July 19, 2019 
The word Sabbath means to cease.  So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms.  He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return.  Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
Psalm 45
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
    and your lips have been anointed with grace,
    since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
    in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
    let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
    from palaces adorned with ivory
    the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
    at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
    Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
    honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,
    people of wealth will seek your favor.
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.

New International Version (NIV)
Don't you love love songs?  God's timing is perfect.  We read this wedding song on February 14.  It seems entirely fitting to imagine the people singing a song to honor the king and a new queen on the day of their wedding.  This psalm likely has more to do with marriage than the more familiar wedding reading from 1 Corinthians 13.  Husbands and wives and engaged couples may read these words on this special day. 

Today may feel like the whole world is in love.  Which is well and good unless we find ourselves on the outside looking in.  For those Christians who have found God's providence in singleness, such psalms may seem out of place.  But what if we envisioned these words as a love song to our eternal King.  Imagine Jesus anointed with grace, girding his sword upon his side as the mighty one, clothed with splendor and majesty.  See him riding forth victoriously in pursuit of truth, humility and righteousness.  This groom is no mere mortal.  He is the King of Kings whose throne lasts and who reigns with justice.  Imagine this great King loving his church so much that he is enthralled with her beauty.  Now this is a great love song!  See the picture of the beautifully adorned bride awaiting her groom.  We the church wait for the coming of the Groom for the great wedding of the ages.

Sixteen years and five months ago I read this psalm on February 14, preparing to get on a plane to Poland.  I never took the mission trip.  While packing we received an unbelievable phone call about a bus crash near Waco.  My wife Melanie's parents were on board.  We rushed down the stairs and turned on the television to see the bus lying on its side.  That morning, my father in law, Jim Freeman gave his wife a Valentine's Card to his wife of over fifty years.  They boarded the bus to attend a Bill Gaither concert in Dallas.  But on the way on a rain slick highway the bus lost control.  Seven passed away that day, including Jo Freeman, Melanie's mother.  A few days later as I prepared to preach at her funeral, I remembered these words:  "All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.  In embroidered garments she is led to the King."  This gracious, graceful, grace-filled lady who so shaped the life of my beautiful wife, went home to her King on the day the world celebrates as a day of love.  Because the Lord loved her and she loved the Lord, we know we shall see her again, when we all stand before the King. 

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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