Ep.116: You Will Have Trouble.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John chapters 14, 15, and 16, Jesus made long speeches on random topics with lots of repetition. He predicted events but didn’t give a timeline. He said, “I’m going away. You can’t come. I’ll send an advocate. In a little while you won’t see me, and then in a little while you will see me.”

The confused disciples asked (in John 16), “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s saying” (vv. 17-18). I have the same problem: I often don’t understand Jesus.

Instead of interpreting Jesus’ speech in John 16, I’ll just make a few observations:

First, it’s a fool’s errand to improve Jesus’ message by giving it an outline, putting his predictions in chronological order, and deleting his repetitions. Charles Neider took that approach with Mark Twain’s autobiography, quite successfully I think, but it’s not a job I’m competent to do, especially with things Jesus said.

Second, I can’t explain Jesus’ words in a way that will give you “A ha!” moment making you feel, “Now at last I understand it.” For that, you need my Study Bible for Curmudgeonly Seniors. Unfortunately, I haven’t written it yet. I hope you don’t mind waiting.

Another observation on John 16: Jesus describes two departures, not just one.

First, he’ll go away for a little while. That’s when he is crucified and buried. It would have been much clearer if he had said, “Tomorrow is my crucifixion day. It will make you sad. But wait a little while, because Sunday is my resurrection day. That will make you glad.”

Jesus’ second departure would be when he returned to heaven, only a couple months after the Last Supper. And he promised that when he went away that time, he would return in the person of his invisible advocate–the Holy Spirit–who would live in his disciples. That too would make them glad.

My final observation is that Jesus promises to give many gifts to his disciples. One was the Spirit of truth (v. 12). We desperately need that gift today! Why? Because we struggle with many truths: the objective truth of science, the self-evident truth of nature, our intuitive sense of truth about people’s desires and motivations, the carefully interpreted truth we find in the Bible. We need the Spirit of truth to guide us to Jesus, who is himself the truth.

Jesus also gave the gift of prayer when he said, “My father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (v. 23). Prayer doesn’t work that way for me. I don’t get whatever I ask. But I’m with the disciples on this. I’m on the journey with Jesus. Somewhere, somehow, the promise is for me.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, John 16 closes with your statement “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (v. 33). You had trouble in this world, Jesus. You died a martyr, and you invite us to come and die. We experience the trouble you promised: trouble in our minds and hearts and emotions, trouble in our relationships, trouble finding our way in the world. And we hear your promise of more trouble ahead.

But we believe you have overcome the world. Conquer the world in which we live, and conquer the world within us, Jesus. Live inside us by the advocate you send, correct our thinking by the Spirit of truth, teach to us ask the Father for whatever we want in your name, and bring us to that place you promised where no one can take away our joy.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.115: Psalm 49: Death will be their Shepherd.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

As a wisdom poem, Psalm 49 reminds us that wealth can not protect us from the disaster of death.

The first point the poet makes is that we are all held hostage by death. He says,
No one can redeem the life of another
     or give God a ransom for their life –
the ransom for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough –
that they should live on forever
    and not see decay.
You see that the wise die,
     that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
     leaving their wealth to others. (vv 8-10)

Death holds a gun to our head, the long fingers of Sheol grab at us from the grave. Rich and poor, foolish and wise, all will decay and become food for worms.

Is this cause for despair? Does this mean our lives are wasted? The poet says, “No”, and suggests a different way to look at death. He says,
Here is the fate of those who trust in themselves,. . .
They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd. . .
But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself (vv. 13-15).

If you trust in yourself, death will be your shepherd. If you trust in God, he will shepherd you and redeem you from the realm of the dead and take you to himself.

Let’s pray.

Our father, what a shocking view of life. Is life really just a parade to the grave? When my mother turned 90, she told me that her social life was mostly attending funerals. When she moved and I cleared out her room, I found a large collection of funeral bulletins with pictures and eulogies to people she knew and loved. But in the end she let all her friends go, and then she joined them.

As the poet says,
Despite their wealth, people do not endure,
They are like the beasts that perish (v. 12).

Are we like beasts before you, O God? Help us not to live as beasts, acting out our appetites for food and sleep and sex. Raise us up to be humans made in your image. Our life is short and temporary. Help us not to be slaves to our culture of things–filling our closets with clothes, our garages with vehicles, our lives with technology, and our safe deposit boxes with jewelry. Show us the futility of our efforts. Show us the danger that death will be our shepherd.

