Start Pt 11
9/24/17
The Heathen Honour the Bride
Psalms 45, continued.
V. 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
We cannot help but look at the victorious nature of Christ and the gospel as promised here though the glasses of reality. Reality says that victory cannot possibly happen in a world that appears to be totally given over to the powers of darkness. Yet, our Lord warned us that things are not as they appear:
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Righteous judgment understands Gods workings in this fallen world, and that, according to His promise to His Son, all the enemies of the Son will be placed under His footstool, as His people wage the spiritual warfare as laid out in the Epistles.
The Fathers promise to the Son is found throughout the Hebrew prophets; the Gospels. The Epistles show how those prophecies were fulfilled in Christ at His resurrection and ascension to the right hand of all power and authority, where He awaits until all the Fathers promises are fulfilled in human history, e.g.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel.
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORDS: and he is the governor among the nations. Acts 2:36, see Adam Clark commentary.
Psalms110:1 ¶ « A Psalm of David. » The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 ¶ The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Christs victory in human history is according to the everlasting covenant made between the Tri-Une God before the worlds were formed.
This everlasting covenant is developed in Chapters 7, 8 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which copied the Westminster Confession:
Chapter 7: Of Gods Covenant 1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on Gods part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant. {#Lu 17:10 Job 35:7-8?}
Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator1. It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the Prophet, Priest and King; head and Saviour of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; to whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
{#Isa42:1 1Pe 1:19-20?} {#Ac 3:22?}{#Heb5:5-6?} {#Ps 2:6 Lu 1:33?} {#Eph 1:22-23?} {#Heb 1:2?}{#Ac 17:31?} {#Isa 53:10 Joh 17:6Ro 8:30?}
This covenant from eternity past is beyond our understanding:
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith in the Word of God, we understand that God the Father is even now subduing all things to God the Son through the workings of God the Spirit; He is accomplishing His eternal purpose as he promised in places like Psalms 2, 22:27, and 110.
The victory of Christ in both time and eternity is clearly presented throughout Scripture, in places like Psalms 45. Accordingly, all prophecy is centered in Jesus Christ, not in any nation, such as a group of people identifying itself as Israel. Jesus Christ fulfilled and is fulfilling the Hebrew Prophecies. (The group of anti-Christ people in Palestine have claimed the promise of Genesis 12:1-4 for themselves. Thus they have the threefold curse of God against them, yet gullible Christians around the world support their war against the God of the Word of God.)
Here is the order of Psalms 45 thus far:
First, the conquering and victorious King is on His throne in His palace.
Second, we are told in Ephesians 2:21 that through the mediation work of Christ, the queen, the bride of Christ, is standing by His side as He sits in his glory which is Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Third, v. 11, the king desires the beauty of his bride. The amazing point is that it is that the King gave his life for the bride, so she would be acceptable to sit with him in heavenly places. It is God the Spirit who works in His bride to make her beautiful, and fit for the King.
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. To make them into a fit bride for the King
Fourth, v. 11, the bride finds her only hope in the King, and worships Him as such.
Fifth, v. 12, the heathen seek the favour of the King.
As the church serves and glorifies her Lord and King as her Lord and King, then her King will sanctify her to such a point that even the heathen will seek her favor. The heathen will provide the riches to carry on her King's work.
Plumer quotes Dickson (pg. 521), "When the church honoreth Christ he will honor her, and make the noble and the potent in the world submit themselves to her, and seek communion with her."
The "church" of our day has almost totally forsaken her Lord and King. If the heathen would honor the corrupt church today, she would keep the entire honor to herself.
45:12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
This promise is conditioned on God the Spirit working in the bride, causing her to properly glorify her Lord and Saviour:
We cannot over-emphasize that the promise of v. 12 rests in God's hands. Throughout Scripture, we are told that God alone can and will turn hearts to Himself as it pleases him.
1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell
Lamentations 5:12 Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. 13 They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. 14 The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. 15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. 16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? 21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
Various sins have turned Zion, the church of Jesus Christ, over to the wild animals, the foxes that spoil the vine of the Lord. But v. 12 promises that the Spirit of God will turn the hearts of his people to himself. They will glorify, honour and serve him as God. V. 12, gives the promised result.
Gods ways are as far about our ways and our understanding as the heavens are above the earth. So by faith we understand that he will do what pleases him when it pleases him.
V.12 Spurgeon:
When the church abounds in holiness, she shall know no lack of homage from the surrounding people. Her glory shall then impress and attract the heathen around, till they also unite in doing honour to the Lord.
