Wedding Psalms: Devotional 5
- Aaron York
- Apr 25
- 9 min read
Updated: 14 minutes ago
Written by Aaron York, Kate Hartman, Corbin York
Part 1: Behold, the Christ
Story
Song
Rainbows, diamonds, and crystals all unveil a spectrum hidden within white light, revealing colors not visible to the naked eye. Each facet of color showcases its beauty in its complementary and contrasting nature. These naturally radiant manifestations mirror Jesus, the Light of the World, revealed in all His glory through the cross.¹
Like a diamond nestled in the heart of a wedding ring symbolizes the preciousness of undying and incorruptible love²—the cross stands as the beautiful centerpiece of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It is the multifaceted expression of divine love, the stunning symbol of His grace. The cross is the terrible ransom He willingly paid to free His beloved Bride.³ It is the glorious manifestation of God’s love and grace that shines into all creation, in time and eternity.⁴
The cross revealed a terrible beauty—terrible in its pain and suffering, yet beautiful in its purpose. In its awesomeness, the only proper response was and still is to “watch and pray.”⁵ The sun, moon, and stars bore witness to this ultimate demonstration of love: Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, stepped into time as the Eternal Word of God.⁶
Darkness fell on the natural world the moment the spiritual Light of the world was extinguished.⁷ The veil in the Temple was torn just as the true veil—His flesh—was torn.⁸ The moon turned blood-red as the Son of God’s blood ran red.⁹ The earth trembled, and creation shuddered as the Son of God cried out in indescribable agony, bearing the sin that concealed the Father’s face and severed Christ from Love’s embrace.¹⁰
Every facet of Jesus’ life, His sacrificial death, triumphant resurrection, and glorious ascension, brilliantly reveals an aspect of God’s love, just as the rainbow displays the beauty of the spectrum of light.¹¹ To truly behold Christ, we must fix our gaze on Him with unwavering devotion.¹² The Spirit of Revelation activates the moment the eyes of your heart transfix upon His glory. The splendor of His beauty compels us into the holiness of His intimate presence.¹³
When our hearts lack purity, we struggle to see Jesus clearly.¹⁴ Pride distorts our spiritual sight, creating a false balance; it inflates our self-view while dimming our vision of Christ.¹⁵ With a pure heart, humility empowers us to see God rightly. Divine vision fills us with awe, compelling us to offer Him honor, glory, and reverence.¹⁶ When we see Jesus clearly, we fade from self-view.¹⁷ Christ fills our senses with His love as we worship in His embrace.
That’s why Jesus gave the precious Holy Spirit to believers. The Spirit shapes our character as we grow into the likeness of Christ, who embodies holiness, purity, and truth.¹⁸ It is the Spirit of Truth who gently lifts the veils from our hearts, removing the unseen barriers that obscure our vision of Christ.¹⁹ When we fail to see Him clearly, we become transfixed by the fleeting things of this world.²⁰ When we fix our gaze upon Jesus’s unobscured beauty, we become captivated by His eternal glory!²¹
To behold Christ is to partake of a divine feast; in this sacred communion, Jesus satisfies our deep longing for eternity.²² But when our focus falters, the bitter things of this world regain their allure; sin begins to taste sweet again. Our souls are famished, having dropped our gaze from His beautiful face. Clarity eludes us, and our lives become distorted by false balances. We reach for grace, grasping to numb our guilty pain, forgetting to honor the Lamb, unable to offer true worship.²³
Yes, where sin abounds, grace abounds much more²⁴—but shall we continue sinning because grace is abundant? Never!²⁵ Only the Spirit can display these truths in balance: the reverential worship of God and the gracious freedom found in Christ’s love and forgiveness.
The blood-soaked cross compels us to revere the price Christ paid for our sins. It implores us to embrace God’s grace and to walk free. Truly behold Christ in every facet of His glorious cross. See His love and sacrifice. Let the mercy and grace you behold captivate the eyes of your heart. Let that vision transform your daily life. This is Jesus Christ, the Lover of your Soul, Heaven’s Eternal Light: His soul was made an offering for sin.²⁶ He was pierced for your transgressions, crushed for your iniquities, and by His stripes, you were healed.²⁷
Whatever the sin—accidental, willful, or generational—His grace abounds more!²⁸ When you truly behold the cross of Christ, the love in His eyes illuminating your soul, you finally see your sin rightly: swallowed by the grace flowing from the wounds in the Lamb’s side, where Mercy birthed His Bride.²⁹
Behold Him!
Take a Moment
Close your eyes. What does your picture of Christ look like? Can you see the cross? What is your response?
What fleeting things are obscuring your view of Jesus? What is the Lord asking you to do about it? How can you refocus the eyes of your heart to see Jesus more clearly? What changes does the Spirit want you to make?