Jesus, we want you as our shepherd. Guide us through this world of stuff. Show us the true wealth of living in your care. And when death comes to call, may we hear your voice. Redeem us from the realm of the dead and take us to be with you.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.114: Grapevine and Branches.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John 15, Jesus told the disciples to abide in him, to remain in him. He explained this with a word picture, in which God is a gardener, Jesus is a grapevine in God’s garden, and the disciples are branches growing out of the vine.

The branches have two choices: stay connected to the vine so life will flow into them and they will produce grapes. Or disconnect from the vine, in which case they will fall off, dry up, and be burned as rubbish.

I have never connected strongly with Christ’s gardening metaphor. I don’t think of myself as a branch waving in the wind trying to produce grapes. I’m more on the consumer end of the food chain–I like grapes that have turned into wine, beside a small plate of appetizers and a good book.

In God’s garden, the branch is permanently and organically connected to the vine. Jesus wants his disciples to have a similar relationship to him. Here are two things I notice about this relationship.

First, unlike the branch and the vine, our connection to Christ is invisible. We don’t see him, we don’t see the Spirit he sends as advocate, and we don’t see a joint where our branch grows out of his vine. Remaining in him is an invisible process.

Many people say about world religions, “They’re all basically the same because they all say ‘Do to others as you want others to do to you’.” But that’s not what Jesus says in John 15. He does not tell us we need a visible standard of moral behaviour. He says we need an invisible connection to him so his life can flow into our life and produce fruit. He tells us to remain in him, to sustain the connection, to persevere in our relationship. Fruitfulness is not the goal, it is a byproduct of the relationship.

A second way in which the garden picture can play out is if the vine and the branch terminate their relationship and go separate ways. A branch disconnected from the vine will die. If we disconnect from Jesus, we lose the flow of his life him into us that makes it possible for us to bear fruit and behave well.

Author Larry Crabb in his book, “Inside Out” (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2013) says the only way to achieve true and lasting change is to change on the inside first. Jesus wants to do an inside job on us, to connect us to himself in a way that changes our inner motivation, our thinking, our heart.

Notice, however, that Jesus doesn’t avoid the topic of moral responsibility. He goes on to say, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Does it sound like he is promoting love as the means by which we remain in him? Or is love the fruit of remaining in him? Jesus doesn’t give us a scientific formula to explain this. Nor does he give instructions on how to manage our relationship in a way that guarantees the fruit of love. Jesus just makes two simple suggestions: abide in him and love one another.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, we have often set out to love our neighbor–perhaps our spouse or children or colleagues or others. But our good intentions founder on the rocks of our selfishness, our hurts, our likes and dislikes. We seem to be conditioned against long term, faithful love for these fallible and wayward humans around us. How quickly our grand plans reduce to “Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you.” Is this a golden rule? Don’t be a jerk. Don’t promote evil against others. Maintain a nice, negative morality that requires only a grudging willingness to behave moderately well, that doesn’t aspire to love.

Jesus, we need to be changed on the inside. We need a new capacity to become lovers–lovers of God and others. We need a new source of strength to enable us. We need an abiding connection to you, so your life will flow into us and bear fruit.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.113: Psalm 48: The Place Where God Meets Us.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

The last verse of Psalm 48 is one of my personal favorites. It reads,
This God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end (v. 14).

What a wonderful relationship, “God is our God.” He is not an impersonal God in a cold universe, who abandons us to time and chance. He is a God who is close, he is our forever God. Kingdoms fall and worlds explode, but our God watches over us.

“He will be our guide even to the end.” What a wonderful view of our journey through life. God knows his way around the universe. He will be our outfitter and guide and companion and for all of our journey.

How does the poet arrive at this glorious conclusion? Psalm 48 takes us there in three movements.

The first tells us that God’s presence makes Jerusalem a city of safety and joy. The second movement describes the kings of the earth who assembled to conquer Jerusalem–but instead of attacking, they marvelled at the defences, they were immobilized with fear, they felt pain like a woman in childbirth, and they ran away. Such is the impact of God’s presence on his enemies. The third movement in the psalm celebrates God’s covenant with Israel, which makes the city a place of loving kindness, righteousness, and joy.

