Psalm 45

WEBVTT
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Do you have a seat?
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If you would open your Bibles to Psalm 45 with me.
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I don't know if there are certain passages of the Bible that you feel really speak to you.
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!
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Things that you go back to time and time again.
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Maybe you've got a few.
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If I had to pick out one verse of the Bible that I feel really speaks to me.
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It's something I want to read every day when I get up in the morning.
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I would have to take you to Psalm 45 and the first line of verse 2.
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The more you laugh, the more it hurts my feelings.
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After some closer reading, I'm not sure this psalm is all about me.
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But we'll see.
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I think most of us have probably experienced a relationship at some point in our lives
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that has gone somewhat stale at some point.
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Where things just aren't the way they used to be.
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Whether it's with a close friend.
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Maybe your husband or your wife.
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Maybe your parents or your children.
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You used to get on so well.
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Everything seemed to be just the way it was meant to be.
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But then for no apparent reason, things just aren't quite clicking like they used to.
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You don't share the same stories.
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You aren't as open with one another.
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Maybe you feel like they just don't care about you in the same way as they used to.
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And to your knowledge, you've not done anything to make this change.
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Not done anything to preserve the cold shoulder.
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For some reason, you've just drifted apart.
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And you've no idea why it's happened.
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It can be a really miserable feeling.
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And one I'm sure we all know to some degree.
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Maybe you've felt that way about your relationship with God.
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Life is falling apart around you.
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Work is miserable.
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Family life is difficult.
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You pray and pray and pray.
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But nothing seems to change.
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You don't know what you've done wrong.
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But for some reason, God doesn't seem to be listening anymore.
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It's almost as if he's sleeping.
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And if you've ever felt like that, you're not alone.
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Most famously, the disciples, as they cross the Sea of Galilee.
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Do you not care that we are perishing?
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They ask Jesus as he sleeps in the bow of the boat.
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Or the whole nation of Israel in Psalm 44.
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Just look up there with me to verse 23.
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Awake!
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Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
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Rouse yourself.
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Do not reject us forever.
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I mean, it sounds almost blasphemous.
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God's sleeping.
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But take a quick look through the sand.
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And you can see the reason for their anguished cry.
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Why they are wondering where God is.
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Well, look at verse 9 there of Psalm 44.
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But you have rejected us and disgraced us.
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And have not gone out with our armies.
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You have made us turn back from the foe.
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And those who hate us have taken spoil.
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You have made us like sheep for slaughter.
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And have scattered us among the nations.
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Verse 17.
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All this has come upon us.
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Though we have not forgotten you.
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And we have not been false to your covenant.
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Our hearts have not turned back.
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Nor have our steps departed from your ways.
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Yet, you don't seem to be doing anything.
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Where are you, Lord?
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What is going on?
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The people of Israel cannot understand what's gone wrong in their relationship with God.
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They've stayed faithful.
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And yet, they are like sheep being led to the slaughter.
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Everything that can go wrong seems to have gone wrong.
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And God, despite their faithfulness, doesn't seem to be anywhere.
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The people of Israel cannot figure out what's gone wrong.
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Why has the relationship gone stale?
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Why does God no longer care?
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And it's been this way since Psalm 42.
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From the beginning of the second book of the Psalms,
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it's been a very sorry state of affairs.
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The repeating refrain of Psalm 42 and 43.
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Why are you cast down on my soul?
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And why are you in turmoil within me?
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Then we come to Psalm 45.
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And it seems to be this seismic change of tone.
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Those of you who are married,
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I don't know if you've got a wedding album.
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Or maybe a video of the day you got married.
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Something that brings you back to that day.
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The moment of union to one another.
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Where you made vows to one another.
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You make promises.
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You make a covenant.
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And that covenant stands firm through thick and thin.
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Regardless of what it feels like,
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however many years down the line,
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a covenant is a covenant.
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And when God makes a covenant,
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you can be certain that it will stand forever.
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And so what we have in Psalm 45
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is the Old Testament version of a wedding album.
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They didn't have photos, but they did have songs.
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And this is a song about a day
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when a covenant was made.
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When a man and a woman devoted their lives to one another.
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But this isn't just any wedding.
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This is a royal wedding.
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And the king, the bridegroom,
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he is the one who is very much center stage.
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So we're going to go through this Psalm
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and see the day
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when a man and a woman are united.
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When they become one.
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When they give their lives to each other.
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We'll see the king in all his majesty
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and the queen in all her beauty.
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So as we go through this Psalm this evening,
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we're going to sort of put together
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this wedding album as we go through.
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And we'll see six or seven different pictures
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of the wedding
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and bring back the memories
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of these covenant promises.
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And as we fill up the album,
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we'll see how the Psalmist reminds
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the people of Israel
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and us
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of the character of the king
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and of his love for his bride.
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Not to renew a relationship,
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but to serve as a reminder
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to a potentially worried bride.
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The Psalm itself breaks down quite simply.
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Verses 1 to 9 are addressed to the king.
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Verses 10 to 15 are to the bride.
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And then 16 and 17 are to the king again.
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So we're going to look first at the king
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and then at the queen.
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So three characteristics or pictures
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of the king.
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His grace in verse 2.
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His gallantry in verses 2 to 5.
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And his glory in verses 6 to 9.
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So firstly, the picture of his grace
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in verse 2.
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And who this Psalm
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was originally written to
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or about it
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is kind of unclear.
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But the best friend is probably
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King Solomon
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and his marriage to the Egyptian princess.
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And to start off with,
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that seems to fit.
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I don't know what you find
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most attractive in a person.
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Maybe it's how they look.
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Their wealth.
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A good sense of humour.
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At least decent personal hygiene.
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It's probably necessary.
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Maybe it depends on the clothes they wear.
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Or if they're trustworthy
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or kind
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or confident.
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That there are lots of different things
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we can find attractive
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about someone.
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But look at what makes this king
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the most handsome
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of all the sons of men.
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It's not his wealth
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or his confidence
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or his fashion sense.
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Verse 2.
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The handsomeness of the man
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is in the words that he uses.
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It's the grace
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which has been poured
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upon his lips.
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The gentleness of his words.
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The wisdom with which he speaks.
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That that is what makes him
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more attractive
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than anybody else.
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He is a delight to listen to.
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What we often think of kings
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as ruling with
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authority
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and might
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and power.
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But a king would rule
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over his subjects
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most of the time
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with words.
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It's how our leaders
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still rule over us today
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in so many ways.
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But our own leaders
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it feels like
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rarely do very well.
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I mean I don't really care
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where your political
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allegiances lie.
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I don't think you can deny
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that politics
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is just a world
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of lies and deceit.
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Where people will
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say anything
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they'll promise anything
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they'll slander anyone
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to either
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try and get into power
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or try and stay there.
