When This Passing World is Done

Psalm 45

SCRIPTURE READING

Please click PSALM 45

INTRODUCTION

This psalm is written to the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah. "Shoshannim" literally means "lilies". A Maschil, a didactic poem, a contemplative psalm of instruction. The sons of Korah were skilful choristers at the king's court (Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Psalm 44, Psalm 45, Psalm 46, Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Psalm 49 ,Psalm 84 ,Psalm 85 ,Psalm 87 ,Psalm 88 ,1 Chronicles 6:31-33 ).

It is a song of loves alluding to the intimateness of relationship in the purest form of love between the Christ, our coming King and His bride, the church - 2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." This is the Wedding of weddings! Behold, the couple standing at the centre of the event, both appearing at their best.

This psalm flows out of the pen of a ready writer who is stirred up within the heart to testify of the King (v 1 ) and His happy bride (v 15 ). "Indicted" means to astir or bubbled up, suggesting or inspiring a form of words which is to be repeated or written down.

The King inspired and captivated the heart of His subject so much that the writer had to share his testimony of his experience with the King in His wedding for the edification of others who may not know Him.

This psalm beholds the portrait of the Perfect King. The King who is identified as God Himself - "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever" (v 6a ). Who qualifies to be the bride of God? This is the essence of Christianity. What is Christianity? Christianity is a relationship, a relationship between God and man. And sin is a broken relationship. We are witnessing in this psalm the mended relationship. Behold the perfect marriage between Christ the King and His church, which consist of men and women redeemed by the King for all eternity awaiting the appearance of the Bridegroom, for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9 ).

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him," saith the wise men from the east of Jerusalem (Matthew 2:2 ) to fulfill what the prophets have spoken "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 ). He was conceived of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20 ) and He shall be called JESUS: which means SAVIOUR, for He shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21 ).

Dear friends, this is the momentous truth of history that has taken place in Israel more than 2000 years ago, the King of the Jews was born. This is the King of the Jews that the psalmist see with his mind's eye as the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (v 15 ). When this passing world is done, will be stand with Christ as His bride, clothed with His righetoueness.

(1) Behold the King (v 2-8 )

(a) His Gracious Countenance (v 2 )

The King is described as "fairer than the children of men". His countenance far exceeds the beauty, excellence and splendour of any men. Daniel and his three friends were described in "their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" (Daniel 1:15 ). The King is superior in countenance, in beauty and brightness to all the children of men. John described how he beheld the glory of Jesus, Immanuel, full of grace and truth (John 1:14 ). The gracious words of Jesus were words of mercy, causing the blind to see, the sick to be healed. He caused the sinner to be healed physically and spiritually, receiving at the same time forgiveness of sin, most amazing. As the Pharisee said, Who can forgive sins but God only! Indeed, Jesus is God! (Mark 2:7 ,Luke 5:21 ).

John 8:3-11 "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus did not despise the woman because she committed adultery but provided a way back for her. Jesus knew the hearts the on-lookers as well, that is why He uttered these gracious words, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Only Jesus was without sin, yet He did not cast a stone at her. Jesus came not to condemn sinners but to save them therefore this King only is worthy to be blessed by God forever."

(b) His Victorious Battles (v 3-5 )

The King has secured by his side His sword and ever ready to draw it defend Himself when attacked by the enemy. The King with His sword is most mighty and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17 ) pulling down Satan's stronghold.

Illustration

Remember when Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil in Matthew 4:1-11 ,He had fasted forty days and forty nights, when He was physically and mentally weakest, humanly speaking, the devil issued three challenges.

(1) Lust of the flesh - Turn stone to bread.

(2) Lust of the eyes - Jump from the pinnacle of the temple.

(3) Pride of life - Bow down to Satan and receive the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus' reply to refute Satan was the Word of God. Jesus quoted Scripture. Jesus' words are words of power to tear down Satan's challenges.

Application

Dear brethren, it may be a sickness that weakens our body, where we may not be able to come to worship with the company of saints. We feel lonely at home, perhaps in the hospital. We are being tempted to become discouraged and depressed.

Why did Jesus have to go through this time of temptation or testing?

He had to go through this time of testing because He had to earn the righteousness we need to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is part of His active obedience. The role of the devil is to separate God's people from God. When not actively accusing the saints, he roams the earth collecting evidence for his next prosecution. David failed but not Jesus the greater David.

Jesus had the right words from Scripture at the right place and the right time. He met this first temptation with Deuteronomy 8:3 . Spiritual food is more important than physical food, physical food is good for this life but spiritual food is good for eternal life. The soul is more important than the body.

The phrase "it is written" is one word in the Greek in the perfect tense. It means God's Word, once written will continue to stand written. Therefore Jesus quotes Scripture with authority, for it is the unchanging Word of God. God tests us and proves us in the ordinary things of life, like eating and drinking. Jesus lived under the authority of God's Word. Do we murmur and complain because we are at times deprived of eating and drinking?