Let’s pray.

Lord, the poet experienced deep confidence in your presence in Jerusalem, the city of the great king, and in the temple, where he meditated on your great love. But my city and my church do not produce the same deep feelings in me. My church’s 1950’s architecture, its troublesome sound system, the fading blue carpet, the hard wooden pews make me feel time-bound and insignificant. During the sermon, I look out the windows–thankfully my church has windows–and I welcome your presence in the falling snow in winter or the flower beds in summer.

But some Sundays you meet me there. Sometimes as music plays, I lift my hands and lose my anxious heart in your kind heart. Sometimes the sermon brings a word of truth and hope and confidence. Sometimes when I confess that, “I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed”, your forgiveness washes over me. Sometimes when I kneel at the rail and taste the bread and sip the wine, I feel your welcoming presence.

Lord, we know that the city of Jerusalem failed. The glory which entered the temple at Solomon’s dedication departed in Ezekiel’s vision. That temple was destroyed by Babylon, the temple built to replace it was destroyed by Rome. But Jerusalem reminds us forever that place is important in our religion. You meet us, God, not only in our hearts, but in the crossroads of life, in the places where people live and worship and do business. You were present in the fortified Jerusalem that the poet celebrated. You were present on the roads of Palestine where Jesus walked. You were present in the Roman empire where Paul travelled and was imprisoned. You are present in our cities and our churches. With the hymn writer we say,
Where cross the crowded ways of life,…
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.

You are present in the universe, God, in the world, in our hearts. Wherever two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name, you are there. Wherever we look up from our labor, our meals, our video games or our rest, you are a welcoming and protecting presence.

With the poet we say,
You God are our God forever and ever.
You will be our guide even to the end.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.112: Job Description for Jesus’ Replacement.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

The second half of John 14 is dominated by news of Jesus’ soon departure and his promise to send the Holy Spirit as an invisible replacement. The disciples found this confusing–they didn’t understand why Jesus was leaving or where he was going or how his replacement would work. In fact, after 2000 years of Bible study and church history, many of Jesus’ disciples are still confused.

Today, let’s focus on the job description Jesus gave his replacement. In John 14, Jesus said, “The Father will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-18).

The job title Jesus assigned his replacement was “paraclete”, which means an advocate, someone who presents your case in court. Today, Jesus might say, “I’ll send a lawyer to help you.” A lawyer? Really? What do you think Jesus meant? Do you need a lawyer to help you with your spiritual life?

First, Jesus said he will send another advocate, someone like himself. One of the most striking things Jesus did for his disciples was advocate for them against the judgmental religious establishment. Jesus knew and understood Old Testament law, he helped the disciples understand scripture without getting tied up in technicalities or being condemned by rigid application of the rules. He promised that his replacement would continue this work, advocating for them instead of using the law to condemn them. When we modern disciples feel condemned by God or scripture or church or family, we need the services of this advocate.

Jesus qualified the job title “lawyer” in another way. He said the advocate will help them and be with them forever. When I think of a lawyer, I want someone who will pin my enemies to the wall and get the charges against me dropped. Jesus’ didn’t adopt my narrow and self centered job description. He sends a friend and companion and helper to guide our thinking and decisions, not just a high powered defense lawyer to get us off the hook.

Jesus also describes his replacement as the “Spirit of truth” (v. 18). A lawyer’s job is not to reveal the truth. Their job is to represent the client and present evidence and argument in court. The prosecution presents evidence and argument for guilt, the defence offers arguments for “not guilty”. The legal counsel or advocate Jesus will send is different. As the Spirit of truth, he knows and exposes the truth of my innocence or guilt, but he also advocates before God for my forgiveness.

Let’s pray.

Our father, this person Jesus sends has a complex job description. We receive him in all his roles.

We receive him as the Spirit of truth, who knows and exposes our secret addictions and obsessions and jealousies and fears. And who also knows our heart to love you and serve you.

We receive him as advocate, who serves us and washes our sin-dirty feet and presents our case to you, asking you to forgive us.

We receive him as lawyer, who specializes in your law. He will help us find in scripture not just the unreachable standard of righteousness, but a way to follow Jesus into a life of holiness and love.