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If you fancy a stroll
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through Donald Trump's
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Twitter account
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it's very entertaining
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but I don't think
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you could say
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that grace
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has been poured
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upon his lips.
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But not so
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with the king
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of Sam 45.
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If this king
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had Twitter
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the media
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would probably
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be quite disappointed.
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It would be a bit boring
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from their perspective
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but you can be sure
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it would do a lot more good.
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And I think
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we do
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we find the words
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of people
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very influential
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when we gauge
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their character.
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For some reason
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it might not make
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an immediate appearance
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on our list
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of priorities
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or it rarely
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wouldn't mind.
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But the words
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a person uses
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the way they speak
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to people
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the way they speak
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about people
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that that's so often
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what influences
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the way we think
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of someone.
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I mean I don't think
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anyone actually
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dislikes Donald Trump
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because of his hair.
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And I don't think
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people like him
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just because he's rich.
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It's what he says
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that divides people.
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But this king
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this king
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he speaks
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with grace
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poured upon his lips.
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Now that's not
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a promise
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that he won't
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divide people.
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I mean
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think of
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King Solomon himself.
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and the most
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famous story
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of his wisdom
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that the two
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women fighting
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over a baby.
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Solomon speaks
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with great wisdom.
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He speaks
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rightly
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and the right
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choice is made.
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The baby
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goes to the right
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mother.
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But you can be sure
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that one of those
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women walked out
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quite unhappy
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with King Solomon.
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Gracious words
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doesn't mean
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universal popularity
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but it does mean
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that you can
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trust the person.
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And you can
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trust this king
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to do what is
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right.
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Not necessarily
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according to men
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but you can
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trust him to do
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what is right
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according to God.
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And if doing
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what is right
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according to God
00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:51.720
is our core
00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:52.340
most concern
00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.159
then we will
00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:54.080
love to follow
00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.000
a king like this
00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.740
whose words
00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:57.500
are full
00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.259
of grace.
00:11:58.259 --> 00:12:00.559
and the grace
00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.360
that the kindness
00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.840
of his words
00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:03.659
is evidence
00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:04.840
of his blessedness.
00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.159
God has blessed
00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:08.539
you
00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:10.059
forever.
00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:11.720
This is a
00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.460
God given gift.
00:12:12.899 --> 00:12:13.759
But already here
00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.319
at the end of
00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:14.879
verse 2
00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.039
we have the first
00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:16.879
hint that maybe
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.919
this is
00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.220
talking about
00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.879
someone greater
00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.779
than King Solomon.
00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.000
Forever.
00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.399
But we will
00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:24.899
come to a more
00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.799
conclusive answer
00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.840
a little later on.
00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.759
So the king
00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.639
is a king of grace.
00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.519
Someone you want
00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.160
to listen to.
00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:33.620
Someone you want
00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.120
to lead you.
00:12:35.540 --> 00:12:35.980
Someone you can
00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.060
trust when things
00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:37.680
don't seem to be
00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.320
going in the right
00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:38.780
direction.
00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.060
Here is a king
00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:41.240
you can rely on
00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.920
to have the right
00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:42.740
words to say.
00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:44.960
I'm sure we've
00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.720
all had a moment
00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.560
or two in our lives
00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:48.200
where we've said
00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:48.600
something we
00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.040
probably shouldn't
00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:49.240
have.
00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.360
I can think of
00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.320
three such occasions
00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.740
in the last six
00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.019
hours.
00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:56.400
And I've probably
00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.100
missed a few in
00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:57.459
that time.
00:12:58.779 --> 00:12:59.500
It just slips
00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.019
out and they
00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:00.319
think oh
00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.620
I should not
00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.139
have said that.
00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.779
Sometimes it
00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:04.259
takes years
00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.639
before you
00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:04.980
realise what
00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.299
you've done.
00:13:06.959 --> 00:13:07.720
But not so
00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.240
this king.
00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.379
He knows what
00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:10.740
to say.
00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.399
He knows when
00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.019
to say it.
00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:15.939
This kind of
00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:17.059
man, this king
00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:19.360
is the kind of
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.840
person people
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.480
would hear and
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.559
say no one
00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:22.460
ever spoke
00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.340
like this man.
00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:25.960
This is a
00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:26.379
king you want
00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:26.920
to follow and
00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:27.320
you want to
00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:27.740
listen to.
00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:30.120
Secondly, in
00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.060
verses 3 to 5
00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:31.560
we have a
00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:32.160
picture of a
00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:32.840
gallant king.
00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.560
And if you
00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.600
were in Israel's
00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.080
position of
00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:38.060
Psalm 44 and
00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.620
you were told
00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.780
of this great
00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:40.480
king who always
00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:40.840
had the right
00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.660
words to say
00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:44.000
you might well
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.639
be forgiven for
00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.420
thinking so
00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:45.720
what?
00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:47.940
But this king
00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:48.620
isn't just good
00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.200
with words.
00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.440
He seems to be
00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:51.200
pretty handy with
00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.000
a sword too.
00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.940
The king is
00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:54.700
armed in verse
00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:54.980
3.
00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.220
His arrow is
00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:56.980
sharp in verse
00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.399
5.
00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.779
He's ready to
00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.720
fight, ready to
00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.200
defend his
00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:00.460
kingdom.
00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.480
He's not just
00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.340
softly spoken,
00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.379
kind-hearted with
00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.139
warm words.
00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.860
He is ready to
00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.580
protect his
00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:07.899
people.
00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.600
Ready to
00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:11.259
defend his
00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.639
kingdom.
00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:14.720
We had our
00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:15.279
own royal
00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.720
wedding in this
00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.360
country not too
00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:16.720
long ago.
00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:17.940
I don't know if
00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:18.320
you watched it.
00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.940
I did not.
00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.940
watched the
00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:23.540
highlights, which
00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:24.000
affirmed my
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.560
decision not to
00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:24.940
watch it.
00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.680
In our day and
00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.320
age there's always
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:28.960
an awful lot of
00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.640
talk about the
00:14:29.640 --> 00:14:30.240
wedding dress.
00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:31.860
I don't know if
00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.320
it's always been
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.680
that way.
00:14:34.160 --> 00:14:34.940
But if the news
00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.540
coverage is anything
00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.720
to go by it's a
00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.320
pretty big deal.
00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.700
And I didn't
00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.220
really understand
00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:40.620
the hype.
00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:41.840
Nobody really
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.100
cares.
00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:43.840
And then I saw
00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:44.460
Megan come out
00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:44.820
of the car.
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.040
I still didn't
00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:47.520
really care.
00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:50.139
It's a white
00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.100
dress, isn't it?
