WEBVTT 00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:08.279 So here we are in our series of the Psalms and this morning is people all over the UK, 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:15.380 maybe you yourself, woke up this morning listening to Radio 2 and Steve Wright's Love Songs. 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:24.280 It's all about love and here we have this Psalm is written again very much as we would have heard 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:29.339 this morning of people phoning in messages to say how much they love their loved ones, 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:41.700 of how their life was going, all this loved up sense of sharing and this Psalm is written for just that. 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:52.320 It's written for a wedding and here we've got what is effectively a love song. Now I don't know 00:00:52.320 --> 00:01:00.939 whether anybody has written or ever written a love song for you. I was just thinking this morning as I 00:01:00.939 --> 00:01:09.260 listened to Steve Wright's Love Songs, I was wondering we'll do a bit of maybe, what's that thing, 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:14.500 Popmaster isn't it that comes in, maybe you can think of the year of this one but who were these 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:21.879 songs written for? I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Any idea of a year? 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:38.439 85? Very close, 92. Well done. All of Me Loves All of You by John Legend. What a wonderful song. Any idea? 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:53.179 Sorry? Oh a bit up from that? 15. 13. Very close. And lastly, Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. 00:01:54.859 --> 00:02:07.519 Takes me back. Anybody got a punt? No idea? 96. What were we doing in 96 when we were listening 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:13.599 to Celine Dion? Because You Loved Me. Hugely romantic and people use these songs to engage 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:20.280 with people. You remember that Elton John rewrote the lyrics for In Memory of Princess Diana of Wales, 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:27.800 Goodbye English Rose, went to number one and not surprisingly some people pen lyrics and songs 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:36.699 to express their love of an event or of a moment. Psalm 45 is that wedding song. It's all about 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:44.519 love. And using a recognised tune. I think it was called Maskell, I think it was, sung by the songs of 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:53.339 Korah. I think it must have been like an old age boy band that they'd put together to sing this for the 00:02:53.339 --> 00:03:01.620 king. And all these songs are often composed and recited over the couple, which is so sweet, isn't it? 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:08.960 It sort of emphasises the moment as this psalm does as we hear often in wedding speeches that we've sat 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:14.980 through, where people remind the couple of how they should live their life together, of reminding them 00:03:14.980 --> 00:03:19.460 of all the things that they should do, of their responsibility and the commitments that marriage 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:27.360 brings. Now having just experienced that myself, the wedding and our family, here's just a few pics 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:35.860 to remind you of our day. There they are. The loved up couple on their way. But the van scrubbed up 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:46.060 very well as well, as well as my son. That's great. Oh, isn't that just true love in there? Thanks very much. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:57.900 Oh, and just leave him. It was, as anyone will know, anyone who has actually gone through that process, 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:04.039 as you have, many people, and Nikki will be looking forward for that on Saturday as well. 00:04:04.980 --> 00:04:12.620 You think again, what can we say over people on their wedding day to encourage them, to empower them, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:20.360 to put God at the centre of their marriage? That moment, maybe this song was, I don't know when this 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:27.360 song was sung over them in this psalm. Maybe it was for their first dance. You know that cringey moment 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:34.740 where everybody gets in a big circle for the couple's first dance? And you know, it's their strictly 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:41.639 moment, except probably they hadn't done all the rehearsal. But it works. And people just stand around 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:47.399 lovingly clapping and smiling and sharing. But who was this wedding song actually for? We're not 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:53.899 really sure. It could have been for Ahab, Jehu. It suggests it was for Solomon, maybe Jeroboam. 00:04:54.659 --> 00:05:00.860 But again, no one really knows for sure. But what we know is that it was a song for a young king 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:08.639 and his beautiful, beautiful consort that was getting ready to be married. And we hear that through 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:15.099 this psalm of how beautiful it was. And these songs and psalms were recited over the couple 00:05:15.099 --> 00:05:24.579 to really encourage them and to encourage those that were listening to realise the importance of 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:31.199 that moment. It's lovely listening to the comments after, as I'm sure we all have after a wedding, 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:39.500 of hearing what people are saying in response to the wedding itself. How do you respond to that moment? 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:47.319 And this psalm is no different because it starts, my heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:55.060 these verses to the king. My tongue is a pen of a skilful writer. I mean, whoever wrote this clearly 00:05:55.060 --> 00:06:01.439 doesn't lack confidence and clearly doesn't lack humility either. They're really confident in what 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:08.240 they're writing. You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:14.800 since God has blessed you forever. I think this psalm is written by someone who is clearly out to 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:22.660 impress. And from this gushing enthusiasm that we're hearing from the writer, I think certainly 00:06:22.660 --> 00:06:30.000 he may be looking for the king to finance his writing career as well. It's, note the strong 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.760 reminders too in this psalm as we hear that, as you read it again this week, of the strong 00:06:35.760 --> 00:06:41.480 responsibilities that he's saying. You know, you are responsible. You are responsible not only to 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:49.020 your wife, but you're responsible before God because you are a leader. And just reminding him of this 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:54.180 moment as we do. You love righteousness. You hate wickedness. Therefore, God, your God has set you 00:06:54.180 --> 00:07:04.299 above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. And in these days when couples sort of 00:07:04.299 --> 00:07:12.939 pause after their wedding, if you've been there, for what can sometimes be quite a lengthy photographic 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:19.759 shoot? Have you been in that position? You're thinking, I think I'm ready for a drink now. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:29.240 But they go on and on and on. They didn't have a photographer, but that's what the psalmist does 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:37.879 is writes us this beautiful picture in words. And so we've got this, all your robes are fragrant with 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:45.659 myrrh and aloes and cassia from palaces adorned with ivory. The music of the strings makes you glad. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:55.100 Daughters of kings are among your honoured women. And at your right hand is the royal bride in gold 00:07:55.100 --> 00:08:04.620 and ophir. You see, it's a pretty grand affair. We get the picture from this, of this is a special 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:12.120 wedding. The bride is adorned in gold. There wasn't any old wedding outfit. This bride is beautiful 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:20.939 and she is stunning, as all brides are on their wedding day. And then comes the line which stopped 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:27.860 me in my tracks as I was thinking about this this morning. