivory, but they were decorated with ivory because ivory, just like the spices and perfumes, were tremendously costly. Remember the Queen of Sheba brought these costly kinds of spices and perfumes to Solomon because you couldn’t come to Solomon with a little gift, you had to come with something of great cost. So, they show something of his importance. The palace was decorated with ivory, very costly, and the stringed instruments being played throughout the palaces that he has. That made you glad. He is pleased with his position and he takes it seriously. He is what a King ought to be. He’s King, he is going to be a husband, and he has to fulfill the role that God has put him in.

“Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies…” Something of your position, those who wait on him are in such a position they may have been daughters of kings. Shows how significant he is, and you see this in the marriages. It may be part of the harem. Solomon married the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt and there were other alliances with other kings. They would take and give their daughter to that King, that would bind them together in something of a family relationship. Help to keep battles and wars down. We are aligned together now. But here he has the Kings’ daughters that are there to serve and wait on him. This shows you how great he is. Now we are going to transfer over, because you are going to bring up these ladies, then we have to display the lady of the ladies, the queen, the bride.

“…at your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.” The gold of Ophir was the most pure, desirable, precious gold. It was the gold of golds. She is adorned with that and she stands at his right hand. They are noble ladies, but this is the one at his right hand. She is the one elevated to the greatest importance. The greatest honor. Now he is going to transition in verses 10 through 15 to give her instructions. He gave instructions to the king. He is being characterized as one who pursues and wars for truth and righteousness but does it with meekness and humility. He is to appear as he should, there is to be an honor about him. It is to speak graciously; it fits his position. He has responsibilities both as to his character and as to his conduct. Now the bride is given instruction.

Verse 10, “Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear…” That word daughter is used often in the Old Testament, which is the picture of closeness. That family relationship that begins when you are very young, and you are close. You know you can hug each other and express your affection and it’s alright. You just can’t do that with everybody. Even as you grow up you can still hug and show affection to your sister, brother, your daughter. And so, you have in Song of Solomon, oh, I wish you were my brother. Well, that is a strange thing to say, but it expresses the closeness that has always been there from a birth kind of thing. So, daughter is used a number of times, you are familiar with the Old Testament. “Listen, O daughter…” He is addressing the bride who is coming from a foreign place. She is elevated to the greatest importance.

“Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear…” These expressions, a number of those who comment on the Hebrew text here, note there is a sense of urgency in the way this is expressed, and language used here. “…give attention and incline your ear...” These instructions are of utmost importance. You must know your role, your responsibility, you must fill this properly. It is interesting the Psalmist writes this under the direction of the Spirt. He gives instruction to the King and he gives just as firm instruction to the one who will be queen. And again, she has to be filled in on her role because look at the next line, “Forget your people and your father’s house…” It is like when we can use the one we are very familiar with; Solomon took Pharaoh’s daughter to be his wife. Now she is not as much Pharaoh’s daughter, she is Solomon’s wife. She has to let go of all she had to be Pharaoh’s daughter to be put in her place. Now you are Solomon’s wife. That supersedes all those previous relationships. You forget your people, you forget your father’s house, there is a transition.

Remember when God established marriage and Christ referred to it. Man shall leave father & mother, cleave to his wife and the two become one flesh. This is the foundational basic relationship. It’s not parents and children. It’s husband and wife that supersedes. The children are born into the family then they move on. You get married, husband and wife are the binding relationship. It is the relationship as we will see that pictures Christ and his church. You forget the other. This doesn’t mean you don’t have a responsibility. We have a responsibility to our parents as they age. We have responsibly for our children. There are instructions given on those things. But there has to be a narrow focus and it’s instructed to the women here. You forget your people, your father’s house then the king will desire your beauty. There is something here that we talk about, leave and cleave. Why is it put this way and not put this way for the man? Well, Paul explained it in I Corinthians 11, the man was not made for the woman, the woman was made for the man. That is the way Genesis 2 explains it.