00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.199
No surprises
00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:52.460
there.
00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:53.679
What I thought
00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.120
was considerably
00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.819
more interesting
00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.120
was what Prince
00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.519
Harry was
00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:56.779
wearing.
00:14:59.279 --> 00:14:59.679
And it only
00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.279
occurred to me
00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:00.720
while preparing
00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.480
this why he
00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.059
was wearing it.
00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.779
Because Prince
00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.340
Harry wasn't
00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.019
wearing a suit
00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.840
or a tux.
00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.519
He wasn't even
00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.079
wearing a kilt.
00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.699
Prince Harry was
00:15:10.699 --> 00:15:11.059
wearing his
00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:11.860
military uniform.
00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.759
I don't think
00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.480
it's compulsory,
00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.279
but it's certainly
00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.759
traditional.
00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.360
That the prince
00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:18.980
gets married
00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.679
in his uniform.
00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:22.079
Because a king
00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.879
is expected not
00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.360
only to rule
00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:23.799
his people,
00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.600
but he has a
00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.460
duty to defend
00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.059
his people as
00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.299
well.
00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.659
Prince Harry,
00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.399
Prince William,
00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.220
that they have
00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:32.840
a history of
00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.679
military service
00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.179
because they
00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:34.740
have a duty
00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.840
to not only
00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.840
rule, but
00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.840
also to defend.
00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.759
And that is
00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.240
true of this
00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:40.799
king too.
00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:42.819
But again,
00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:43.899
the motives of
00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.579
the king are
00:15:44.579 --> 00:15:45.679
assuredly good.
00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.819
he's not
00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:48.519
some raging
00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.179
tyrant
00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.699
looking to
00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:49.959
conquer
00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:50.779
everything in
00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.259
his path
00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.000
by force.
00:15:53.359 --> 00:15:54.439
He rules
00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.239
with words of
00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:56.059
grace and he
00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.799
fights for,
00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.719
in verse 4,
00:15:58.579 --> 00:15:59.439
the cause of
00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.339
truth and
00:16:00.339 --> 00:16:01.379
meekness and
00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:01.979
righteousness.
00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:05.359
The king is
00:16:05.359 --> 00:16:06.159
equipped with a
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.219
sword and arrow
00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:08.319
to fight for
00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:09.079
what is right.
00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.220
this is,
00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:11.600
again,
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.280
this is a
00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:12.660
king who
00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:12.900
you can
00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:13.320
trust.
00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:14.860
You can
00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.259
trust his
00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.879
words and
00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.100
you can
00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.460
trust his
00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:16.879
actions.
00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:18.780
A king who
00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:19.000
you can
00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.400
trust to
00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:19.740
say the
00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.220
right thing
00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:20.700
and to
00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:20.960
do the
00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.379
right thing.
00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:23.620
It is a
00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.180
short but
00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:24.840
comprehensive
00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.620
summary of
00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.639
everything you
00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.820
want in
00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.860
someone you're
00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:29.080
going to be
00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:29.600
led by.
00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.140
Trustworthy
00:16:33.140 --> 00:16:33.920
in word
00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:34.940
and deed.
00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:37.320
But also
00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:37.660
look at how
00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.460
he fights in
00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.000
these verses.
00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.600
The end of
00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.240
verse 3,
00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.639
O mighty
00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.100
one, in
00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:44.040
your splendor
00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:44.800
and majesty,
00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:46.180
verse 4,
00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.120
in your majesty
00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.700
ride out
00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.400
victoriously.
00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.500
Let your
00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.040
right hand
00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.460
teach you
00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.500
awesome deeds.
00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.200
It's
00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.180
splendor and
00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:54.879
majesty.
00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:56.900
He doesn't
00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.800
fight quietly
00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:58.080
on the
00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.580
sidelines
00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.060
letting someone
00:16:59.060 --> 00:16:59.480
else do the
00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.680
work or
00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.420
instruct from
00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:01.879
behind the
00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.460
front lines.
00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:03.879
He fights for
00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.340
his people.
00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.380
He rides out
00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.340
victoriously.
00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.539
His enemies,
00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.539
the end of
00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:09.960
verse 5,
00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.299
they will
00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:10.960
not stand
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.579
before him.
00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.819
The peoples
00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.460
fall under
00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.720
you.
00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.539
And again,
00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.439
all this talk
00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:18.099
is very well.
00:17:18.179 --> 00:17:18.599
It sounds
00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.079
good, but
00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.699
put yourselves
00:17:19.699 --> 00:17:20.319
in the
00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:20.779
Israelite's
00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.639
shoes and
00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:23.439
it all
00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:24.319
sounds good.
00:17:24.439 --> 00:17:24.919
You'd quite
00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:25.639
like to see
00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.639
some evidence
00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.159
of it on the
00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.500
ground.
00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:28.919
The king
00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:29.259
sounds
00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.740
magnificent,
00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:31.339
but they are
00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:31.939
still surely
00:17:31.939 --> 00:17:32.439
like sheep
00:17:32.439 --> 00:17:32.980
being led to
00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:33.419
the slaughter.
00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:35.380
And I
00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:35.620
think we
00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.019
can also
00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.500
so often
00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.100
find ourselves
00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:37.480
in the
00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.019
same shoes.
00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:39.120
We wonder
00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:39.759
who really
00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.060
is winning
00:17:41.060 --> 00:17:41.500
the battle
00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:41.759
on the
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.060
ground.
00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.660
Maybe when
00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.060
you read
00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:44.500
of the
00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:44.880
persecuted
00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.500
church or
00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:45.840
you see
00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:46.340
the spread
00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:46.779
of false
00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.779
religions or
00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.860
every nation
00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.519
just seeming
00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:50.820
to go
00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.519
stray further
00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.019
and further
00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.580
from what
00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.100
is right.
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.360
You start
00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:54.880
wondering who
00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.500
really is in
00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.820
control.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.300
Who's really
00:17:56.300 --> 00:17:56.740
winning this
00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.120
war?
00:17:58.800 --> 00:17:59.180
But our
00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.700
questions are
00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.200
answered in the
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.779
coming verses
00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.619
because verse
00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.539
6 to 9,
00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.259
this is where
00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.960
Solomon just
00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.660
falls out the
00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:06.980
picture.
00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.319
Reading from
00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:09.839
verse 6,
00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.539
Your throne,
00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.099
O God,
00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:11.799
is forever
00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.480
and ever.
00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.220
The scepter
00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.460
of your
00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.559
kingdom is a
00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:15.920
scepter of
00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.460
uprightness.
00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:16.859
You have
00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.619
loved righteousness
00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.220
and hated
00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.740
wickedness.
