Ps 45, Pt 12, The Kings Daughter
Psalms 45:13, The kings daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
V. 13 The king's daughter here is also the queen of v. 9. The daughter of the King is also the bride of the Son of the King. He keeps the marriage within the family of the King.
We saw in Colossians 1:28 that Pauls goal was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
All glorious within, not without.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Those who depend in the least amount on their own righteousness, or on their own good works to stand before this righteous and holy king will hear in that day, depart from me.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Any good work one might cling to in order to stand before the Father is considered a work of iniquity.
Pauls call to us:
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
If this study in Psalms 45 has raised any question in your heart, be honest before God, and ask God to reveal even this to you.
Our only hope of glory is Christ in us. Sanctification is the process of Christ being formed in his people by God the Spirit. His people have no glory of their own. Their glory is the righteousness of Christ, for only Jesus Christ can make his people all glorious within.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Her clothing is of wrought gold.
This can be nothing but the clothing provided by the Father for the Saints, which is the righteousness of Christ.
Rev. 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 7: 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Psalms 45:12, 13:
Let us quickly skim through Revelation 21, for it fits well with 45:12, 13:
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
Though these verses speak of the end of all things, they clearly refer to the past and present. They went into effect at the resurrection and enthronement of Jesus Christ.
The new creation started with the resurrection of King Jesus, and is accomplished through the mediation work of Jesus Christ as he sits at the right hand of power. He even now is making all things new through the work of God the Spirit. He works through those who have been made a new creature in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The mediation work of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the new people of God, the new heaven and earth.
A new heaven and a new earth also refer to the glorious end when he comes again. At that time, he will complete his restoration or recreation of all things.
This passage has both a present and future fulfillment. The restitution of all things began at his resurrection, and will be completed at his second coming.
The New Creation is here now, today. The New Creation is wherever Christ reigns in and through his people.
If we are not part of the new creation now, that is, part of the New Jerusalem, or the New Israel of God, then we are not members of the body of Christ. Nor do we have a new creation to look forward to in him. If we are outside of the Kingdom of God now, we will be outside of it then.
We are to live not only in terms of what is to come, but also in the terms of victory today and tomorrow.
Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Look back to Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
We have a close friend who does not like the idea of eternal torment, so he sought out a Baptist church that teaches the alienation of the wicked.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead
in trespasses and sins;
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in
the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power,
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years.
The redeemed have been delivered from the Second Death, which is eternal torment and separation from God. Their deliverance from the second death is their call to eternal life. Answering makes them part of the first resurrection.
The first resurrection is described in Ezekiel 37:
The Valley of Dry Bones Ezekiel saw in Chapter 37 looked forward to Jesus Christ calling his mighty army out of those who are dead in trespasses and sin, to new life in Christ. The goal of that army is to take dominion of the earth in the name of Christ. The rest of the book describes the great temple, the church that has abundant room for whomsoever he sees fit to call into his service.
Let us look at Psalms 45:12, 13 as it fits with Revelation 21:
V. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lambs wife.
John is now shown the bride of Christ, which is identified by several names in the New Testament: the New Jerusalem, the Church of the Firstborn, and the Israel of God.
Psalms 45 describes her glorious apparel, which is the clothing of the Righteousness of Christ.
Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
V. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and (according to Psalms 45:12) the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
V. 14 Spurgeon "In the latter-day glory, and in the consummation of all things, the glory of the bride, the lamb's wife, shall be seen by all the universe with admiration."
One day at the conclusion of the age, the bride will be presented to the Son, and there shall be the marriage supper of the lamb. Then her hidden splendor will be revealed. She will then find her completeness in the King's house.
She shall be brought She does not bring herself, but she is chosen, clothed in the beautiful righteousness of Christ, and then brought into the Kings presence by the sovereign grace of our God.
Needlework. To seems to speak of the work of the Holy Spirit preparing the church to meet her husband.
The illustration could be of maybe cross-stitch or needlepoint. The underside sure looks like a mess with threads running everywhere. But from the top, you see a thing of great beauty. From the earth looking up it seems to be a tremendous jumbled up mess with no one in control (as well as many sharp pointed needles, ouch!). But when the church is finally presented to Christ as perfected by God the Spirit, her beauty will be beyond description.
The virgins... The companion virgins are part of the church, but for the sake of the illustration, they are seen as companions.
Spurgeon: Those who are admitted to everlasting communion with Christ are pure in heart ---virgins, pure in company --- her companions, --- pure in walk --- that follow her. Let none hope to be brought into heaven at last who are not purified now,"
Clearly, those with no desire to be holy and pure now have no hope of heaven then.
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The modern song by ALAN JACKSON, "Wherever He Leads
I'll Go" is an adaption of an 1890 song by Ernest Blandy.
WHERE HE LEADS ME
Blandy was a Salvation Army officer, and he wrote this song after
choosing between a comfortable post at an established church,
and an alternate assignment to the New York City waterfront and
slum called Hells Kitchen. He chose the latter.
Can we honestly sing Where he leads me I will follow?
Virgins: Those who follow their Lord, and who, in Johns words, keep themselves from idols, that is, from the many gods of this world.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
They follow his command word whosesoever it leads, even to the death.