Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Justice Is Still On The Throne” – Sunday, 31 August 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 45:1-17

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Justice Is Still On The Throne” – Sunday, 31 August 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 45: A Wedding Song of the Sons of Korah
1 My heart bursts its banks,
    spilling beauty and goodness.
I pour it out in a poem to the king,
    shaping the river into words:
2-4 “You’re the handsomest of men;
    every word from your lips is sheer grace,
    and God has blessed you, blessed you so much.
Strap your sword to your side, warrior!
    Accept praise! Accept due honor!
    Ride majestically! Ride triumphantly!
Ride on the side of truth!
    Ride for the righteous meek!
4-5 “Your instructions are glow-in-the-dark;
    you shoot sharp arrows
Into enemy hearts; the king’s
    foes lie down in the dust, beaten.
6-7 “Your throne is God’s throne,
    ever and always;
The scepter of your royal rule
    measures right living.
You love the right
    and hate the wrong.
And that is why God, your very own God,
    poured fragrant oil on your head,
Marking you out as king
    from among your dear companions.
8-9 “Your ozone-drenched garments
    are fragrant with mountain breeze.
Chamber music—from the throne room—
    makes you want to dance.
Kings’ daughters are maids in your court,
    the Bride glittering with golden jewelry.
10-12 “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word:
    forget your country, put your home behind you.
Be here—the king is wild for you.
    Since he’s your lord, adore him.
Wedding gifts pour in from Tyre;
    rich guests shower you with presents.”
13-15 (Her wedding dress is dazzling,
    lined with gold by the weavers;
All her dresses and robes
    are woven with gold.
She is led to the king,
    followed by her virgin companions.
A procession of joy and laughter!
    a grand entrance to the king’s palace!)
16-17 “Set your mind now on sons—
    don’t dote on father and grandfather.
You’ll set your sons up as princes
    all over the earth.
I’ll make you famous for generations;
    you’ll be the talk of the town
    for a long, long time.”
“Justice Is Still On The Throne” by Patricia Kissell
Psalm 45 is one of the 11 psalms attributed to the Sons of Korah. It is a celebration of the royal marriage of an unidentified Hebrew king to a foreign princess. This song was included in the Psalter in order to depict the human marriage relationship as an allegory of the covenant relationship between God and His people. This psalm was written to the bridegroom and enumerates God’s blessings on him.
Verses 6 and 7 state that the king’s devotion to righteousness has been rewarded by a divine act of exaltation which has left him without equal.* These same verses are found in Hebrews 1:8 and 9, and are prophetic of Christ.
The scepter of justice (fairness and equity) is the modus operandi and rules right living. Righteousness is loved and wickedness is hated.
We are looking for justice when we hear about heinous crimes. We want something to be done to the perpetrators; we want them to pay for their crimes. We want answers to why these evils occur.
Dear God, we need to be reminded that Your scepter is justice. We just don’t always see it.

* D. Guthrie and J. A. Motyer, The New Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, revised Eerdmans, 1978), 480.

Hymn for Today:

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" by William Williams, translated by William Williams and Peter Williams
1. Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
2. Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.
3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you. 

Thought for Today:

“God’s business is putting things right;
    he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall,
    we can look him straight in the eye.”(Psalm 11:7).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Barbados will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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