00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:19.799
Therefore,
00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.519
God,
00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.420
your God,
00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.000
has anointed
00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.599
you with the
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.500
oil of gladness
00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.799
beyond your
00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.359
companions.
00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.180
These very
00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:28.899
verses are
00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.639
quoted in
00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.579
Hebrews 1 of
00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.079
the father
00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.819
speaking about
00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.279
the son.
00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.439
The psalm
00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:34.939
at this point
00:18:34.939 --> 00:18:36.480
is unquestionably
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.419
messianic.
00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:39.339
Nowhere else
00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:39.779
in the Old
00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:41.579
Testament is
00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.399
God used to
00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:43.240
describe someone
00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.439
without some
00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:44.960
kind of added
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.619
qualification.
00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.579
This is a
00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.220
king far
00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.759
better than
00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.099
Solomon.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.339
This points
00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.139
to a greater
00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:53.119
king and a
00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.819
greater kingdom.
00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:57.019
It's hard to
00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.439
know what the
00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:57.939
Old Testament
00:18:57.939 --> 00:18:59.119
readers would
00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.579
have made of
00:18:59.579 --> 00:18:59.960
the psalm.
00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.759
even if they
00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.099
had some
00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.599
understanding
00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:02.859
of the
00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:03.220
Trinity,
00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.559
there can
00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:04.819
be little
00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.159
doubt it
00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:05.319
would have
00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:05.759
been somewhat
00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.399
perplexing.
00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.000
This is a
00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.079
case of the
00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.599
Old Testament
00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.359
really bursting
00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:09.779
out of its
00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.279
banks.
00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:11.939
But we
00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:12.279
are in the
00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:12.539
privileged
00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.220
position of
00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:13.740
knowing this
00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.019
king,
00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.759
of knowing
00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.519
exactly who
00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:16.779
the king
00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.379
addressed in
00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:17.819
verse 1
00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.159
is,
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.519
even if the
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.879
psalmist
00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:20.339
wasn't aware
00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:20.879
of the time.
00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:22.980
And when you
00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.519
see that these
00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.480
verses are all
00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.000
about Jesus,
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.079
it adds a
00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.859
slight twist to
00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.319
what we've just
00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.019
seen in verses
00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.839
2-5.
00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.680
Because we
00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.160
know Jesus
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.920
did come to
00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.900
establish a
00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.619
kingdom for
00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.559
the quick cause
00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.440
of truth and
00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:37.180
meekness and
00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.700
righteousness.
00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:38.920
But he
00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.599
certainly didn't
00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.319
come with a
00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.339
sword or an
00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:41.599
arrow,
00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:42.799
some of the
00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.599
literal ones.
00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.339
He didn't come
00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.900
with a sword,
00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.539
but he did
00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.079
come with
00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.220
something that
00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.039
Hebrews calls
00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.940
sharper than
00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.700
any two-edged
00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.059
sword.
00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.559
Ephesians calls
00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.579
it the sword of
00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.059
the spirit.
00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:57.500
Because Jesus
00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.559
established his
00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.980
kingdom with
00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.639
his words.
00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.779
His gallantry
00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.859
in verses 3-5
00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:05.579
is evidenced by
00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.319
the grace upon
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.899
his lips in
00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:07.460
verse 2,
00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.259
that they're
00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:08.599
almost the
00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.200
same thing.
00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.779
His words,
00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.639
they bring
00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.919
grace to those
00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.539
who hear and
00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.220
listen to them.
00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.299
It's good news
00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.879
for friends of
00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.240
the king,
00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.940
but the very
00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.099
same words are
00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.059
like swords and
00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:21.839
arrows to his
00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.119
enemies.
00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:24.459
And we
00:20:24.459 --> 00:20:24.919
know that the
00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.419
kingdom that
00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:26.179
he is establishing
00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:27.619
is not of
00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.139
this world.
00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.699
And so in
00:20:29.699 --> 00:20:30.339
the chaos,
00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.119
we can be
00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.939
sure that he
00:20:31.939 --> 00:20:32.639
is in control.
00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.799
He is king
00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.219
over the
00:20:34.219 --> 00:20:34.500
earth.
00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:35.859
But this is
00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.299
not where we
00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:36.759
should expect
00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.259
to see the
00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.699
fullness of
00:20:37.699 --> 00:20:38.079
his kingdom.
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.819
So we've
00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.179
seen the
00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:42.739
grace and
00:20:42.739 --> 00:20:43.059
gallantry,
00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:43.539
and now we
00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:43.819
see the
00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.500
glory of
00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.879
the king
00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.319
in verses
00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.019
6-9.
00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.159
First of
00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:48.439
all, his
00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:48.919
throne is
00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.319
eternal.
00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.659
This is an
00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:51.119
everlasting
00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:51.599
kingdom.
00:20:52.959 --> 00:20:53.500
We've
00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.939
already seen
00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:54.479
that this
00:20:54.479 --> 00:20:55.139
points to
00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:56.459
something greater
00:20:56.459 --> 00:20:57.000
than Solomon,
00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.639
greater than
00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.339
the greatest
00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.139
earthly kings
00:20:59.139 --> 00:20:59.599
or queens.
00:21:00.459 --> 00:21:01.000
This is a
00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.419
king who
00:21:01.419 --> 00:21:02.279
rules eternally.
00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.139
He loves
00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:04.699
righteousness,
00:21:04.959 --> 00:21:05.479
he hates
00:21:05.479 --> 00:21:06.259
wickedness.
00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.119
Therefore,
00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:08.579
he's been
00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.359
anointed with
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.119
gladness.
00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.799
Sounds like a
00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.099
pretty good
00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.459
thing to be
00:21:12.459 --> 00:21:13.099
anointed with.
00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:15.339
In verse
00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:17.079
8, he
00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.719
also smells
00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:17.979
good.
00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:19.799
Don't really
00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.119
know what else
00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.479
to say about
00:21:20.479 --> 00:21:20.699
that.
00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.880
Then we
00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.420
see stringed
00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:22.900
instruments
00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.799
being played
00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:24.420
from ivory
00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.000
palaces,
00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.920
all in
00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.840
praise of
00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.740
this glorious
00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.259
king.
00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.360
Ivory
00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.240
palaces appear
00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.080
very rarely
00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:34.559
in the Bible.
00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:35.819
I mean,
00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.220
they just
00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.799
sound amazing.
00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:38.620
And they're
00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.660
always associated
00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.460
with the
00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.299
splendor of
00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.740
a king,
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.220
the greatness
00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.580
of his
00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.039
house.
00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.279
Ivory
00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.799
lined
00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.299
palaces from
00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.980
which music
00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.839
pours forth.
00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:51.299
Bringing
00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.039
gladness to
00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.480
the king
00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.779
because he
00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.259
deserves
00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.919
gladness.
