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
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Friday, 02 November 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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PSALM
45
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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
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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
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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 |
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