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:47.680 Honour him, for he is your Lord. Throughout scripture, there are references made to the church 00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:55.060 being the bride of Christ. In Revelation, it says, let us rejoice and be God and give him glory. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:09:03.679 For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:12.699 was given for her to wear. I can't tell you because you probably know how much energy goes into planning 00:09:12.699 --> 00:09:20.500 a wedding. How much prayer goes into that, into being prepared in ready for the great day. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:34.500 Pounds are shed. And also from parents' pockets. But again, we make ourselves ready and prepared. 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:44.019 And what I want to ask us as a church, at this moment in time, who is expectant of our bridegroom 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:49.939 arriving, and that tradition is that they didn't know the exact time when he was going to arrive, 00:09:49.939 --> 00:10:03.860 but he will, are we ready? Are we ready as a church? Are we ready as the bride of Christ? 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:14.139 You see, because so often, if someone were to write about us, his church, his bride, as they do so oftenly, 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:21.180 they do write about us, sometimes not very helpfully and not very kind. 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:33.199 But if they looked at us, what is it about our beauty that people should see? As us, the bride of Christ. 00:10:33.959 --> 00:10:36.959 You see, in 1 Peter 3, 3, 5, it says, 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:44.419 Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or beautiful clothes. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:49.599 You should clothe yourself instead with the beauty that comes from within. 00:10:51.099 --> 00:10:55.639 You should clothe yourselves with the beauty that comes from within. 00:10:55.979 --> 00:11:02.339 The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:05.819 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:09.860 They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:15.879 We accept that thing of God, that we want to be made beautiful for him. 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:19.700 That is our purpose as his church. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.240 It comes from within. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:27.480 And anyone who knows about getting married knows that it's as important as what's on the inside, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:31.220 as what's on the outside on your wedding day. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:39.100 The bride of Christ will be beautiful on the inside and on the out. 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:44.800 Which brings me back to my point of this moment in time. 00:11:45.800 --> 00:11:53.800 As we regather as a church, physically, and in many ways coming together again, 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:57.460 spiritually in many cases, where we've all been separated, 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.680 many people gathered with a shared faith mission and purpose. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:07.719 What would the writer of our song write about us when they look at us? 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:16.739 As people re-evaluate their lives, as people over these past months maybe have been prompted 00:12:16.739 --> 00:12:22.339 to find something new to return to a faith congregation, 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:25.059 what will they see in us? 00:12:25.699 --> 00:12:26.859 Will we be beautiful? 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:31.580 Not just on the outside, but beautiful on the inside as well. 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.820 Will they be drawn to us? 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:36.060 Will they speak well? 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:38.899 Will they see us speaking well of one another? 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.879 Will they see us in kind words as we speak? 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:48.720 Will they see us giving sound advice as we've heard in our psalm? 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:55.600 Will they see us as a community that exudes the love of a bride for her king, 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:02.420 that exhorts us to speak well of him as he does of her? 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.840 Are we beautiful on the inside as well as outside? 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:12.060 Do we display each and every one of us as a church, 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:18.059 the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God? 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:27.059 Does our bridegroom, does God look at us as so often our bridegrooms do on the day? 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:31.319 As they turn around, the tears flow and they go, 00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:34.179 wow, wow. 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:34.279 Wow. 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:41.600 I heard the words whispered, which moved me greatly. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:47.319 As often you do when you stand at the front and they arrive at the front, 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:50.720 bride and groom, and you hear those whispered words, 00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.319 you are beautiful. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:58.079 I pray that we hear those words of our Lord speaks to us 00:13:58.079 --> 00:14:00.919 and we reciprocate in that. 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:03.439 And people, as we take time out this summer 00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:06.679 and we focus on our regathering, 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.639 I pray that we would be prepared, 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.439 we would be ready, 00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:16.199 we would make ourselves beautiful on the inside and on the outside 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:18.459 and allow God to do that in us 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:24.939 so that our modern day psalmist will not only praise our King Jesus, 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:27.459 but he will also say of us, his bride, 00:14:28.099 --> 00:14:29.819 that we reflect that beauty too. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:32.920 Let the King be enthralled by your beauty. 00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:35.460 Honour him, 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.840 for he is your Lord 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.700 and is our Lord. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.740 Shall we pray together? 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:51.879 Father God, as we prepare for your coming again, 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:53.540 and we don't know when that is, 00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.940 may we be ready as your church. 00:14:56.940 --> 00:15:03.120 May we take a fresh look at ourselves and be ready. 00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:06.860 May those areas where we haven't been prepared, 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.340 would you prepare us afresh? 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:11.140 Would you prepare our hearts afresh 00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:13.360 as people join us 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.920 and see in us something of a beauty 00:15:16.920 --> 00:15:19.980 that they've been looking for for a long time? 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:22.580 And in doing that, 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.960 may they meet with you afresh, 00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:25.480 we pray. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.420 In Jesus' name. 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.200 Amen.