00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:56.700
Because the
00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.119
king is
00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.379
worthy of
00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:58.799
the highest
00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.200
honours.
00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.099
He is
00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.720
worthy of
00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.000
the most
00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.759
beautiful music
00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.019
from the
00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.619
most beautiful
00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.039
palaces.
00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.799
He is a
00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.379
king of
00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:06.960
glory.
00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.460
He loves
00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.960
righteousness
00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:10.759
and hates
00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.220
wickedness.
00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.639
He is
00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.259
honoured by
00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.899
those around
00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:14.419
him because
00:22:14.419 --> 00:22:15.079
he is worthy
00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.500
of it.
00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.740
he deserves
00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.420
the praise
00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.200
he receives.
00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.319
He is a
00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.759
graceful
00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.039
king,
00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.059
a gallant
00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.359
king,
00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:23.779
and he
00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.079
is a
00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.579
glorious
00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:24.920
king.
00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.000
But he's
00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.519
not alone,
00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.619
as is the
00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:29.859
way with
00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.180
weddings.
00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:31.740
There's
00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.119
someone else
00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.319
there.
00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:34.599
And the
00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:35.880
bride is
00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:36.500
atypically
00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.500
playing second
00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.400
fiddle to
00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.799
the king.
00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:39.880
And she
00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.220
makes an
00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.440
appearance in
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.000
verses 10
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.519
to 15.
00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.680
And if we
00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.180
know this is
00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.019
the messianic
00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.920
set, and
00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.240
we know
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.680
that Jesus
00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:48.980
is in
00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.299
place of
00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.680
the king,
00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.519
he is
00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.000
fulfilling the
00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.259
role of
00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.000
bridegroom
00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.360
here,
00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.140
then that
00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.480
leaves the
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:54.759
role of
00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.160
the bride
00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.440
to be
00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.880
filled by
00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.460
the church.
00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:58.640
And while
00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:58.980
we have to
00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.380
be careful
00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.039
drawing exact
00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.680
parallels,
00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.480
the overall
00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.340
picture can
00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.820
certainly tell
00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.100
us a few
00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:03.440
things.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.600
So we're
00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.019
now looking
00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.259
at the
00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.539
bride as
00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.120
the bride
00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.380
of the
00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:08.860
messian.
00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.279
And I
00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:10.600
want us to
00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.039
put together
00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.820
another three
00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:12.240
pictures.
00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.580
This time
00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:14.899
with the
00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.460
bride at
00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:15.819
the center
00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.519
of attention.
00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.659
The bride
00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:17.899
of the
00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.139
king,
00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:18.559
the bride
00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.139
of Christ.
00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.579
Three
00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.119
pictures of
00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.480
the bride.
00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:22.879
She is
00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.339
adopted,
00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.199
she is
00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:24.659
admired,
00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.220
and she
00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.919
is adorned.
00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:27.899
Adopted,
00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.379
admired,
00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.179
and adorned.
00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.659
Firstly,
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.319
adopted in
00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.779
verse 10.
00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.199
And we
00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:33.879
can see the
00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.939
bride switches
00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:35.500
allegiances,
00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:37.339
or has at
00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.599
least been
00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.139
called to
00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.339
switch
00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:38.779
allegiances.
00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.619
She is
00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.119
removing
00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.779
herself from
00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.379
one family
00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:42.879
and being
00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.619
taken in
00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.240
by another.
00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.200
See there
00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.759
in verse 10,
00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:46.160
Hear,
00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.639
O daughter,
00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.440
and consider
00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.379
and incline
00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:48.839
your ear.
00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.700
Forget your
00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.359
people and
00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.000
your father's
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.319
house,
00:23:52.399 --> 00:23:52.740
and the
00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.200
king will
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.859
desire your
00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.200
beauty.
00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.619
Since he
00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:55.920
is your
00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.259
lord,
00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.059
bow to
00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.379
him.
00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.099
That's
00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:00.539
what marriage
00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:00.899
is.
00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.519
It's been
00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:02.920
that way
00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.500
since Genesis
00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:03.879
2.
00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.359
It's how
00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.160
God ordained
00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.460
it.
00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:08.140
a man
00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.779
shall leave
00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.420
his father
00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:09.920
and his
00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.460
mother and
00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.019
hold fast
00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.279
to his
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.819
wife and
00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.120
they shall
00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:12.740
become one
00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.259
flesh.
00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.559
Leaving your
00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.160
family to
00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.380
join a
00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.140
new one is
00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.519
a big
00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.819
moment.
00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:20.799
And it
00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.200
isn't something
00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.819
we can expect
00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.259
to be taken
00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.660
lightly.
00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.340
I've never
00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:25.860
been a bride
00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.279
myself.
00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.480
But I
00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.799
don't think
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.140
you have to
00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:29.720
have experienced
00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.559
it to have
00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.500
some appreciation
00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.960
of where some
00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.380
of the nerves
00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:34.880
come from.
00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.500
you've been
00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.140
part of one
00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.800
family, one
00:24:38.800 --> 00:24:39.580
household all
00:24:39.580 --> 00:24:40.120
your life.
00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:41.900
That's all
00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.380
you know.
00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.200
It's what
00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.520
you've grown
00:24:44.520 --> 00:24:44.980
up with.
00:24:45.800 --> 00:24:46.240
It's what
00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.060
in some
00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:47.460
ways at least
00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:47.760
you've grown
00:24:47.760 --> 00:24:48.260
to love.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.300
And when
00:24:49.300 --> 00:24:49.760
you are
00:24:49.760 --> 00:24:50.840
asked to
00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:52.260
leave all
00:24:52.260 --> 00:24:52.560
that you
00:24:52.560 --> 00:24:53.460
know for
00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.000
something you
00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.480
don't,
00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.980
as part of
00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.680
a lifelong
00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.400
commitment,
00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.580
it's an
00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.180
understandably
00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.660
daunting
00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.120
moment.
00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:01.279
moment.
00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.099
And when
00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.719
we leave
00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:05.239
our own
00:25:05.239 --> 00:25:06.119
lives behind
00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.659
to be
00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:07.339
united with
00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.839
Christ,
00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.699
it's a
00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:11.159
big moment.
00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.039
It should
00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.179
be.
00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.299
When I
00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.639
became a
00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:14.879
Christian,
00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:17.079
I don't
00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.479
think I
00:25:17.479 --> 00:25:17.959
was really
00:25:17.959 --> 00:25:18.479
aware at
00:25:18.479 --> 00:25:19.019
the time
00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.919
of what
00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.539
it meant
00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:23.259
leaving
00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.819
behind.
00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.159
I'm sure
00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:27.379
I'm not
00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:27.739
alone in
00:25:27.739 --> 00:25:28.059
that, but
00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.459
it's a
00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.199
big commitment.