Augustine said "The daughters of Tyre are the daughters of the Gentiles. The part standing for the whole."
We have the order here carried on: The King on His throne in His palace. The queen, His bride standing by His side with Him. The king desiring the beauty of the church. The church finding its hope in the King and worshipping Him as such. The heathens also seeking favor with the King. (The amazing point here is that the King is the One Who works in the bride to accomplish her beauty.)
Observe:
First, the church in its holiness and separation from sin, reflects the power and glory of the king so brightly that the heathen willingly bring to it gifts to carry on its work. The heathen seek the favour of the church. This seems far-fetched, but is it? Gods providence shall accomplish his divine will.
Four small illustrations
1) Some time ago, I knew of a church where the people took such a strong stand for the Lord in every area including the area of civil government, that twice a State Representative gave the pastor a $100.00 bill. As far as I know the Representative was not saved, but he saw what the church stood for was the only real hope we have as a nation.
2) While in Linden, we got into a great conflict with the county over zoning, and a new school that had been built. I called attention to the utter folly of allowing the new building to be challenged as an unsafe structure. The purpose of the unsafe charge was so the rebuilding contract could be given a special friend. The original engineer offered to help pay our expenses to stand for the truth because it was casting a shadow over his reputation. Not wanting to appear corrupt, we turned down the offer.
3) Also in Indiana an openly reprobate man offered to help pay for the curriculum for any family who would pull their children out of the public schools.
4) In WV as we stood against the corrupt county council, the unsaved donated time and money help hold them accountable to the law. We succeeded up to the WV Supreme Court of Appeals, where the good ole boy network kicked in, and the corrupt councilmen went free.
In the cases above, no church would support our efforts as we stood for truth. However, the unsaved realized our efforts were just, and they were the ones who joined in standing against the open evils of the civil government.
Over the centuries, 45:12 has proved to be true when the church stand firm for the truth.
Our problem today is that the church is so timid that fear keeps it behind closed doors, and the apostates take over not only the religious community, but also the social order. This nation was built on strong, fearless preaching of responsibility in true religion as will as social responsibility. The result was that civil law reflected Gods law.
When the church returns to fearing and honouring the Lord of hosts as her Lord and King, the promise of v. 12 will be fulfilled. (Malachi 1:6)
The heathens are not blind. They many times will take a stand
for right while the church sits back and waits for a supernatural
escape from the mess they have allowed to develop.
Unlike the ungodly civil authority, thy do not see the churchs
efforts to fulfill its Biblical duty in society as a threat to
their power.
Todays church does not see the need of glorying God as God over EVERYTHING, and pagan civil authority is more than happy to be that god. The church is content to let the civil authority be the god of the age, for good Christian men have been led to believe they have on civil and social responsibility. (Though a Baptist lay pastor, my dad was one who totally rejected any civil or social responsibility. He was a firm follower of J. Vernon McGee.)
Again Spurgeon says it well, "We go about to beg for Christ like beggars for alms, and many who should know better will make compromises and become reticent of unpopular truth to please the great ones of the earth; no so will the true bride of Christ degrade herself, when her sanctification is more deep and more visible; then will the hearts of men grow liberal, and offerings from afar, abundant and continual, shall be presented at The Throne of the Pacific Prince."
He makes his point that he believes that God will sanctify His church to such a point that even the heathens will seek its well being and favour for themselves.
Plumer quotes Dickson (pg. 521), "When the church honoreth Christ he will honor her, and make the noble and the potent in the world submit themselves to her, and seek communion with her."
Why should the King right now cause this to happen? The "church" today has almost totally forgotten who her Lord and King is. If the heathen would honor her today, she would keep it all to herself. This all rests upon the church returning to her Lord and glorifying Him once again as Lord over all.
First, the church in its holiness and separation from sin, reflects the power and glory of the king so brightly that the heathen willingly bring to it gifts to carry on its work.
Second, v. 12, could also say that the heathen are attracted by the glory of the church, and come into the church through salvation.
We cannot emphasize enough that everything rests in the Kings hands. He alone can open the eyes of the heathen, and change their hearts. He alone can open the eyes of His people and show them where they have departed from His authority. He alone can instruct them from His Word. He alone can call His men, teachers and people, back to the truth of His Word. The overwhelming indication from the Old Testament prophecies is that He will turn both unsaved and saved hearts to Himself.
How do all things fit together? Only time will tell because only HE knows His predetermined counsel works out in the end.
We will pick up with v. 13 next time