Now be careful, the man is to be characterized by meekness and humility if he is a godly man. But that doesn’t change what the responsibility of the woman is. “Then the king will desire your beauty…” Won’t he desire her beauty regardless? No, because what he wants in his bride is one whose life now will be totally committed to him. To completing him. That’s what makes her most valuable. There are multitudes of beautiful women available to the King in this kind of position. They didn’t pick ugly women for the harem. This woman is being elevated to the position of his wife. She must see herself in the most important position that she has. Not my parents, not my other relationships, they are gone as far as my number one priority, then the king will desire my beauty. This is not popular today. I don’t think they will invite me to the university to share this for young people. We have to be careful that we don’t settle and not so subtly get our world turned so we are in conformity to the world and the world’s thinking.

“Then the King will desire your beauty; because He is your Lord…” It is the same word used for God. “…because He is your Lord, bow down to him.” Now this is the relationship that is to be there in the marriage relationship. Now some say, well, he was King. Of course, he was lured. That doesn’t apply otherwise. Other commentaries said, well, that was just the oriental culture of the day. No, this is Biblical truth. God is revealing here, and we are going to see that as we see the applications of it in our relationships to Christ and our present day application. But keep in mind, this is what God is presenting as the ideal. What He is intends for this King, for this queen to be. “The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift…” How does she get into this? Tyre and Sidon were familiar with that place of commercial wealth and importance. The daughter of Tyre is again one of those who come from the important place, maybe the daughter of the King of Tyre. She comes to bring a gift. “…the rich among the people will seek your favor.” You see what will bring the fullest blessing of God is when you do what God says he intends you to do and to be. That is what is instructed here. That is what was instructed for the man, he had his role.

Now note, God did not tell the King, who is the husband here, you be sure, let me tell what your bride is to do. He told the husband, the King, what he had to do. Now he doesn’t tell the wife, here is what you will want to do to remake your husband. He tells her what she has to do. Clear things up. The husband, the King, was described in verses 8 through 10 and his beauty and splendor as he comes in for the marriage. Now in verse 13, the bride is described, “The King’s daughter”. That is the way she is described, his wife, but she becomes most precious like a little daughter. She is coming under his care, his protection, his oversight. “The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; the virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to You. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; they will enter into the King’s palace.” I mean, it’s fine we dress to be applying to one another. To fit our place and to know it, and to revel in it. You know this is the plan. Often they didn’t get a choice. It may have been her father who arranged this with the King’s representative. Doesn’t change what her role and responsibility is. It is to be a time of gladness and rejoicing.

This is how they come into the palace. Where the marriage then is joined. It is a beautiful picture. It is a celebration. Verses 16 and 17 kind of form a conclusion because they say, “In place of your fathers will be your sons…” You left your family, but it’s your sons. Those born to you. “…you shall make them princes in all the earth. I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever.” They will be so rejoicing because here is a King who is all that he should be, and a queen who is all she should be, both as godly persons. Then God’s blessing as he brings children. That blessing can be multiplied. Now sin enters the picture obviously. The husband isn’t perfect, the wife isn’t perfect, they have children who are not perfect, but this God setting forth what is ideal. It is a picture of something that will be perfect, so I want to talk about the prophetic picture here. The prophetic anticipation. That’s the historical situation. You say that is a little bit idealistic, but it is.

