Read: Psalms 45-47
Today’s reading is Psalms 45 through 47. Every time I see that we’re in Psalms, I get a little excited. Not because everything is easy or light in them, but because so many of the words feel familiar. They echo in songs, hymns, and prayers that I am familiar with.
Psalm 45 is a wedding song.
“Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.” -Psalm 45:10–11
This isn’t just about a wedding. It’s about leaving behind what was and stepping into something new. There’s a shift in identity here. A beautiful transformation that happens not only when a woman is married to a husband, but also when we devote ourselves to Christ.
The bride is being called to turn fully toward the king, to honor him, to be devoted. Think about it in the context of our relationship with God. We’re called to lay things down, old ways, old identities, things that we’ve held onto, and step into a life that is centered on Him.
“Your throne, O God (here the king is addressed as God’s representative), will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” -Psalm 45:6-7
This King isn’t just any king. He is righteous and set apart. We know, looking at the bigger picture of Scripture, that this ultimately points to Jesus. This is a picture of relationship. We see devotion, choice, and action.
People often times want the benefits of being loved by God without fully stepping into that surrender of worshipping Him. Without letting go of the things He’s asking us to leave behind, we can’t ever truly enter that. If you entered into a marriage covenant while still holding onto your past relationship, that marriage would be built on lies, deceit, and less than 100% of your heart. The same goes for being in true relationship with God.
I am not saying that all of this is easy, but it is worth it. And God is with us every step of the way. God is our refuge, our strength, our fortress. The One who holds steady when everything feels like it’s shaking.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” -Psalm 46:1–2
“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” -Psalm 46:7
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” -Psalm 46:5
God is within us, holding us up and sustaining us, we don’t have to collapse under the weight of everything around us.
It makes me think of something so simple. I remember being at the beach once and watching someone try to set up one of those canopy tents. The kind where you fill the corners with sand and it has poles to hold it up. But they were trying to do it without the poles. They kept lifting it, running out from underneath, and then it would just fall flat again. Over and over. I just sat there laughing to myself, too embarrassed for them to say anything. But how often do you find yourself in a similar situation? Trying to hold everything up on your own. We try to make things work without the very thing designed to support it.
We are like the fabric of the tent, but God is the poles. Without Him, we collapse. We can try to fill our lives with other things, distractions, control, even good things, but they won’t hold us up the way that He does. He is the only perfect fit. The only thing that actually works.
“Be still, and know that I am God …” -Psalm 46:10
“For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.” -Psalm 47:2
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.” -Psalm 47:8
He is not comparable to anything or anyone else. He is sovereign, steady, and completely worthy of our trust.
Let today be a reminder that you don’t have to try so hard to hold everything together on your own. Recognize that you need help. Then come to the One who was meant for that very purpose.
Discussion Questions
- Do you view your relationship with God as one of devotion, or just belief? Why?
- Where are you trying to build stability without fully relying on Him?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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