We receive him as helper and friend, as one who lives within us, sharing our deep secrets, comforting our deep hurts, inviting us to a deeper love of God and people.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.111: Psalm 47: God the Great King.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

I’ve occasionally heard preachers complain that people get more excited at a hockey or football game than they do about God and church and salvation. That’s me. I like a good football game where my team takes it on the nose and hits the dirt and stays in the cellar where they belong, a game where strategy and raw strength and luck bring a win-lose outcome while I munch potato chips. God’s reign as king and his plan to overcome evil is exciting in principle, but I don’t expect any shout-worthy action before I finish my chips. When we look around, it’s not evident that God is King–because evil seems ever-successful and unconquerable. God’s action on the field often seems weak and uninspired.

In contrast to my reticence to cheer loudly in God’s game, Psalm 47 offers a robust celebration of his kingship:
Clap your hands, all you nations,
Shout to God with cries of joy,
For the Lord most High is awesome,
A great king over all the earth (vv. 1-2).

Some scholars suggest that ancient Israel staged a yearly temple celebration to reenact God ascending to his throne and taking up the kingship of the earth. This would have been accompanied by the shouts and cheers and trumpets and songs described in the psalm, as the people paraded up to the temple and celebrated God’s sovereignty. A modern equivalent might be a Christmas pageant that reenacts Christ’s birth.

Let’s pray.

O God, with Psalm 47, we celebrate you as king of the earth.

You created this glorious and beautiful and dangerous universe in which we live. You did not make us a temporary and meaningless life form in a cold, impersonal world. You made us in your image, you loved us, you appointed us stewards of a planet that supplies our food and recreation and beauty and community.

When the human race abandoned your ways, you raised up the nation of Israel to showcase the goodness of a society where you were king, a society based on your laws, dependent on your lovingkindness, implementing your justice and freedom for all.

When Israel went astray, you sent them a hard and bitter exile, and then you sent the prophet Jesus to point all people back to you.

In our time, your reign is hidden. No nation showcases your rule; the church which professes your kingship is divided and weak. Two billion people call themselves Christians. We have doubts about many of them, but as Paul said, “What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Phil. 1:17-18).

We rejoice with Paul as the world Christian community serves your kingdom–celebrating communion, feeding the hungry, opposing injustice, speaking truth to power, and preaching Christ’s name.
We rejoice with the poet that:
    You reign over the nations.
    The kings of the earth belong to you,
        You are greatly exalted (vv. 8-9).

Donald Trump, Vladmir Putin, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi–all are your subjects. You hold them on a leash, you monitor their coming and going, their living and dying. With Handel’s “Messiah” we sing,
The kingdoms of this world
have become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ,
and he will reign forever and ever.
Hallelujah.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.110: Way, Truth, and Life.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John 13, after Judas left the Last Supper to betray Jesus, Jesus made two pointed statements: First he said, “I am going away, to a place where you cannot come” (John 13:33) and then he said, “I give you a new command: love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

Which statement do you think Peter wanted to discuss? How he could love his brothers better? Or where Jesus was going that Peter wasn’t invited? Peter said to Jesus, “I’m your disciple. You can’t go places I won’t follow. I’ll go anywhere with you even if I die doing it.” But Jesus said, “Really? I think by tomorrow morning you will say you don’t even know me.”

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “I’m going away to prepare a place for you. You know where I am going and how to get there.” Thomas said, “Hold it, we don’t know where you’re going and we don’t know the way to get there.”

Jesus replied, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

What did Jesus mean,“I am the way, the truth and the life?” Did he mean that the truth is available in the scriptures? Did he locate truth in Paul’s doctrinal statements in the New Testament? Or did he really mean he was the way and the truth and the life?

Jesus’ statement addresses three problems the disciples had. We modern followers share these problems. Let’s look at them.

The first problem is this: Peter was confident he had the commitment and courage to follow Jesus anywhere, any time, into whatever lay ahead. Peter’s path, his way was to go where Jesus was planning to go. Our modern version of the way is to read the New Testament and do what it tells us to do. But at the last supper, Jesus didn’t say to Peter, “Follow me.” He said, “I am the way.” It was not enough for Peter to trace Jesus’ footsteps. It is not enough for us just to do what we’re told. If Jesus himself is the way, we need to participate in him, not just obey his commands.

