"Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you." (Psalm 45:5)
This love song penned by the Sons of Korah gush from the heart to the pen to the page, lavishing adoration for this glorious and beautiful King and his stunning bride. The last few days we’ve been trying to wrap our minds around the glory of this magnificent King, His most notable feature being that He makes Himself enjoyable to everyone who receives the graces He extends; otherwise, they make themselves His enemy and they experience Him in less enjoyable ways.
Who are the King’s enemies? Those who chose to live against His kingdom of grace, of truth and humility and rightness. The king’s enemies receive justice as they chose to reject His standard for their own. They cannot enjoy the benefits of His Kingdom and be hostile to His grace.
But what is an arrow? Are they literal arrows? Could they perhaps be something else? There’s another passage that may help us answer that question:
“For I have bent Judah as my bow;
I have made Ephraim its arrow.
I will stir up your sons, O Zion,
against your sons, O Greece,
and wield you like a warrior’s sword.” (Zechariah 9:13)
People can be arrows in a few ways.
The first way describes those who unleashing every kind of harm imaginable. They are so “sharp” that they inflict damage by using their words: telling lies, spreading slander, name-calling, insults, degradation, exploitation--it’s a chaotic display of power that destroys another person.
The second way a person can be an arrow is by telling the truth, doing right for the good of another. Has anyone told you something you didn’t want to hear but they told you anyway and it broke your heart? There is a kind of grace in corrective action but sadly, the one who refuses grace, who fails to see the healing in the hurt, these remain the enemy of true good.
The words found in Zechariah speak of a time when the nation defended itself against Greece--only Zechariah recorded his words about 400 years before the event. In context, his words speak hope to the nation regarding their coming King who would fight on their behalf and war would cease.
One final thought: we often picture “love” as an arrow piercing the heart. Is this the symbol the work of a flying naked baby or of a great and magnificent King who desires to share His love with any and all who will lay down their rebellion against Him?
Something to think about in this love song.
