MAIN IDEA || Since God has anointed and appointed a beautiful king to bring his justice & joy to all people, you should abandon all other loves to adore Him alone. What was God’s king who was over all his people like? Psalm 45 & 72 [NLT] Notice the beauty of the king’s . 2 You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever. Notice the beauty of the king’s . 3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! 4 In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! Notice the beauty of the king’s . 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. Notice the beauty of the king’s . 7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, … And so we have a strange paradox: here is God, who has God as his God! Only when Jesus Christ, who is fully God—God the Son—came to David’s throne could this paradox be resolved. Hebrews 1:3 (NLT) Hebrews 1:8–9 (NLT) 8 But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” Psalm 72:17 (NLT) 17 May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise What wisdom does God offer to the king's bride? Psalms 45:10 NLT 10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. A wise word to the beautiful bride: all other loves, allegiances & affections. fill mind & heart with the beauty of the King. 1 John 2:15–17 (NLT) Revelation 19:6–21 (NLT) CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION: 1. READ Psalm 45:2-9 (NLT) Does the description of the bridegroom in verses 2-9 fit the way you tend to picture Jesus? Why or why not? 2. READ 1 John 2:15–17 (NLT) 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. What have you left behind, or what might you need to leave behind, to become part of the “bride of Christ”? 3. How has (or might) the Book of Psalms inform or change your own prayers?