The Bride: A study of the bride of Christ
Our Blessed Hope: Lesson 6
“My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” Psalms 45:1
This Psalm is a beautiful song concerning the great King, Jesus Christ. It is titled, “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah. Maschil, A Song of loves.” The meaning of the word Shoshannim is “lilies,” reminding us of spring time. This Psalm was designed for the service of the temple choir, and denotes words that are to be sung. The meaning of the word Maschil is “instruction;” and there is much instruction to be understood here!
“Inditing” has the meaning of “bubbling up, or running over.” The writer’s heart was bubbling over with the thoughts of this wonderful and mighty King. He is described as being fairer (more beautiful) that any other, with graciousness and kindness exuding from His lips. Therefore, He was blessed by God, His Father.
Verses 3-5 describe Him as going forth into battle, as will occur at His coming to defeat the anti-Christ and false prophet, along with the nations which have gathered to fight against Him. (Revelation 19:11-21) Even in battle, He is seen as “most mighty (powerful) with glory and majesty.” Whole nations will be subdued under Him as He rules in truth, meekness and righteousness. With Jesus as King, truth will prevail with power over pride and wickedness. The Shulamite of Song of Solomon 5:10 & 16, described Him as being the “Chiefest among ten thousand.” “His mouth is most sweet; yea, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
In Psalms 45:9, the King’s daughters (believers) are brought on the scene, with one, the queen dressed in finest gold, standing on His right hand. I believe we have in this portion of scripture a beautiful picture of happenings leading up to the marriage of Christ and His bride as expounded upon in Revelation 19:7-9. Note verse 7, 8: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
The phrase, “Made herself ready,” has the thought of being thoroughly adjusted, especially with internal fitness. Also note, the word “righteousness” in verse 8 is a plural word, reading “righteousnesses, or righteous acts.” This is not speaking of the righteousness of Christ which is given to all believers at the time of their salvation, but rather it is speaking of our walk in righteousness. See Ephesians 5:9: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” This is the same as the “crown of righteousness” which the apostle Paul was looking forward to receiving. (ll Timothy 4:8)
Referring back to our thoughts of Psalms 45, the queen is told that the King would greatly desire her beauty as she listened carefully to Him and was willing to put His desires above her own people and those of her father’s house. She was to worship only the King. As she did so, she would be “all glorious within” and her clothing would be of wrought gold. “She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the king’s palace.” (vs. 14, 15)
Notice, not all of the King’s daughters will have the coveted place as His queen. And in the wedding scene of Revelation 19:7-9, not everyone in heaven will become the wife of the Lamb—others are “called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” All believers are called unto the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:9). However, not all believers will enter into that fellowship and give their lives completely to do His will. If we will allow God to work in us, He will sanctify us so that our whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (I Thessalonians 5:23). However, in order for God to work this righteousness in us, we must be willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Not all believers will allow this.
The apostle Paul said that the same crown of righteousness that is awaiting him is also for “all them that love his appearing.” John said, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he {Jesus} is pure.” I John 3:3 There are many believers who are taken up with the cares of this life, or are loving the world and the things in the world, and are not loving the appearing of Jesus. These believers will be asleep when Jesus comes for His bride. They will be either a guest or a servant at the wedding, instead of being in that company which will become the bride of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-32 tells us that Jesus died for the church so that He might sanctify and cleanse it, getting it ready to present to Himself a glorious church. But this church must be “holy and without blemish.” Verses 30-31 is a quote from Genesis 2:23: “And Adam said This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” God made a wife for Adam from one of his ribs. Eve was not from Adam’s whole body—just from a part. And God is making a wife for His Son from a part of His body. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Yes, our glorious hope is to so yield to Jesus Christ that He can wash out every spot and iron out every wrinkle of our lives, thus making us ready to reign with Him as our Bridegroom. John the Baptist told his disciples, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” There will be a wedding in the air! Jesus will have a bride to reign as joint-heirs with Him forever and ever! What a marvelous hope is for every child of God to reach out for. Will you allow Him to lead you into all that He has prepared for you? His coming is soon!