00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.319
commitment.
00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.279
And that's
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.580
why it's
00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.120
so important
00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:33.019
we recognise
00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.860
and understand
00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.500
what we've
00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:35.940
seen in
00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.420
the king.
00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:39.680
When we
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.039
see the
00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.360
king in
00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:40.620
all his
00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.120
glory,
00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.259
leaving our
00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.799
old lives
00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.460
behind to
00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:44.920
follow him
00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.259
becomes
00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:45.600
easier.
00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.779
The more
00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.340
we appreciate
00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:48.779
the greatness
00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.120
of the
00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.440
king,
00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.180
the less
00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.660
appealing our
00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.080
old family
00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:52.640
becomes to
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:52.840
us.
00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.039
And we
00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.559
can see
00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.039
the queen
00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.420
in verse
00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.960
10 needs
00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.539
a fair bit
00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.079
of encouragement
00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:00.299
to leave
00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.819
behind her
00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.240
father's
00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.619
house and
00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.119
become one
00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:03.420
with the
00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.680
king.
00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.859
There's four
00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.500
commands there
00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:05.779
in verse
00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.119
10.
00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.039
Here,
00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.700
consider,
00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.220
incline,
00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.139
forget.
00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.619
Multiple
00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.240
commands that
00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.799
come again
00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.319
and again.
00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:14.980
And that's
00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.319
something we
00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.339
need, isn't
00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:16.579
it?
00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.259
To be told
00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.899
again and
00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:20.879
again that
00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.180
we need to
00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.619
leave behind
00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.180
our past.
00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.799
We need to
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.299
know that we
00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.819
are part of
00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.099
a new
00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.920
family, a
00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.339
new house.
00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.799
We submit
00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.240
to a new
00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.519
king.
00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.240
It can be
00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.720
so easy
00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.220
to look
00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.419
on the
00:26:33.419 --> 00:26:34.019
past with
00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.759
rose-tinted
00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:36.579
glasses and
00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.240
think things
00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.679
used to be
00:26:37.679 --> 00:26:38.279
so much
00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.799
better to
00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.179
look long
00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.619
and back
00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:39.879
to where
00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.079
we've
00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.619
come from.
00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.879
But
00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:43.399
remember the
00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:43.659
king.
00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.240
And remember
00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.720
where we are
00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.039
now.
00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:48.159
We are joined
00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.500
to a king
00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.039
who loves
00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.619
righteousness
00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.599
and hates
00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.379
wickedness,
00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.699
whose throne
00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:53.339
is forever
00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:53.779
and ever,
00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.759
who rides
00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.539
forth in
00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.179
splendor
00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.000
and majesty.
00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.700
The bride
00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.019
is told,
00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.840
forget about
00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.160
where you
00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.680
come from.
00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:01.820
Forget about
00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.019
it.
00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:03.900
We have a
00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.360
new lord,
00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:04.880
a new
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.279
master,
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:06.759
a new
00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.019
king.
00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.259
So the
00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:09.500
queen has
00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.039
been adopted
00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.620
into a new
00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:10.940
family.
00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.600
And secondly,
00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:12.840
the second
00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.360
picture of the
00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:13.560
queen,
00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.160
she is
00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.640
admired.
00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.000
She is
00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.460
admired by
00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:16.820
the king,
00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.220
bridegroom,
00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.600
which is
00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:18.779
good,
00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.519
and by
00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.099
interestingly,
00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.559
the people
00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.160
of Tyre,
00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.579
who seek
00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.119
her favour
00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.879
with gifts.
00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:26.839
But the
00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.279
bride is
00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.980
unsurprisingly
00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.460
attractive,
00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.460
not only to
00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.000
the bridegroom,
00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.339
but to the
00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.779
onlookers.
00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.339
And when we
00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.680
think of a
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:33.879
wedding,
00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.660
that's quite
00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:34.960
normal.
00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.700
The bride
00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.039
gets the
00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.660
attention because
00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.180
the bride is
00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.579
beautiful.
00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.019
I don't think
00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.180
there will be
00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.899
any disagreements
00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.279
with that.
00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.599
But if we
00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.259
remember that
00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.019
this queen is
00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.660
the bride
00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.600
of Christ,
00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.779
and we go
00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.220
forward to the
00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.700
New Testament,
00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:50.800
we see who
00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:51.360
that bride is,
00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:51.759
we see it's
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.320
the church,
00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.519
the people of
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.759
God,
00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.160
the people
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.820
sitting here
00:27:54.820 --> 00:27:55.840
in Dean Hall
00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.380
this evening,
00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.279
who meet
00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.800
together on a
00:27:57.800 --> 00:27:58.100
Sunday,
00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.759
all the church
00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.400
of Christ
00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.519
is his bride,
00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.560
and the bride
00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:03.100
is, we see
00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.740
here in verses
00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.680
11 and 12,
00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:06.120
admired by the
00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:06.779
king and
00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.380
admired by
00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:07.940
outsiders.
00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.480
The bride is
00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.900
beautiful,
00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.259
and that's how
00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.700
it should be,
00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.500
beautiful to the
00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.680
king and
00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.279
beautiful to
00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.740
outsiders.
00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.619
I think we
00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.099
live in
00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.480
something of
00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.039
a victim
00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.539
culture,
00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.220
and that's
00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.660
fair to say,
00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.480
everyone likes
00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.899
to play the
00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.160
victim,
00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:26.980
everyone wants
00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.319
to think
00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.799
they're the
00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.099
ones that
00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:28.599
are oppressed,
00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.639
and I think
00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:29.879
there's a
00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:31.019
degree of
00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.299
that to
00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:31.899
which we
00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.279
can fall
00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.700
susceptible
00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.079
to,
00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.500
to start
00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.799
to think
00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.139
about that,
00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.680
and almost
00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.119
boast about
00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.879
how difficult
00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.440
life is as
00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.819
a Christian,
00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.660
how opposed
00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.079
the world
00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.639
around us
00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:42.599
is to the
00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.139
church and
00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.420
to all that
00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.759
she stands
00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:43.920
for.
00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.700
And there
00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.099
are times
00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.599
when persecution
00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:45.980
is very
00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.219
real,
00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.500
and I
00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.719
don't want
00:28:47.719 --> 00:28:47.939
to take
00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:48.299
anything away
00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.679
from that.
00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.679
But if we're
00:28:50.679 --> 00:28:51.240
honest about it,
00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.719
I think in this
00:28:51.719 --> 00:28:52.559
country it's
00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.359
quite rare.
00:28:55.719 --> 00:28:56.480
We probably all
00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.839
know somebody
00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.439
doesn't like the
00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:57.839
fact we're a
00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.119
Christian,
00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.599
but they are
00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.359
in a very
00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.119
small minority.
