A Christmas Wedding

December 14th, 2024

A Christmas Wedding

Psalm 45

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!

4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father's house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people.

13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber,
with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.

16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

The Perfect Wedding

I have officiated some beautiful Christmas weddings, but the most memorable I attended was my sister’s, when I was in high school. We walked outside on the night of the December 16th ceremony to the biggest snow of my lifetime! The photos were amazing, we got an early break from school, and I spent the rest of the month sledding with my friends. As far as I was concerned, it was the perfect Christmas wedding.

Yesterday, the author of Psalm 45 was raving about the future son of David to come: his handsome appearance, his military might, his godly character, his unending rule. Now in v9, he surprises us by describing this ideal king’s perfect wedding. Much like Song of Solomon, Psalm 45 is a royal love song. Let’s follow the story.

A Surprising Love Story

The psalmist has just celebrated the King’s military exploits: he has vanquished every foe in battle, and now returns home to his palace in victory. But what is surprising about this king is the way he treats the women of the peoples he conquers. Normally such ladies would flee for their lives before some conquering king, terrified of the kind of abuse they might suffer. But this King is not like that. He not only shields them from the kind of abuse and mistreatment that would have been common in these days—he elevates them to places of honor and dignity in his courts (9a). Then, in a scene made for a Hallmark movie, the king sets his heart on one of these ladies, and selects her to be his Queen. We see her standing there at his right hand, clothed in the gold of Ophir (9b). The selection is all a bit surprising because this queen originates from among the King’s enemies—from “another people” (9–10). But the King loves her anyway.

Exchanging Loyalties

It all leads to instructions for the new queen in 10–12. “Forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty,” he says. She comes from some pagan country that served another king and bowed to other gods. Now, like Ruth, the time has come to exchange loyalties (11; Ruth 1:16–17). If she will do that, an incredible future opens up to her. Not only will the King desire her beauty, but he will raise her to a position of glory and honor among all the nations (11–12). V13–14 then describe the dazzling procession of the bridal party toward the Bridegroom King for the palace wedding. It is an occasion of great joy and gladness for everyone, and ends with a prayer of blessing on the future union of the king and his bride (16–17).

The Messiah's Bride

That’s great if you like royal weddings, you might think, but what does it have to do with the Messiah?

Well, like the Song of Solomon, Psalm 45 is not only about romantic love, but about God’s great purpose for his people. Jesus is that King who set his heart on an unexpected bride: the church. No one saw this love coming, because we did not have any beauty or desirable qualities: we were among his enemies! But at Christmas, Jesus went to extravagant lengths to pursue us. He called himself the Bridegroom who would have to suffer violence for us (Mark 2:20); at the cross he would shed his own blood so that the wine of his joy and gladness could flow into our lives (John 2:1–12). He loves us and gave himself for us at the cross, and now takes full responsibility for purifying and beautifying us by his Word and Spirit (Eph 5:25–33). And on the Bible’s last pages, at the end of history, there will be a wedding (Rev 19–22). Christ and his people. The Messiah and his church. Heaven and earth. Never to be separated again.

FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, SEE:

Dreaming of A Perfect King