The devil also quoted Scripture but out of context. He quoted from Psalms 91:11-12 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Dear brethren, How much do we know the Bible? We must know the Bible for if we quote wrongly, we lose.

The believer is kept when he is in the way of the Lord, not when he deliberately goes out of God's way. God keeps His promises when we keep His ways. The holy city is the standard title for Jerusalem the part of the temple that overlooks a deep valley, a fall from there would have meant certain death. Satan "dares" Jesus to jump from the top of the temple. Jesus again responded with Scripture.

Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." A most appropriate verse taken from Deuteronomy 6:16 "Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah."

To do something without the Bible's authority is to sin, "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23 ). This is to tempt God-to "dare Him" to intervene and rescue us when we are in trouble.

To ward off the third temptation, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13 "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name." The context tells us that Israel is not to go after other gods, but serve Jehovah, Israel's God only.

Overcoming temptation God's way is according to Holy Scriptures. Satan turned and twisted Scripture to destroy the testimony of the saints by appealing to the pride of life. Jesus did not succumb to the easy way out to kowtow to Satan. The stake was greater. It was for your souls and my soul.

The King was successful in battle (v 4 ). His weapons were truth (Psalm 43:3 ), meekness (Psalm 37:11 ,21:5 ) and righteousness. The truth leads us back to God. Jesus' meekness as recorded in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as a King's victory march - Matthew 21:5 "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." The King rules with justice and equity (fairness), the outwarding of righteousness with His right hand, Psalms 48:10 "According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness." The King is not a respecter of person and is always fair. Hence, the unjust are justly punished with terrible (awe-inspiring, fear-producing) judgments.

When Jesus was attacked by Satan in the wilderness, He defended Himself with the Word of God, it was an offensive weapon. Satan was defeated and left Jesus and behold, angels came and ministered unto him (Matthew 4:11 ). In the second coming of Jesus, the nations will be subdued, by His Word as a sharp sword that proceeded out of His mouth, Revelation 19:15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

(c) His Everlasting Government (v 6-8 )

The King rules from His throne. The King is God Himself. He created the universe and is the sustainer of it, therefore He only is the rightful ruler. It must be acknowledged by all His creatures. As the psalmist in psalm 93:1-2 says "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting."

The scepter and the throne are images of God's authority to judge and rule. The emphasis here is on the everlasting nature the King's rule, "is for ever and ever." They are symbols of kingship and its accompanying authority and power. Here the scepter is a scepter of justice, for the King "lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness" (v 7 ). The author of Hebrews applies the figure to Christ v 6-7 to describe kingly authority of Jesus Christ, ruling from heaven, having purged our sins (Hebrews 1:3 ), Hebrews 1:8-9 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Jesus is worthy because He is Creator, Hebrews 1:10 "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." Jesus indeed truly is God.

In v 7 ,the anointing with oil symbolized the appointment of Israel's kings (Judges 9:15 ,1 Samuel 10:1 ,15:1 ,2 Samuel 2:4 ,1 Kings 1:39 ,1 Kings 9:3 ,6 ). The chosen of God is anointed with the "oil of gladness". Jesus went to the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth, said Isaiah 61:1-2 is fulfilled in their very eyes, in Luke 4:18-19 ,"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Watch the respond of the people, Luke 4:22 "And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?"

The robes of the King are fragrant with "myrrh, and aloes, and cassia", spices from fragrant wood (v 8 ). The King comes out of His royal residence with the people filled with gladness for the time of the royal wedding has come.

(2) His Bride (v 9-16 )

The bridesmaids stand with the queen ready for the ceremony (v 9 ). The queen stood at the right hand of the King, the place of honour.

Truly, when we stand before God at the great wedding banquet as the bride of Christ, clothed with beauty not our own, it is a glorious day. All the sufferings in this life will pale into insignificance.

The bride must not forget the relatives in her father's house (v 10 ), having been elevated to the coveted status of Queen. May we remember to give the gospel to our loved ones who are still outside His kingdom.

The King greatly desires the beauty of the bride and the bride likewise the King, (v 11 ,13 ). Therefore, the response of the bride is to acknowledge the King as lord and worship Him (v 11 ).

Gifts pours in from everywhere for the wedding couple (v 12 ). "Many of those who are rich will be benefactors to the Church, although they do not give perfect obedience to the Gospel." (Geneva Bible Footnotes)

The wedding march begins and the bride walks with the bridesmaids following (v 13 ).

It is amidst great rejoicing and gladness, we often see these expressions in the faces of the guests as they see the bride marches in for the solemnization ceremony (v 15 ).

Truly, when Jesus comes to set up His millennium Kingdom, all His children will reign as princes and princess in His Kingdom.

(3) The King Affectionately Remembered (v 17 )

The glorious scene of the final redemption of the Church by Christ has reached its climax, the redeemed of God therefore cannot but come in gratefulness and thankfulness to remember the King forever and forever. The redeemed soul lives eternally in great blessing, as the Queen, living happily ever after. In the King's kingdom, it is not fiction but reality for all who believes. The Words of Scripture must be yea and amen.