Second, Thomas wanted a clear statement of the truth. Just like today we want the right interpretation of scripture and the right doctrinal statement. But Jesus said, “I am the truth.” What Jesus offered Thomas was not an infallible book or a carefully constructed belief system. The truth Jesus offered is himself. He is the truth. To learn the truth, we need to share in Jesus’ life, not just agree with statements he or others made.

Third, the disciples wanted life. Peter said he was prepared even to sacrifice his life to follow Jesus, perhaps hoping for a gift of resurrection like Lazarus recently received. But what Jesus offered him was not a concrete and external gift of something called “life”. Instead, Jesus invited the disciples as he invites us to find life by sharing his life. “I am the life,” he said. “It’s me you’re looking for.”

Let’s pray.

Jesus, it is a mystery how you can be the way and the truth and the life for us today. For the way, want a clear map, like Google provides. For the truth, we want a rational and systematic statement of what to believe. For the life we live, we want success and comfort.

Jesus, we give up our view of how the way and the truth and the life should work. We come instead to you. Share yourself with us, until you are our only truth, our only way, and all our life.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.109: Psalm 46: Refuge.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Many years ago when I was experiencing severe depression, I memorized Psalm 46. One day, I was overwhelmed, full of fear and anxiety and darkness and despair, so I went for a walk and recited the psalm.

God is our refuge and strength
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear
though the earth give way,
and the mountains fall into the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging (vv. 1-3).

The poet’s picture of chaos mirrored my life: a rising storm, an earthquake, a threatening tsunami, and waves of the sea pounding the rubble of my life.

But when I looked at the noonday sun, everything was quiet and peaceful, the air fresh and energizing. I stood in surprise, as Psalm 46 gave me its best gift, telling me that my dark feelings were a lie. Life was not hopeless and meaningless and black. God was present, making the sun shine, the sky blue, the grass green. At creation he overcame chaos to create world, and he still holds the universe in his loving hands. Perhaps he would hold me in his hands. Perhaps he would be my refuge and my strength, a very present help in trouble (v. 1).

After describing the depths of chaos, Psalm 46 says,
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy place where the most high dwells.
God is in the midst of her,
She will not be moved (vv. 4-5).

A light went on for me: God wanted to create that stream of gladness in my life. He wanted to shine his light in my dark corners. He wanted to shine a ray of hope into my despair with. He wanted to give me a vision of life bigger and more beautiful than the depression I felt.

Let’s pray.

God, when the forces of chaos threaten us, when the foundations of our world crumble, when the floods overwhelm us and all seems lost, we ask you to be our refuge and strength. In the 9-11 crisis of our lives, strewn with wreckage from political and social and personal disasters, help us hear your voice over the storm. No waters of chaos can sweep us away; no darkness of disaster can dam your river of gladness. “You are in the midst of us, we will not be moved. You will help us when morning dawns” (v. 5).

We live in the world Psalm 46 describes:
Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall,
you lift your voice, the earth melts (v. 6).

Lord, lift your voice above the uproar of nations, above the tumult of waters, above the call of despair.
Make wars cease
to the ends of the earth (v. 9).
Break the fighter planes,
sink the destroyers,
burn the missiles with fire.

O Lord, you say,
Be still and know that I am God (v. 10).

We rest from the chaos in the news, from the chaos of the changing climate, from the chaos of our own hearts. You are lord over the raging nations. You are lord over the blustering politicians. You are Lord over the military-industrial complex. You are Lord over the sickness and violence of our world.

We calm our hearts.
We release our fear.
We breathe in your spirit.
We receive your presence.
The refuge and strength you give is more real than all the world’s sound and fury.

The Lord Almighty is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.108: Judas’ Point of View.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John 13, Judas left the last supper early to betray Jesus. Today we look at Judas’ point of view.

As chief accountant for the disciples, he managed the generous money gifts Jesus attracted, and he was aware of Jesus meagre living expenses. As a disciple of Jesus, I Judas probably felt that an occasional contribution from the common purse to his own ministry and personal expenses was reasonable. Some people, like John who wrote the gospel, took a narrow view of this and called it stealing. But Judas was a practical man, and in the air of super-spirituality that was consuming Jesus and the disciples he was the only one who had the foresight to think about things like salaries and pensions.