This Psalm is a beautiful song concerning the great King, Jesus Christ. It is titled, “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah. Maschil, A Song of loves.” The meaning of the word Shoshannim is “lilies,” reminding us of spring time. This Psalm was designed for the service of the temple choir, and denotes words that are to be sung. The meaning of the word Maschil is “instruction;” and there is much instruction to be understood here!
“Inditing” has the meaning of “bubbling up, or running over.” The writer’s heart was bubbling over with the thoughts of this wonderful and mighty King. He is described as being fairer (more beautiful) that any other, with graciousness and kindness exuding from His lips. Therefore, He was blessed by God, His Father.
Verses 3-5 describe Him as going forth into battle, as will occur at His coming to defeat the anti-Christ and false prophet, along with the nations which have gathered to fight against Him. (Revelation 19:11-21) Even in battle, He is seen as “most mighty (powerful) with glory and majesty.” Whole nations will be subdued under Him as He rules in truth, meekness and righteousness. With Jesus as King, truth will prevail with power over pride and wickedness. The Shulamite of Song of Solomon 5:10 & 16, described Him as being the “Chiefest among ten thousand.” “His mouth is most sweet; yea, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
In Psalms 45:9, the King’s daughters (believers) are brought on the scene, with one, the queen dressed in finest gold, standing on His right hand. I believe we have in this portion of scripture a beautiful picture of happenings leading up to the marriage of Christ and His bride as expounded upon in Revelation 19:7-9. Note verse 7, 8: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
The phrase, “Made herself ready,” has the thought of being thoroughly adjusted, especially with internal fitness. Also note, the word “righteousness” in verse 8 is a plural word, reading “righteousnesses, or righteous acts.” This is not speaking of the righteousness of Christ which is given to all believers at the time of their salvation, but rather it is speaking of our walk in righteousness. See Ephesians 5:9: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” This is the same as the “crown of righteousness” which the apostle Paul was looking forward to receiving. (ll Timothy 4:8)
Referring back to our thoughts of Psalms 45, the queen is told that the King would greatly desire her beauty as she listened carefully to Him and was willing to put His desires above her own people and those of her father’s house. She was to worship only the King. As she did so, she would be “all glorious within” and her clothing would be of wrought gold. “She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the king’s palace.” (vs. 14, 15)
Notice, not all of the King’s daughters will have the coveted place as His queen. And in the wedding scene of Revelation 19:7-9, not everyone in heaven will become the wife of the Lamb—others are “called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” All believers are called unto the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:9). However, not all believers will enter into that fellowship and give their lives completely to do His will. If we will allow God to work in us, He will sanctify us so that our whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (I Thessalonians 5:23). However, in order for God to work this righteousness in us, we must be willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Not all believers will allow this.
The apostle Paul said that the same crown of righteousness that is awaiting him is also for “all them that love his appearing.” John said, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he {Jesus} is pure.” I John 3:3 There are many believers who are taken up with the cares of this life, or are loving the world and the things in the world, and are not loving the appearing of Jesus. These believers will be asleep when Jesus comes for His bride. They will be either a guest or a servant at the wedding, instead of being in that company which will become the bride of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-32 tells us that Jesus died for the church so that He might sanctify and cleanse it, getting it ready to present to Himself a glorious church. But this church must be “holy and without blemish.” Verses 30-31 is a quote from Genesis 2:23: “And Adam said This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” God made a wife for Adam from one of his ribs. Eve was not from Adam’s whole body—just from a part. And God is making a wife for His Son from a part of His body. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Yes, our glorious hope is to so yield to Jesus Christ that He can wash out every spot and iron out every wrinkle of our lives, thus making us ready to reign with Him as our Bridegroom. John the Baptist told his disciples, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” There will be a wedding in the air! Jesus will have a bride to reign as joint-heirs with Him forever and ever! What a marvelous hope is for every child of God to reach out for. Will you allow Him to lead you into all that He has prepared for you? His coming is soon!