PSALM 45

Time with Jesus - Friday, 02 November 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is on Psalm 45. Actually, it’s something of a tribute to the Psalm and is a little of what it means to Phyllida and me. The entire psalm has been put into my style of poetry.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 02 November 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	PSALM 45
The significance of Psalm 45 in the life of Jim and Phyllida is just about impossible to recount in the small space we have here. Nevertheless! About a year before we met, the Lord told her He was preparing a husband for her. He said she would find a description of him in Psalm 45. It was an extraordinary statement because this is a prophetic Royal Wedding Psalm. Written initially for the wedding of one of the kings of Judah, it’s now considered as prophetic of the wedding of Jesus and His bride. Nevertheless, Phyllida went through the Psalm and compiled a 10 point list descriptive of her “husband”. In February 1981 I realised my marriage was collapsing. So I made a recommitment to the Lord after some 17years. That day I started reading a daily devotional I was given in Canada in 1973. The Scripture for the day was: 8 But to the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a sceptre of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, Your God has anointed You, pouring out the oil of joy on You more than on anyone else." Heb. 1:8-9 NLT I did not realise then it is a quotation from Ps 45:6-7. Thus even before I met Phyllida we were linked in some incredible way. What that was, only became apparent months later. That day, I began writing poetry. It helped during the pending divorce. Now poetry to most people is as welcome as pork in a synagogue. But here I was churning out my verse and had no one to share it with. I had to find someone. Who would listen to my poetry? Good question. At the same time, Christian friends in Eskom told me to find a church to go to. That church was Bryanston Baptist Fellowship (BBF). On my first visit, the pastor taught on “Filling with the Holy Spirit” After the service he asked several people to pray with me to be filled. They did. One of the women laid hands on me and it happened. That woman was Phyllida! It wasn’t significant then. Then I joined BBF and started to meet a number of the members. Phyllida was one of them. We found we had much in common. She was also one of the very few who would listen to my poetry. Phyllida shared with me the Lord had told her He was raising up a husband for her. Shortly thereafter, He told her she had met the man. Who he was remained a mystery. One day, while she was alone, she went to her list from Psalm 45. Unbeknown to me she looked at me and ticked of her entire list! She said nothing. She was waiting for me for the “penny to drop”. She had also mentioned Psalm 45 to me. Not her points, only the Psalm. It then occurred to me to go back and look at Heb. 1:8-9. The “penny dropped” almost immediately. It also confirmed a number of Scriptures I’d received concerning Phyllida. That’s when I decided to “take the plunge”. After lecturing at Jo’burg Tech one night I went to see her. It was about 20h30. We sat in her lounge. Then I said, “I believe the Lord is putting us together!” She got up from her chair, crossed the room; sat down on the floor next to me. She looked up and said, “What next?” We married on 12th Dec 1981. For us it was miraculous. So many other incidents could be mentioned. What I’ve written here is only the bare bones. But we have been together for 31 years now. Perhaps this explains why Psalm 45 is so special for us. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			6 For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NLT 2 You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever. 3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! 4 In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies. The nations fall beneath your feet. 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a sceptre of justice. Psalms 45:2-6 NLT 19 Once in a vision you said to your faithful ones: "I set a boy above warriors. I have raised up one chosen from the people. Psalms 89:19 GW 7 "My sword, wake up! Attack my shepherd! Attack the man who is close to me," announces the LORD who rules over all. "Strike the shepherd down. Then the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand against their little ones. Zechariah 13:7 NIrV 2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2 ESV 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 ESV	1.        My heart is stirred within me by a high and noble theme As I compose my verses for my King and for His Queen And while I’m contemplating about what I should write My tongue is in a chorus of ecstatic pure delight. 2.        Master I acknowledge You, “Most Excellent of men” Your lips have been anointed with grace beyond my ken. And God has poured His blessing on you abundantly, And given the assurance, it will last eternally! 3.        Gird up Your sword O Mighty One and strap it to your side. Clothe Yourself with splendour and stateliness and ride; 4.        In majesty and victory; for truth and righteousness; Your right arm will display Your deeds in humble awesomeness! 5.        Your sharpened royal arrows pierce the hearts of all Your foes. The nations fall before You; they tremble at your toes. 6.        Your throne will last forever; for Lord, You cannot die. The sceptre of Your justice; Your Kingdom’s rule will spy. 7.        For Lord, You love all righteousness; It’s wickedness You hate. And You have been exalted by God, into the state, Where even Your companions, see Joy upon Your face. For You have been anointed beyond all time and space. 8.        Your robes all bear the fragrance of cassia and myrrh; Your palace decked with Ivory; Stringed music You prefer. 9.        Among Your honoured women are the daughters of the kings. Your royal bride beside You, adorned with gold & rings. 10.     Listen, precious daughter; think of what you hear Forget your former family and home you held so dear. 11.     The King has been enraptured; by your beauty overawed, Honour Him as Master, as Husband and your Lord! Gifts are lavished on you from nations strong and weak. 12.     The King of Tyre’s included; your favour now they seek. You’re taken to your chamber, your glory to unfold. 13.     Your gown is interwoven with threads of purest gold. 14.     In rich embroidered garments, you are taken to the King. Your bridesmaids follow after you; but you are whom they bring! 15.     You’re led with joy and gladness, into your Husband’s room. Within that royal palace, you’re presented to your Groom! 16.     Your sons will all be honoured; they’re in the Kingly line. They are all Royal Princes – each one of them is thine! None will be forgotten. God will perpetuate, Throughout the generations the details of their fate. 17.     The nations will all praise You and magnify Your Name And they will all appreciate the reason why You came Jim Strickland Written 18th September 2005