January 15th, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Royal Wedding

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. Today I thank You for the gift of marriage.

Read Psalm 45

[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. [2] You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. [3] Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. [4] In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds. [5] Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. [6] Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [7] You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. [8] All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. [9] Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. [10] Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. [11] Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. [12] The city of Tyre will come with a gift, people of wealth will seek your favor. [13] All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. [14] In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her- those brought to be with her. [15] Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king. [16] Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. [17] I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage” (Martin Luther, 1483–1546).

Think Further

 

We have all seen times when whole countries come together to express common identity and common emotions. These may be happy times, celebrating perhaps a royal or presidential wedding, or an international sports victory. One of my earliest memories as a tiny child was the street party marking Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Or they may be times of national mourning on the death of a well-loved leader or after a terrible terrorist attack. In some countries a poet laureate (a poet who is honored by being chosen for an official position by a ruler or government) is commissioned to write poetry to mark such occasions.
Psalm 45 is sometimes thought to be referring to the Messiah, but there seems to be no good reason to believe that it is anything other than what it appears to be: a song to celebrate the wedding of a king. Some have found verse 6 worrying, thinking that it implies that the king is being identified with God—but it is really stressing that in Israel the “throne” (6; i.e., the institution of kingship) has been instituted by God and belongs to God. God was involved in the coronation of the king (7) and he is interested in and concerned about the king’s wedding.
The writer conveys his understanding of what was involved in weddings. We actually know very little about the ceremonies at this time and must be careful about reading in our own ideas. The conclusion of one writer—that the phrase “All glorious is the princess within her chamber” (13) means that women were supposed always to stay inside—can be disputed by other passages. What is very clear is that God is interested in the whole of our lives. The psalms we have looked at recently show he cares about our sorrows; this one shows that he cares about our joys.

We have all seen times when whole countries come together to express common identity and common emotions. These may be happy times, celebrating perhaps a royal or presidential wedding, or an international sports victory. One of my earliest memories as a tiny child was the street party marking Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Or they may be times of national mourning on the death of a well-loved leader or after a terrible terrorist attack. In some countries a poet laureate (a poet who is honored by being chosen for an official position by a ruler or government) is commissioned to write poetry to mark such occasions.

Psalm 45 is sometimes thought to be referring to the Messiah, but there seems to be no good reason to believe that it is anything other than what it appears to be: a song to celebrate the wedding of a king. Some have found verse 6 worrying, thinking that it implies that the king is being identified with God—but it is really stressing that in Israel the “throne” (6; i.e., the institution of kingship) has been instituted by God and belongs to God. God was involved in the coronation of the king (7) and he is interested in and concerned about the king’s wedding.

The writer conveys his understanding of what was involved in weddings. We actually know very little about the ceremonies at this time and must be careful about reading in our own ideas. The conclusion of one writer—that the phrase “All glorious is the princess within her chamber” (13) means that women were supposed always to stay inside—can be disputed by other passages. What is very clear is that God is interested in the whole of our lives. The psalms we have looked at recently show he cares about our sorrows; this one shows that he cares about our joys.

 

Apply

For what is the groom praised? What are the most appealing qualities of the bride? What is the most helpful verse for you in this passage?

Closing prayer

God, my God, I want to share my life with You. May I recognize Your presence in my life. May I also recognize Your presence in my community when I celebrate or mourn with others.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store