We still do that with a wedding today. We talk about how beautiful the bride is. And the groom he looks so, just the way he should. And that is the way we want it to be. Now the prophetic anticipation, I mentioned in Psalm 45, verses 6 and 7 are quoted in Hebrews 1. So, let’s go over to Hebrews 1. It is applied to Christ and what the future view is of this Christ and His church. The church is the bride of Christ and He is the King. David was king and his descendants would sit, but they all anticipated the coming of the One who would be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, so the ultimately full realization of this comes with Christ and His bride the church. You note in Hebrews 1, he is presenting Christ as God. Verse 2, He is the “…Son, whom He appointed heir of all things…” He is the One through whom the world was made so His deity is clearly brought in, even though He is distinguished from the father. “…He is the radiance of His glory…” The Son is the radiance of the father’s glory. “…and the exact representation of His nature…”

Here is perfect truth. Perfect righteousness. Perfect humility. In Matthew 11, verses 28 through 30, Jesus said, come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. I am meek and lowly in spirit. That is the character of the One who is our groom, if you will. Our King to whom we are joined as His bride, the church. What he is doing is laying out the full deity of Christ here. You note that glory characterizes Him, “He is the radiance of His glory…” His power. The King in Psalm 45 goes forward to defeat all the enemies of righteousness. This One does in the full and complete way and He laid the foundation for sin to be dealt with, with His own death. And finally, He will put an end to sin at His second coming. He has a name handed down to Him, He is much better than the angels.

Come down to verses 8 and 9 of Hebrews 1, “But of the Son He says…” In contrast to the angels who are just servants. Remember in the picture, you had servants involved, but here you have the Son is unique. Angels are His servants, His ministers. “…the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.’” He is going to quote Psalm 45, verses 6 and 7. “‘You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness...” Righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You pull that Psalm in and it’s descriptive of Christ and applied to Him and He is God in a full way, but He is not the Father. But He is not less deity. The King could only act as the representative of God. Christ can fully, accurately represent him because He is Him in His very nature in a way we never could at a human being apart from Christ. That is the picture here.

Come over to Revelation 19 while you are in the back of your Bible. So, that is why I say this picture of the wedding, bride and groom applies to someone like Paul who will not be physically married, but the beauty of the married relationship, the intimacy and love that is there. All of us who are believers in Christ, a part of the church, will enter into that the marriage of the Lamb. We have in Revelation 19, verse7, “Let us rejoice and be glad…” You see the joy celebration associated with. “…and give the glory to Him…” There was something focused on the glory of that King, the groom and his majesty. “…for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. So, they partake of that righteous character which would be fitting, this king needs a righteous bride. One will which will function according to God’s will. That’s the righteous acts.

That is why it is so important that with urgency the writer of Psalm 45 told the bride who was to be the queen what she must do. She must let go of everything. Remember Jesus said, you can not be My disciple if you don’t love Me more than your father, mother, brother, or sister. Remember to be joined to Me, you must give up everything. Here, fine linens and righteous acts of the saints, “‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb…These are true words of God.’” It gets no better than this. That is the beauty of that, it has a prophetic anticipation. It was somewhat idealistic in the perfections that we saw, but there comes a day when it’s real. Colossians 1:22, says that we will be presented before God, holy and blameless, and without spot. So, the beautiful garments of that bride in Psalm 45 will be ours in a fuller, greater way. It will be perfect. She was perfect in their sight. And where are we there? We are those who let go of everyone and everything to be devoted fully to Christ. That doesn’t mean we don’t have other responsibilities, but the devotion of my heart and life has to be to Christ. He said, you can’t be My disciple if you don’t give up everything. If you don’t let go of your family to become my family and my bride, ultimately. The picture and the anticipation are perfect; it is beautiful, it’s one we must keep in mind.

There is a present application. We had the historical situation, then we have the future we are looking for someday. Revelation 19 will come true. Heaven will open and we will be unveiled. Does it get any better than that? Christ will be recognized for who He is. The church’s bride will be seen for who she is. You know what He does? If you are still in Revelation 19, move to the next, verse 11, He is called “…Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” Remember Psalm 45, his cause, his truth, his righteousness, all prefigured anticipated the One who could only fulfill it, with its completeness. Even as we will fulfill the completeness of the bride of Christ, holy, blameless, without spot. She could have the beautiful character and garments, but we will have it in a fullness that would not be seen before.

