The see-saw

Within the book of Psalms there is a certain sub-series of seven Psalms. They are the first seven Psalms of 'Book II' of the Psalms, or Psalms 42 to 48.

The first three Psalms weigh the one side of the see-saw. The Psalmist is in trouble, defeated, feeling abandoned, and thinks God has rejected him. He cries out to God. He cries out to his own soul, pleading with himself not to be downcast.
He cries out for God to lead him to Jerusalem, the city of safety.

Psalm 44 ends with the Psalmist desperately asking God to rouse Himself, even daring to ask God to stop sleeping.

Something happened in Psalm 45, because Psalms 46 to 48 are full of the Psalmist's shouts of praise and victory.

The last three Psalms (46 to 48) - the other side of the see-saw - detail God having 'roused' Himself and 'woken up'. Enemies are destroyed, God is on the move, and nations are subjected to God. The Psalmist finds himself in Jerusalem and feels safe and victorious.

What was it in Psalm 45 that brought about the change?

The answer is that the Psalmist sees a spectacular and magnificent King 'girding His sword' and preparing for battle and then routing His foes. It is an awesome sight. The writer is stirred and awed.

But more than that, the writer sees this victorious warrior King getting married. It is a strange combination of scenes! The King appears to be both in battle and getting a bride!

The moral of the story is this: Jesus is a king who is triumphant and is looking for a bride! His bride is His church. When the Christian sees Jesus as a victorious king who pursues His church with romantic force, the Christian is converted from back-footed doubting to front-footed jubilation.

Who will join with me in the hot pursuit of Jesus' Bride? Who will ally himself with me in the greatest Love Story of all time?


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