00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.839
I've been
00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.339
doing the
00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.019
book table on
00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.619
Greenford for a
00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.039
couple of years
00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.259
now,
00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.599
and there have
00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.079
been a few
00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.619
aggressive
00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:08.699
individuals who
00:29:08.699 --> 00:29:09.299
obviously really
00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.740
don't like the
00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.399
church and have
00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:10.939
something against
00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:11.299
us.
00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.299
people.
00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.200
But I
00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.919
reckon in all
00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:14.519
the conversations
00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.000
I've had,
00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:15.480
you could count
00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.019
those people
00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.200
on one hand.
00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.259
Pretty much
00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.919
everyone else
00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.680
is generally
00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.399
fairly neutral,
00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.779
that they just
00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.339
don't know
00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:23.960
anything about
00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.339
the church.
00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.539
And I think
00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:25.799
there's something
00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.539
quite sad about
00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.779
that.
00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:28.759
Because the
00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.299
king's bride
00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.859
should be seen
00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.460
as beautiful.
00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.180
She should be
00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.980
admired, not
00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.460
only by the
00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.720
king, but by
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.000
some of the
00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.839
outsiders too.
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:38.179
the church
00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.679
should be a
00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.480
light shining
00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.839
in the
00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.199
darkness.
00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:42.899
And yes,
00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.439
some people
00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.259
will despise
00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.779
the light,
00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:45.899
but I think
00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.419
most people
00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:47.980
will be positive
00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.539
about the
00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:48.679
church.
00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.199
They should
00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:49.599
see the
00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.379
goodness of
00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:50.839
the bride
00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.480
of Christ.
00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.339
That there's
00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:54.899
a danger we
00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:55.439
can somehow
00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:56.159
dig ourselves
00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.579
into some
00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.079
kind of
00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.839
asceticism,
00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.379
where if
00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:58.679
we're not
00:29:58.679 --> 00:29:59.139
provoking
00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.379
people, we
00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:00.740
must be doing
00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.220
something wrong,
00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.439
as evangelism,
00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:02.939
some kind of
00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.579
bear poking
00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.119
exercise.
00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.539
But while
00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.000
there will
00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.399
be some
00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:07.859
opposition,
00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.480
the bride
00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:09.919
of Christ
00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.220
should be
00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.859
admired both
00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.179
by the
00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:13.119
king and
00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.419
by the
00:30:13.419 --> 00:30:13.939
omnipotors.
00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.740
The bride
00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.319
is not there
00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:17.779
to be tucked
00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.299
away in some
00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.659
cupboard.
00:30:18.939 --> 00:30:19.419
Her beauty
00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:19.799
should be
00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.459
evident for
00:30:20.459 --> 00:30:20.839
all to
00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.079
see.
00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.539
Adopted,
00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.379
admired, and
00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.199
the final picture
00:30:26.199 --> 00:30:26.879
of the bride
00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:28.359
adorned in
00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.459
verses 13-15.
00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.799
And you can
00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.339
see in these
00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.099
verses that the
00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.819
beauty of the
00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:35.159
queen is in
00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:35.699
her outward
00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.240
appearance,
00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.240
which is in
00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.039
quite stark
00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:41.160
contrast to
00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:41.559
much of the
00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:41.900
king's
00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.299
majesty.
00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.100
Look back
00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.340
to the
00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:44.600
king.
00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.059
Verse 2,
00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.759
he speaks
00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.360
with grace.
00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.840
Verse 4,
00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.240
in his
00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.740
majesty, he
00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.240
rides out
00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.000
victoriously
00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.680
for righteousness
00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.319
and meekness
00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.660
and truth.
00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.319
His scepter
00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.120
in verse 5
00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.480
is a
00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:56.920
scepter of
00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.559
uprightness.
00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.400
Verse 6,
00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.000
he loves
00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.519
righteousness
00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.500
and hates
00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.200
wickedness.
00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.140
That the
00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:04.720
king's beauty
00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.299
is evident
00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:05.640
from his
00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:05.779
own
00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.220
character.
00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.339
But the
00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:08.740
queen's
00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.079
splendor,
00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.740
her glory,
00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.559
comes from
00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.039
the garments
00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.819
she wears.
00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.360
Look there
00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.079
in verse 13.
00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:15.779
All
00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.620
glorious is
00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.079
the princess
00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.600
in her
00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:17.920
chamber,
00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.100
with robes
00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.819
interwoven
00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.400
with gold.
00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.500
In many
00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.140
colored robes
00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.559
she is led
00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:23.799
to the
00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.059
king,
00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.180
with her
00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.460
virgin
00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.039
companions
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.339
following
00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.799
behind her,
00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.500
with joy and
00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:28.259
gladness they
00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.559
are led
00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.120
along as
00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.680
they enter
00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.779
the palace
00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.059
of the
00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.299
king.
00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:32.319
The
00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:32.799
beauty of
00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:32.899
the
00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.200
queen is
00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:33.500
all about
00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:33.799
what she's
00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.299
wearing,
00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.480
about what
00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.759
she's been
00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.259
adorned
00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:38.539
with.
00:31:40.419 --> 00:31:40.859
And the
00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.319
garments are
00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.039
so beautiful,
00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.059
so rich,
00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.119
that in all
00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.779
likelihood she
00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.240
could not
00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.740
have afforded
00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.299
them herself,
00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:47.940
that they
00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.500
would almost
00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.480
certainly have
00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.000
had to be
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.839
provided for
00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.240
by the
00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.579
king,
00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.019
one of the
00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.680
few people
00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.019
who could
00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.740
afford such
00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.419
fine clothing.
00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:58.519
the bride's
00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.200
beauty paid
00:31:59.200 --> 00:31:59.779
for by
00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.259
the king.
00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.200
And we
00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.500
know the
00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:02.800
bride of
00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:03.200
Christ is
00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.660
no different.
00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.300
The church
00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:06.920
is covered
00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.700
by robes
00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.340
that only
00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:08.960
the king,
00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.019
only the
00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.560
bridegroom
00:32:10.560 --> 00:32:11.140
can afford.
00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.160
He covers
00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.980
our sins
00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.620
and adorns
00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:14.940
us with
00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.440
righteousness.
00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.400
The words
00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:17.940
of Isaiah
00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.460
61,
00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.980
I will
00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.480
greatly
00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.300
rejoice in
00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:21.720
the Lord.
00:32:22.340 --> 00:32:23.000
My soul
00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.539
shall exalt
00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.060
in my God
00:32:24.060 --> 00:32:24.600
for he has
00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:25.400
clothed me
00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.140
with garments
00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:26.860
of salvation.