Present day application, a husband is characterized by what? Truth and a passion for truth and righteousness. They see themselves as the defender, protector of their wife, their family; to oppose the wickedness that would corrupt but do it all in meekness and humility. Not that I am the boss, God put me in charge, you just do what I tell you. That is not a godly man. That does not manifest the character of Christ. If Christ could say I am meek and lowly in spirit, I better be able to say it as a man and yet not sacrifice my responsibility. You wouldn’t say I am so meek I won’t do what a king should do. I am so meek I will just let my wife run the place. Well, no, those are not the options. We create these kinds of things. Remember there are not excuses. The husband, the King, was told what he must do. The bride, the queen, was told what she must do. What about if the partner is not so good? It is a beautiful thing that I don’t have to worry about that. I have one person to take care of in that sense. Be sure that I do what I should do and exercise it properly. The husband, to be sure that he is providing the protection and provisions for his family that is characterized in the context of truth, righteousness, humility. The wife, loyalty, obedience.

Come to Ephesians 5, you knew we had to get here. We could have interwoven this because this talks about Christ, the church, and the connection. You can see that it all ties together, that historical situation and anticipates what can be pictured, what will take place and prophecy of Christ and His bride. It is also a reminder that our human relationship is to be a picture of the relationship of Christ and His church. In Ephesians 5, he talks here about the work of the Spirit. We are talking about saved people, we have brought that through. In the opening chapters of Ephesians, Paul is telling us how to walk, how to conduct our lives. Verse 15, he says, “…be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise…” That involves the proper application of Biblical truth. There is a lot of smart people who are not wise. The world is full of them. They are very intelligent, but they are not wise because the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord and the submission to apply His truth to our lives. “…walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” We live in evil days. It’s what he says in verse 16, “…the days are evil.”

Oh, this is so difficult, oh, this is such a hard time! This is life in a fallen world. Life under the rule of Satan, the god of this world populated by his slaves. It is an evil world so don’t be foolish. “…but understand what the will of the Lord is.” I mean that is why we are studying the Word. We want to know the will of God. We are talking about a marriage, find out about it in the Word of God. It’s the will of God. You don’t get drunk, but you do live under the control of the Spirit. People take drugs, they give me an experience. Drinking, that makes me feel better. We believers look to the Spirit of God to fill, control our lives, guide us. I don’t need to take a drink to have courage. I need to draw on the grace that God provides with the provision of the Spirit. We are to be joyful, singing, giving thanks for all things because we live under the sovereignty of our God. Being subject to one another in the fear of Christ and this verse has been so twisted by some who claim to be evangelicals. It’s not saying that gives mutual submission. He goes on to explain, what he means, “…being subject to one another (note) in the fear of Christ.” Reverencing Christ, giving Him the honor due Him.

Wives are to be subject to their own husbands. Husbands are to love their wives. In chapter 6, children are to obey their parents. Parents are not to provoke their children. Slaves, in verse 5, are instructed to be obedient to their masters. Masters are not to mistreat their slaves. Instructions are given to each. The world thinks this is totally unacceptable and the church begins to adopt the world’s thinking. I talked with you recently about this and we begin to get shaped by the thinking of the world, and oh yes, we ought to be. Paul doesn’t say you have to be against slavery, but he says slaves who are godly must submit to their masters. He tells masters who are godly, you have to free your slaves; no, he just says you have to treat them properly. For husbands and wives, verse 22 of chapter 5 instructs wives to be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord. Does he get any stronger than that? Why, because God has appointed the husband to lead the wife. That is established in the creation. The man was created first then the woman. That is found in I Timothy 2, where Paul takes that, and explains that is why the men lead and not the women. You do it as to the Lord.

