Well, we want to look at Psalm 45, and Psalm 45 is a love song. I want to ask you this: do you love God? I mean, do you really love God? Has that love captured your heart in a way that means it shapes your life? Could you write a love song to the Lord? Could you? How would you do that? What words would you use to express your love to the Lord? What qualities would you emphasize?
It's important to say, as we look at Psalm 45, that the First Great Command is to "Love the Lord with all your heart, and your soul, and your strength." That means your whole being. Do you?
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
(I love that)
You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Now, this is a Psalm with a double application. When you begin to read it, it looks like it's a love song to an earthly king, and that may well have been. But there are places where you know it's talking about the Lord. For example, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness."
It's interesting that what Hebrews does, is Hebrews applies this Psalm to Jesus. The writer of Hebrews said, "Uh, wait a minute, Psalm 45 is a love song to Jesus." Jesus has grace poured on his lips. John says, "From him, we have received grace upon grace." Jesus is blessed forever. Remember, at his baptism, God says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." We hear that again at his transfiguration. "Jesus is mighty in splendor and majesty, now seated at the right hand of the Father in royal splendor."
The throne of Jesus is forever and ever, and we will someday reign with him. Jesus is God's Anointed One, the Messiah; on his shoulders is the hope of humanity. Jesus is worthy of your worship. There will be a day when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. It is the name of Jesus that will be remembered forever and ever. A billion years into eternity, we will still be singing songs of praise to Jesus-pretty amazing!
All nations will praise Jesus. I love the scenes in Revelation of "People from every tribe, and every nation gathered together," and they're united in one song of praise to Jesus, and the victories of redemption.
So, this means if there's a person in the universe who is worthy of your love, it's Jesus. Today again, I would encourage you, offer your heart to him. Pray for help, that you would love him in a way that he deserves. Pray for help, that your life would be a hymn of love to Jesus. Jesus is worthy of your love!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. If you could write a long song or poem to the Lord, what would you choose to write down? How would you express your feelings for God if it were through the medium of something like a love song? Read Psalm 45 again and then think specifically about Jesus as you read. How might your feelings be expressed differently now in a new love song or poem? What qualities about him would you emphasize?
2. What would it look like to completely yield and offer your heart to Christ today? What specific things in life are you holding on to that might be preventing you from submitting to the rule and love of the Lord Jesus Christ? Where does it feel impossible to submit to him? Think through aspects of things in your life like your job, your marriage, your parenting, your friendships, your money, your free time, etc., and pray for help, that you would love Christ in ways that he deserves by submitting all those aspects of your life to him.
3. How can the specifics of your life be a reflection of your worship to the Lord? How can your life be a song of praise to him right now? As you think through the specifics of your day-to-day life, what kind of perspective shift would need to happen in order for those specifics to be avenues of worship to Christ? What is the value of worshiping Jesus now when we know we'll be worshiping him for billions of years into the future?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Let's make a list together and think of all the ways we love God. Let's express our love to God for who he is, what he's done in our lives, and how thankful we are for the ways he's shown love to us.
• Why do you think it's important to live in a way that honors God? How can the way we live be a way to show God love? What ways are easy for you to follow God, be obedient, and show him love? What ways are difficult for you to follow God and be obedient? How can I help you to make some changes to show God love by the way you're living?
• What do you think worship really means? Why do you think God wants us to worship him? Is there anyone more important than God? Is there anything more important than God? If he's the most important, how can we make choices to show him that he's the most important?
For Older Children:
• Why do you think so many songs in the music world focus on love all the time? Why does love seem to be the most important thing to write, sing, and make music about? Have you ever thought about writing anything down as a reflection of your love for God? Why or why not?
• Why's it important to live in a way that brings honor to God and not dishonor? What do you think obedience has to do with love? If the two are related, how can I specifically help you to love God with the whole of your life?
• What's the point of worshiping Jesus now if we know that's what we'll be doing in heaven? What do you think the value of worship is for God? For you? How can I help you to make some changes in order to show God love, specifically in how you live your day-do-day life? Would you be willing to help me discover some specific ways I need to change in order to show God love through every part of my life?
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