The Bride and Bridegroom: Psalm 45-Supplication through the Scriptures

The Bride and Bridegroom

Psalm 45

God instituted marriage, and He also honored it… That elevates marriage to a place of excellence and thereby obligates us to seriously consider how we regard it, how we enter into it, and how we live in it, as well as how we honor the marriage vow, the marriage bond, the marriage bed, and the marriage relationship. If marriage is honorable, then we should seek to enjoy and preserve its honor as well as live in our marriage to the glory of Him who made it honorable.
Beeke and La Belle, Living in a Godly Marriage

We are approaching the wedding season. Weddings are full of beauty, gladness, and hope. For believers, the commitment to one another is especially meaningful as we know our marriages should be a reflection of the union of Christ and His church. 

Our psalm today, Psalm 45 is a love song, a wedding song, sung at the wedding of a royal couple (VanGemeren). There are also those who look at this Psalm as a song of Christ and His bride. We do see Christ. Verses 6-7 are quoted in Hebrews in regards to Jesus. His throne is forever, and the scepter of His kingdom is righteousness. He alone perfectly hates wickedness and loves righteousness. He is our Mighty One, clothed in splendor and majesty. In Living in a Godly Marriage, the authors express perfectly a connection between Christ and our earthly marriages, 
For believers, the Christ-church principle provides the enabling we need to do what God has called us to do. It is true that Christ is to be leaned on in every situation and His own holiness drawn upon in every station and duty. The apostle Paul said he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Phil. 4: 13). If this is the case in all circumstances, then surely we can also expect Christ to enable us to be holy in marriage. -Beeke and La Belle
Christ, the perfect Bridegroom, is the enabler for all our earthly marriages that are to bring Him glory. So today, we are going to use Psalm 45 to pray for marriages. Do you know someone getting married soon? Whether couples are just starting out or have been married for decades, Psalm 45 will encourage us to pray that Christ will be King in their marriages.

Blessed by God

45:1-2 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 
Let’s pray:
▫️Their hearts would overflow with love for their King and for one another.
▫️They would delight in one another’s physical appearance, but more importantly, they would delight in how they each reflect Christ in their marriage.
▫️The Lord would bless their union and He would be the center of each of their lives and of their life together.

The Husband

45:3-5 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. 
Let’s pray:
▫️The husband would protect and shepherd his family in the ways of God, being an example in his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
▫️There would be no sin that would have a hold on him, but he would be victorious in his battle against remaining sin in his life.
▫️He would be marked by obedience and love for the truth, and he would be faithful in all aspects of life.
▫️He would be clothed with humility, meekness, and gentleness and he would fight against all pride in his life.
▫️He would walk in righteousness and uprightness, living with integrity before God and man.
▫️He would have a teachable spirit and incline his heart to the Lord’s statutes.
▫️He would love his wife as Christ loved the Church, loving her as he loves himself, and leading her in the ways of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-28).

The Two as One

45:6-9 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 
Let’s pray:
▫️In all aspects of their marriage, they would walk uprightly seeking to honor God in their unity, parenting, finances, witness, commitment to their local church, honoring their parents, and service.
▫️Together as they seek to glorify God in this marriage they would love what is right and hate wickedness. It would be a guiding principle in what they pursue as a family.
▫️The Lord would anoint their marriage with gladness—gladness in God and in one another.
▫️They would strive to outdo one another in showing honor to one another (Romans 12:10).

The Wife

45:10-15 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your Lord, bow to him. The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people. All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her. With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
Let’s pray:
▫️ The wife would consider and cultivate a meek and quiet spirit which submits to her husband and does not fear because she trusts the Lord (1 Peter 3:1-6).
▫️She would listen well to her husband and seek to understand him, and she would incline her ear to the testimonies of God.
▫️Her husband would desire her all her days and be faithful to her.
▫️She would respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33).
▫️Strength and dignity would be her clothing (Proverbs 31:25).
▫️She would smile confidently at the future with joy and gladness because she knows her King governs and guides her life (Proverbs 31:25).
▫️She would open her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness would be on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26).
▫️She would look well to the ways of her household and the heart of her husband would safely trust in her (Proverbs 31:11, 27).

Their Children

45:16-17 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
Let’s pray:
▫️The Lord would bless them with children, and they would faithfully raise them up in the ways of the Lord.
▫️Their family would be a sweet aroma of Christ wherever they go, and for generations to come the testimony of their family would speak of the greatness of God.
‭‭
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 45 quoted from the ESV.
Photo credit to penguinuhh

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