Well, how do I submit to the Lord, completely, right? “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church…” That is his comparison not mine. “…the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” The picture is clear, he is talking about that the church is the bride of Christ. How do we submit to Him? In the things we approve of and decide we want to do? No, in everything. As the church is subject to Christ, wives to their husbands in everything. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her…”

What did the husband do in Psalm 45? He went out for victory, for truth, for righteousness with humility. This is a godly man. He loves those that are under his kingship. He loves his wife. So, the application there, even though he is a King, and his responsibilities encompass certain areas, his responsibility to his wife is the same as any other godly man. You love her, you do what is best for her, consistent with the truth, with righteousness. You deal with her in humility, meekness; it is crucial because we are in a world. We are manifesting to the world who has no concept, why would a woman want to submit to her husband? What area do you live in? What planet did you come in from? We live in a different world. We have a song, “This is my Father’s World”. We recognize that He is our Father. We live in obedience, so our marriage relationship reflects that. Now he doesn’t say husbands be sure your wives are submissive, nor does he tell wives, you be sure your husbands are loving. This is where things get so entangled. We think well, there are exceptions. All God does is tell me what I have to be. My wife is difficult. Okay. Let’s talk about what you have to do. Okay. Did you realize how difficult my wife is? Well, you have to submit. Okay, I know the Bible says that. Well, do you know how? You know we go on.

We think we have filled in the blanks for God. We are the exceptions. Husbands love your wives, sacrifice yourself for your wife. Number one thought, how will this be best for my wife? How will this impact her? Will this be harmful for her? Will this be discouragement to her? There may be times I can’t do. There may be times I have to say, we disagree. This is what the Scriptures says, I am responsible to God, we are going to have to do this. Otherwise, I yield my leadership, and she submits. Doesn’t mean my wife doesn’t have input, of course she does. She is my compliment. She is there to complete me. I don’t want to make decisions that she is not supportive of. It is a rare case where I would make such a decision, but I can’t deviate from the Word. I can’t let her take over because then I would abdicate to responsibility. The King couldn’t say, well my wife doesn’t want me to go to war, so I am not going. Wait a minute, you do what God tells you. The wife can’t say what she is going to do and not do because, no.

So, we have the personal responsibility to keep it careful. We don’t think that enables us to deviate from the Word. Look at verse 28 to summarize. “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh…” We have been to this verse on previous studies. The world has the whole concept of self-love. It is a lie. It is a lie from hell. It’s another way in saying, it’s a lie from the devil. It’s a doctrine teaching of demons. Why do I know that? The Bible said, no one ever hated himself. We twist it around, but the ultimate result is, I love myself. Sometimes I will do bad things to myself to get attention for myself. Because I’m not getting attention when I don’t do a bad thing to myself, but it is still self. We love our wives as our own body. There is not a sacrifice too great, too big that King had to go out and die for the cause of truth and righteousness. He may die in that battle, and if he does, it is worth it for the queen. What will she be if I lose? It is that kind of thing. You know where Christ brings it all back to. Verse 31, and now we are back to Genesis 2. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless…” Let me summarize this. Each individual among you, so it is the individual responsibility, also is to “…love his own wife even as himself; and the wife must see to it that she respects (fears and shows reverence to) her husband.” Now he comes back to, here is the responsibility for each.

We don’t have time to go to I Peter 3, verses 1 through 7, where even if your husband is an unbeliever, Peter says you submit, obey him, and be a godly wife, imitate Sarah. Now we are back 2,000 years before Christ, 1,000 years before David, and what does Sarah do? She called Abraham lord. Read about their life together. Abraham did some pretty small things. We will have to leave it there. Read through I Peter 3, verses 1 through 7. We want to model in our marriage what is coming and what God says the ideal is. I have to work on that as a husband, and Marilyn has to work on that as a wife, and each of you go at it! Let’s pray.

Thank You Lord for your grace. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You Lord for your grace is sufficient to give us the strength when we commit ourselves to be obedient to do what You tell us to do. May our lives and our marriages be a testimony of Christ and His church before a watching world. We pray in Christ’s name, amen.