The King's Wedding (Psalm 45)Sample

Behold the Queen

Commoners rarely ascend to the throne. Royals have an all-in-the-family policy when it comes to marriage. Kingdoms are fortified as royals from one realm marry royals from another. However, sometimes a king opts to marry an outsider, especially when they're motivated by passion instead of power. This bride holds the title Queen of Hearts. 

Grace Kelly's marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco stands as a heartwarming example of this. As part of the US delegation to the Cannes Film Festival in April 1955, Grace participated in a photo shoot at the Palace of Monaco where she met the prince. After her return, she privately corresponded with Rainier until December when the prince visited America in what most believed was a tour to find a bride. A 1918 treaty with France stipulated that if the prince did not produce an heir, Monaco would revert to France. Rainier met with Grace and her family and after just three days he proposed. Their nuptials were shared in the palace throne room and concluded as Rainier's 142 official titles were conferred upon Princess Grace. 

Peeking inside the ivory palace in Psalm 45, we catch a glimpse of the righteous King as his Queen of Hearts joins him in holy matrimony. We know nothing about this woman. You might say that she has no past, only a future. Isn't she a bit like you and me? We, too, are commoners-made-queens. Our bloodline, tainted by sin, has been cleansed by Christ's shed blood. Like Rainier, He has made us joint heirs. Our guilty past fades away as our bright future hastens. 

Because the rule of the majestic King in Psalm 45 was good, He was also glad, for one attribute results in the other. In his book Exploring Psalms: An Expository Commentary, John Phillips wrote, "There have been gloomy kings, sad kings, bad kings, and even some mad kings, but few glad kings." Often we launch a pursuit of happiness only to discover that it is just out of reach. Happiness is a by-product that is rarely achieved through direct pursuit. But when we seek holiness, happiness is sure to follow. The psalmist understood this principle when he proclaimed, "What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple" (Psalm 65:4, NLT).

Read the verses below and answer the following questions.

Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women;

At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;

Her clothing is woven with gold.

She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;

The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.

With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought;

They shall enter the King's palace. (Psalm 45:9, 13-15)

Practical Observation

1. Who are the bridesmaids at the wedding?

2. Describe the queen's location and appearance. 

3. What additional title is given to the bride and how is her character described?

4. Describe her wedding dress. embroidered in gold

5. What two words reveal the mood of the wedding party?

Personal Application

a. The church is called the bride of Christ. Read Revelation 19:7-8, then describe the fabric for our heavenly wedding dress. Explain how you can embellish this dress prior to your wedding day.

b. The bride is characterized as being "glorious within." Many commentators believe within speaks of her inner beauty rather than her location in the palace. Read Colossians 1:27 and explain what makes us glorious within.

c. How does the knowledge that you are the bride of Christ make you feel? How will you reciprocate your love to your heavenly Bridegroom?