00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:27.780
He has
00:32:27.780 --> 00:32:28.380
covered me
00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:28.680
with the
00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.060
robe of
00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:29.500
righteousness.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.060
As a
00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:31.380
bride
00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:31.600
prude
00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:31.840
decks
00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.160
himself
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.500
like a
00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.740
priest
00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:32.980
with a
00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.240
beautiful
00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:33.780
headdress
00:32:33.780 --> 00:32:34.259
and as a
00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.280
bride adorns
00:32:35.280 --> 00:32:35.920
herself with
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.259
jewels.
00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.140
And as
00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.660
the king
00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.160
adorns
00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.720
the queen,
00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:42.400
so our
00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:42.660
king,
00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:43.600
our saviour
00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.160
adorns
00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:45.220
us with
00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.759
the garments
00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.620
of salvation.
00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:49.360
The beauty
00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.040
of the bride
00:32:50.040 --> 00:32:52.280
should be,
00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:52.800
as we looked
00:32:52.800 --> 00:32:53.180
at a moment
00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.540
ago,
00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:54.519
recognised
00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.060
by outsiders,
00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.700
but it's
00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.099
all for
00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.440
the king.
00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.039
It is
00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.480
all for
00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:58.700
him.
00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.319
He is
00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.659
the one
00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:00.940
who is
00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.079
our
00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.359
lord.
00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.359
He is
00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.000
the one
00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.919
whom we
00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.279
bow to.
00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:04.899
He is
00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.299
the reason
00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.679
the bride
00:33:05.679 --> 00:33:06.179
is beautiful.
00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.419
The bride
00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:07.940
is beautiful
00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.440
for the
00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.700
king.
00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.379
In
00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:12.879
living for
00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:13.279
our king,
00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.679
in doing
00:33:13.679 --> 00:33:13.960
what is
00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.379
good for
00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:14.579
him,
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:15.980
the beauty
00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.379
should be
00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:16.879
evident to
00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.179
everyone.
00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.519
So we've
00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:19.799
had three
00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.220
pictures of
00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.539
the queen,
00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.299
adopted,
00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.179
admired,
00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:24.039
and adorned.
00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.400
And finally,
00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:26.000
one last
00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.420
picture to
00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:26.660
see.
00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.180
And that
00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.480
is the
00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.000
king and
00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.420
the queen
00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:29.920
together.
00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.519
The greatest
00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.320
treasure of
00:33:34.320 --> 00:33:34.680
all for
00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.019
the queen,
00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.560
better than
00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:36.960
the praise
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.180
of the
00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:37.519
nations,
00:33:38.060 --> 00:33:38.380
better than
00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.779
the garments
00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.140
she's been
00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:39.400
given,
00:33:40.080 --> 00:33:40.660
the greatest
00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.279
treasure for
00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:41.759
the queen
00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:43.400
is that she
00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.759
now gets
00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.080
to be with
00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:44.340
the king.
00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.680
And this
00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.100
is our
00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.660
seventh and
00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.380
final picture
00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.060
of the king
00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.480
and the
00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:49.659
queen
00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.379
together in
00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.539
their
00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:50.940
palace.
00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:52.779
She is
00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.139
brought into
00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.539
the palace
00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:53.839
with the
00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.279
king at
00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.500
the end
00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.799
of verse
00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.279
15.
00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.000
At his
00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.839
right hand
00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.440
at the end
00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:58.740
of verse
00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.019
9.
00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:00.980
The greatest
00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.619
joy for
00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.059
the bride,
00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.940
the primary
00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.480
source of
00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.039
gladness,
00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:05.799
is union
00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.940
with the
00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.179
king.
00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.179
The
00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.139
unsurpassable
00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.059
privilege of
00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.679
being united
00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.079
to the
00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.400
king of
00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.699
kings.
00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.320
And that
00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:16.579
is where
00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.139
we stand
00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:18.059
now as
00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.599
the bride
00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.279
of Christ,
00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.199
united to
00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.579
the king.
00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.159
And by
00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:23.739
being united
00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.079
to the
00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.259
king,
00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:24.940
we share
00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.940
in all
00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.259
the good
00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.539
things that
00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:27.880
the king
00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.279
has won
00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:28.639
for his
00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:28.940
bride.
00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:31.699
So you
00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.000
see three
00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.440
pictures of
00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:32.779
the king,
00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.639
three pictures
00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.079
of the queen,
00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:35.239
one of them
00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:35.559
together,
00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:36.000
and the
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.799
psalm closes
00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.299
looking into
00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:37.880
the future
00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.679
of the
00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.199
newlyweds.
00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.400
And these
00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:41.980
last verses
00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.739
are addressed
00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:43.480
specifically to
00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:43.820
the king.
00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.219
It's his
00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:45.739
name that will
00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.179
be remembered.
00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:46.880
He will be
00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.519
the praise
00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:47.840
of the
00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.239
nations.
00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:49.860
And I
00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.259
think we
00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:50.719
as the
00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.380
bride need
00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.019
to remember
00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.300
that.
00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.340
That ultimately
00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.739
it's all
00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.079
about the
00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:55.320
king.
00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.539
Though he
00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.019
loves his
00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.460
bride, he
00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.119
treasures his
00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.739
bride, and
00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.400
he cares for
00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.860
his bride,
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.860
it's the
00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.380
king who's
00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:03.860
majestic.
00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:05.759
The king
00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.340
who's worthy
00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:06.940
of praise.
00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.599
It's a
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.239
beautiful picture
00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.280
of king and
00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:11.739
his queen.
00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.280
And it is
00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:13.800
our picture
00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:15.160
of our
00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:15.680
king and
00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:15.960
us.
00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:18.420
And there
00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:18.900
probably will
00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.580
be times when
00:35:19.580 --> 00:35:20.000
we wonder
00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:20.680
where our
00:35:20.680 --> 00:35:21.900
king, our
00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.460
god is, when
00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:22.840
we can't
00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.640
understand the
00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:25.140
intricacies of
00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:26.960
his plan, when
00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.260
we are
00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:28.260
dumbfounded by
00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:28.740
the seeming
00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.580
strangeness of
00:35:29.580 --> 00:35:30.240
his providence.
00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.260
But let's
00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:33.700
remember we
00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:34.160
are so
00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:34.900
privileged as
00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.519
to be united
00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.100
to our
00:35:36.100 --> 00:35:37.019
glorious king.
00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:39.159
His name
00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.559
will be
00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.219
remembered in
00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:41.000
all generations.
00:35:42.259 --> 00:35:42.800
The nations
00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.400
will praise
00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.039
him forever.
00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.559
It's all
00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:45.860
about the
00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.079
king.
00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.059
Let us
00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.280
pray.