I heard a great sermon yesterday by Perry Nobles, pastor of New Spring Church, in South Carolina. He is currently doing a series entitled "Beautiful" and it is about and for women. If you have a chance I would encourage you to go on-line and watch or listen to these messages. Toward the end of the message he read a verse and made a statement that I wish every young woman could hear who is single and has the desire to be married one day. Because I had gotten a phone call from my own princess in the middle of the sermon I had missed the first part of the scripture reference he was using. I went back and looked it up and want to share with you what it says.
Psalm 45:9-17
Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,* men of wealth will seek your favor. All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
Now those are powerful verses!! Each time I re-read them I get excited. There is a whole sermon in those verses! (Humm...that is probably where Perry is headed next!) If young women every where could catch the truth found in these verses we could eliminate lots of broken hearts and shattered dreams. There is so much that could be said about these verses but I shall limit myself to the bolded verses to which he referred.
Keeping in mind that in the verses the daughters of the King, the princesses, are christian young ladies, his comment was very close to this, "The problem with some of the princesses in the room is that too many princesses have
left the palace. They've walked out into the alleys and slums, turning over tarps and looking in garbage cans for the man who can win your heart. When, if you are a princess, you can stay right where you are and he will pursue you because
princesses are worthy of pursuit and the King is enthralled by your beauty. Get out of the alley, get out of the slums, and wait on the man who will win your heart." Preach it brother!
My final word to all the single young women is found yourself a place or ministry in which to serve in the palace, develop a love relationship with the King who is crazy about you, and when you least expect it a prince will come along and win your heart and you will both "praise Him forever and ever."
For all of us "queen mothers" out there let's commit to praying for our daughters to stay in the palace. Let's pray for their courage and strength when others tempt them to short cut God's plan, take matters into their own hands and leave the palace.
Just for the record, Perry did not continue on with these verses he moved on the the old favorite, the perfect woman, the Proverbs 31 woman! It is a good series and worth the time to listen.