A lady in an airport bought a book to read and a package of cookies to eat while she waited for her plane.  After she had taken her seat in the terminal and gotten engrossed in her book, she noticed that the man one seat away from her was fumbling to open the package of cookies on the seat between them. She was so shocked that a stranger would eat her cookies that she didn’t really know what to do, so she just reached over and took one of the cookies and ate it. The man didn’t say anything but soon reached over and took another.  Well, the woman wasn’t going to let him eat them all, so she took another, too.  When they were down to one cookie, the man reached over, broke the cookie in half, and got up and left.  The lady couldn’t believe the man’s nerve, but soon the announcement came to board the plane.

Once the woman was aboard, still angry at the man’s audacity and puzzling over the incident, she reached into her purse for a tissue.  It suddenly dawned on her that she really shouldn’t judge people too harshly—for there in her purse lay her still-unopened package of cookies!

         — Adapted — Author Unknown
 
 

The heart of this poem is quoted in Hebrews 1:6,7.  The point of the quotation is to teach us that God spoke the words in these two verses to His Son, and that God called His Son “God”!  Thus, Hebrews 1 is one of the many New Testament lessons that prove the deity of Jesus.  Since the inspired writer of Hebrews proves by this use of Psalm 45 that it is a prophecy about Jesus, we will have a much easier time outlining it and learning from it.

Verse 1 uses the word  “theme.”  It comes from a Hebrew term that means “word” and is here used to gain the reader’s attention by claiming, “I have something good to write about!”  With this in mind, let us note a five-point outline of the theme about the One Who left the “ivory palaces” and came to the “world of woe”:
 

I.   The Theme is Good (45:1,2).
II.  The Theme is about the King (45:3-5).
III. The Theme is about God (45:6-9).
IV. The Theme includes a Bride (45:10-15).
V.  The Theme must be Remembered (45:16,17).

The author of this psalm—as an inspired prophet of God—has one of the most impressive themes in the entire Bible in his mind, on his tongue, and ready to flow from his pen.  His theme means everything to him, and he wants to share it so that it can mean everything to all of his readers.  His theme is spiritual, for it has to do with “the King” Who has blessings and praise from God Himself.  So let us read his theme and be as filled with it as he was.

In the section above, we are told about the fact that the subject of this inspiring theme is “the King.”  These verses describe this King with such honor, glory, majesty, and spiritual excellence that the author could only be speaking of a truly heavenly King.  We should also keep in mind the fact that the writer of Hebrews represents verses 6 and 7 as having been spoken by God (the Father) to Jesus (Whom God calls “O God”).  This means that the words of Psalm 45, although written by a man, they are actually God’s Own description of the Son!  I would encourage you to go back to verses 3, 4, and 5 right now and read them again with this fact in mind—you will gain a very beautiful image of how the Father views His King (see also Psalm 2:4-6).

In the section above, we are told about the fact that the subject of this inspiring theme is “O God.”  As we have said before, so say we now again, the writer of Hebrews quoted part of this section in order to establish the point that Jesus is divine (Incidentally, this is the argument of Hebrews 1; and in Hebrews 2, he made several arguments that Jesus was also truly human.).  The King of verses 3-5 is the same person as the “O God” of verses 6-9; and that person is Jesus Christ!  He is totally righteous and fair in all of His dealings.  Therefore, God has anointed Him and placed Him at His Own right hand.  The first part of verse 8 speaks of things that related to the death of this One Who had the name “O God.”  The second part of the verse shows that He would leave the “ivory palaces” (heaven) knowing full well that He would experience death after His departure.  In other words, Jesus knew that He was coming to earth to die…  It could be that the honorable women of verse 9 are the faithful women who walked in His steps while He was on earth (Coffman, p. 374).  The queen would be the church, His glorious bride, who is about to be addressed in the next section.

In the section above, we are told about the fact that the subject of this inspiring theme has a bride. She is told that she needs to do such things as: listen, consider, incline her ear, forget her “own people”, keep the beauty that pleases Him, worship Him, attract others (to Him), be glorious for Him, and participate in all of the joy that is possible in this kingdom (the church; see Ephesians 5:21-32).

In the final section, we are told about the fact that the subject of this inspiring theme needs to be remembered.  This King Who is also God will make people part of His reign (see 1 Peter 2:1-12; Revelation 1: 5,6).  The writer closes by reminding himself and his readers that this picture needs to be painted for all the people of the earth forever and ever. 

If God said all of this about His King and His bride, should we not think about these things, talk about these things, and live in such a way that we can be sanctified, cleansed, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish; and ready to be presented by Himself to His Father on that last great day?

If you have not ever been sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26), will you not call on us right now and obey the gospel of the King?

SICK LIST:  Niki Callender, Cleah Boaz, and Belle Oliver have been ill.  Myra Sellers is doing well following surgery.  Let’s remember Electa Wilson and Jan Shifley in our prayers.


PLACED MEMBERSHIP:  We welcome Nell McClain to the family at Duluth.  She has asked to be identified with this congregation.  Her address and phone number:  4590 Broadwater Trail, Duluth, GA  30096; 678 421-0674.
GROUP THREE:  Group 3 is in charge of the service at Plantation South at 1:30 Sunday.  Also, please see your group leaders following evening services for visitation assignments.
CHILDREN’S CLASS:  5:30 Sunday. 
LADIES’ CLASS:  Tuesday at 10:00. 
FOR THE RECORD:  2/6 2/13
Bible Class   128 140
AM Worship   142 154
PM Worship   108 103
Wednesday Bible Class 119  100
Contribution    $5945 $5794
Budget    $6500 $6500
SEEKING THE LOST:  Group 1 - 3/2; Group 2 - 3/9;  Group 3 - 3/16; Group 4 - 3/23.  We had 15 last week!  Keep up the good work.
BABY SHOWER:  There will be a shower honoring Lisa Carlyle Sunday, February 20, at 3:00, in the fellowship hall.  It’s a girl!

WEDDING SHOWER:  We plan to send Norman and Mary Fields a “money tree” as a wedding present. 
They were married January 8 in India.  If you would like to contribute, please see Carolyn Burnette, Libby Hatchett, or Helen Andrews.  Let’s keep this couple in our prayers as they begin their life and work together in India.