Psalm 45

1 Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’rts. The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Another Psalm attributed to "the descendants of Korah" and seems to be an allegory of Christ and the Church.

Our psalm opens with a vivid description of Christ...and the role He assumes as head of the Church. He defends truth, humility and justice. His reign is forever. He loves justice and hates evil. And most of all...He is victorious!

Then we get to the Church. These words catch my attention: "Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir! Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord".

Listen to this. "O royal daughter...forget your people." We expect the allusion to royalty, riches and finery. Those of us who lead the Church are faithful to remind us all that we are a royal priesthood...with all the associated benefits and responsibilities. It's good to be a child of God.

But...forget your people? That's one sure way to spoil a party...

Any time our lives are divided into "old and new" or "past and present" there is a tendency to look back...particularly during times when things aren't going so well. We call them the "good old days." Sometimes they were actually good. It's not a good habit because it is often used to compare and contrast our present quality of life. It breeds discontentment.

Paul puts it this way in Corinthians..."Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" You could look back, but what you see isn't you anymore...

You see, if we are going to get the most out of our relationship with Christ we have to be single-minded. We cannot have one foot in the Church and one foot in the world of our past life. We need to be singularly devoted to our Bridegroom. Only then will we be able to recognize the gift of grace we have been given. Only then will we be forever content with our Lord.

Are you going through a spiritual malaise? Are you finding it difficult to get excited about your great eternal fortune? Perhaps it's because you're having trouble acknowledging "the old is gone." Maybe you feel like you've been fenced off from the world you once knew and it's passing you by.

It's all true...but that should be a cause for rejoicing...not doubt. After all...the world we left behind has no future.

Live boldly out there today...