And so, we come to the finale of this Royal Wedding Psalm. The theme in these last verses is fitting as this particular day (8th March 2019) is actually International Women’s Day. And this section of the psalm celebrates the king’s bride to be, who is described in glowing terms. It is said of her, All glorious is the princess.
The psalmist writes;
10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honour him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,
people of wealth will seek your favour.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all
generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and
ever.
This psalm depicts a fundamental
element when a couple are married, whether they are of royal blood or not. And
that is found in verse 10: Listen,
daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
We see here a new beginning which involves a change of role and a change in
relationships. The one who was a daughter leaves her family to become a wife.
Of course, she remains a daughter but her primary concern now is towards her
husband. Old loyalties change and new loyalties must develop, if the marriage
is to be a healthy one.
In fact, this verse “is an important counterpart to Genesis 2:24.
[That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.]
Which stressed the husband’s corresponding break with his former house, to give himself to his bride.” (Kidner)
Everyone enjoys a wedding, and over the last decade, much has been made of royal weddings. It is something worth celebrating! And in this psalm we see that same enthusiasm for this great day and the special couple:
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty…
12 The city of Tyre will come with a
gift,
people of wealth will seek your favour.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
It is meant to be a truly unforgettable day for everyone involved. Certainly, our wedding day was and I trust you also have the same happy memories if you are married.
But, as is so often the case with the psalms, there is much more to understand when we read the NT. Kidner writes concerning the words that the bride is “led to the king (verse 14) in her finest attire while he awaits her in full state, [that it] is no superfluous formality: it is the acted equivalent of Paul’s phrase ‘to present you [believers] as a pure bride to her one husband [Christ] ’ (2 Cor.11:2), and brings out the emphasis of the first wedding, in which God ’brought’ the woman to the man, and of the last, in which the church comes ‘prepared’ as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:1-5)” (# 29)
What a glorious day it will be for us as God’s people to be led in with joy and gladness into the presence of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. On that day we will hear a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)
“Amen, come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Rev.22:20-21)
Tehilim (Psalms) - "songs of praise". 