Perhaps Judas saw more clearly than the other disciples when things began to go sideways. Jesus had damaged his own cause by offending the whole Jewish political and religious establishment, and he wasn’t interested in doing damage control or in improving his public relations skills. He just kept thumbing his nose at the leaders, doing healings on the Sabbath and parading into Jerusalem. Life with Jesus was becoming a walking disaster. Judas didn’t want to walk into disaster. A bit of planning and management was in order.

Judas also had a lot of respect for Jesus’ skill. Jesus was an amazing miracle-worker, and he had other strange powers, like the time he just walked away from that crowd that was trying to push him over a cliff. So if the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, surely he would just walk away again. In fact, Judas rather liked the irony of his plan: he would take a bit of money to betray Jesus, and then watch Jesus walk away from the betrayal. And Judas would walk away from Jesus. It was too bad that Jesus didn’t offer the disciples a separation package if they quit, but Judas worked around that. He got the Pharisees to fund his package with 30 pieces of silver.

I wonder if the Last Supper was the last straw for Judas. Jesus stooping to wash the disciples dirty feet? Silly thing to do, acting like a servant. That’s not the ministry Judas signed up for. And that bit where Jesus called the wine his blood and the bread his body? Judas was ok with a feast, but this was getting a bit weird.

John describes what Judas did: “As soon as he had taken the bread he went out. And it was night.” Yes, it was night. Judas went into the night to betray Jesus. Soon Jesus would go into the night and begin his journey to the cross. The disciples would go into a night of fear and disillusionment and denial. In a few years, Jerusalem and the temple would go into a night of Roman destruction and spiritual darkness.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, the world in our time is headed into night. Can we avoid it by going off the grid, as Judas wanted to do? Or should we follow you into the night? Will your body be bread for us? Will your blood be our drink? Is faithfulness to you and to your community of disciples a higher value than survival and escape? Jesus, in the night it seemed you threw away your life. We are not yet willing to throw ours away. Help us not to join Judas in choosing a separation package and Plan B. Help us to follow you into whatever night is coming and to wait with you for the dawn.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Ep.107: Psalm 45: Royal Wedding.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Psalm 45 brings an interesting change of pace to the psalms. It’s not another poem about enemies or depression or God’s failure to help. It’s a joyful wedding song!

The king is the groom, and the psalm uses God-language to describe him. Listen as the psalm celebrates the king:
Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
Clothe yourself with splendour and majesty (v. 3).
Let your sharp arrows piece the hearts of the king’s enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever;
a sceptre of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
Because you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy (vv. 5-7).

Did you hear that? “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Is this king, clothed with splendor and majesty, ruling over the nations, a divine king? Is he a God-man? Some translators avoid this implication by rendering it, “Your throne of God” or “from God” (Alter, Robert. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2007), emphasizing the king’s role as a representative of God. The New International Version I use has a footnote to explain that the poet doesn’t really mean it the way it comes out sounding. The author of Hebrews quotes this passage as a reference to Jesus, the Son of God (Heb 1:8-9).

I can only say that, compared with the Psalms, we are far too reserved and far too technically correct in the praise we give. The Israelites had a great advantage, viewing the king as God’s representative and God’s gift to the nation. A majestic and powerful and wise king gave hope and the promise of security and a vision of God’s love and justice to the people.

About the bride, the poet sings:
All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
he virgin companions follow her. . .
Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land (vv. 13-16).

This reminds me of the wedding ceremony for Princess Diana and Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. It was a storybook wedding with a handsome prince and a beautiful princess. The United Kingdom declared a bank holiday, and 750 million people watched the wedding vows on television. More recently, the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle also had a large television audience. Our modern world still loves a well-staged royal wedding that lifts us from our lives of drudgery and pain to a vision of romance and beauty.

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us not sink into cynicism and despair about the politics and marriages of our time. At its best, a strong king and a royal wedding remind us of our ideals. They remind us that you govern the world through your representatives, and they remind us of the hope and beauty in a union between man and woman.

And we understand, as the poet did, that disaster is not far when kings and rulers become arrogant and corrupt, and when marriages, even among royalty, sink into dysfunction and infidelity.

Protect our governments, Lord, protect our marriages. And bring us at last to the marriage supper of the Lamb, to that grand and joyful ceremony where you will establish good government and faithful relationships forever.

Amen.

I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.