Consider the phrase “terrible beauty.” How was the cross terrible? How was it beautiful? How do you think Jesus viewed the cross as He was dying on it? How does this understanding inspire reverence and worship? What prayer would you like to offer the Lord in response to His sacrificial love for you?
Consider the words “Mercy birthed His Bride.” Who is Mercy? How does it feel to see your Heavenly Groom as Mercy? How does this understanding inspire your intimacy with Jesus? How will this revelation change your life? What worship would you like to offer Jesus, your Heavenly Groom?
Part 2: Wedding Psalm
Story
Song
Can you remember being transported by a familiar scent or melody to a moment that profoundly hit your heart? These “flashbulb memories” are the snapshots of our deep emotions and intense experiences, every detail captured in sharp focus and vibrant colors. Flashbulb memories tend to resonate with universal themes like the tenderness of love, the sting of betrayal, the joy of friendship, and the heartache of grief; they serve as reminders to us of life’s beautiful complexity. It’s no surprise that songs reflecting these kinds of experiences top charts and echo through generations of lives.
Love songs like Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love or Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You have shaped generations, influencing the language we use for love and the art that expresses it. Ed Sheeran’s Perfect, a heartfelt tribute to his fiancée, became the decade’s most-streamed love song with 3.2 billion streams on Spotify alone. But what if Ed’s bride never heard the song he wrote about her? It would be an unforgettable tragedy to have missed something so beautiful and deeply personal!
Jesus, the Lover of your soul, has crafted an eternal love song, the sound of which still rings through time.¹ It isn’t just ink on paper; it is etched into His very flesh—inscribed by the nails that pierced His gentle hands.² Yet, tragically, countless people remain deaf to the Lord’s precious melody, seeing God as a condemning critic, instead of the Lover of their souls who sings over them with delight and tender affection.³
Creation resonates with the divine chorus.⁴ It began in Genesis’ blissful garden, where perfect intimacy and delight united two into one.⁵ But the unholy voice of seduction and betrayal lured His beloved into deception.⁶ Sin defiled the covenant,⁷ yet God’s relentless, steadfast love patiently pursues His bride, with devotion unto death.⁸ With Jesus’ final breath, He renewed His vow, not just to save her, but to romance her anew.⁹
The Lord restored our fractured harmony through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.¹⁰ As the source of all beauty and poetry, we see God’s finale brings us back to the beginning: perfectly unbroken delight–the intimate, experiential knowledge of God, and eternal love.¹¹
Can you hear God’s call stirring your heart? Are you living from the embrace of an intimate relationship with Jesus? Do your family, friends, and coworkers know His affection? Do they think the Lord of Love shouts condemnation and judgment? Or are they able to catch His sweet song of grace?
Receive the love of Christ; incline your heart to listen to the song He’s singing over His creation. Stare into the words of this song made flesh in Jesus – let your heart meditate on the gripping sacrifice Jesus offered to secure your affections, and in this place reflect on Romans 8:32,
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
God’s perfect love dispels fear.¹² Still, many hide from the light of His holiness, gripped by fear born in the Fall.¹³ Sin separates. But you were created by God for intimate proximity, to exist for God.¹⁴ The Lord of Love made you, for Love, to become Love to others.¹⁵
The Lord is gently calling you back to the peace He designed you for.¹⁶ Only He can satisfy the craving within you.¹⁷ Belief is the starting place for what your Bridegroom is after: your heartfelt affection. Are you ready to die to yourself so that you can rise into His resurrection life¹⁸?
One by one, the Lord will sweep away the rivals vying for your love.¹⁹ His jealousy is pure, holy, and passionate.²⁰ He desires all of you. As you surrender, Jesus’ love song will transform you into the radiant bride God designed you to be.²¹
God’s love shines brightest when you find deep satisfaction in Him.²² Let His eternal love song ignite a “flashbulb” moment in your spirit today, rearranging your life to the rhythm of His grace.
Take A Moment
When have you chosen a path that left you feeling trapped? What choices have isolated you from experiencing God’s love? Have you grieved over these areas, turned from the sins, and embraced God’s forgiveness? If not, do it now. Be healed by His forgiveness.
How do you perceive God in moments of struggle or feeling trapped? Do you imagine Him shouting with disappointment and condemnation or gently singing over you with grace and compassion? Turn to Jesus, leaving guilt and shame at the cross. Lay down your self-life in submission, humility, and surrender before the Lord of Love. Embrace a new habit of letting His love song fill your heart daily!
From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals the deep longing of His heart: The Lord yearns for you to reflect His love, to know Him intimately, to walk beside Him, and to join in His work. In what ways is God calling you to mature in His love? Is He inviting you into deeper personal sanctification? To create more sacred space for intimacy with Jesus? To constantly be led by His Spirit? To joyfully share His love with more people?
Who is close to you but distant from God? Write down their name(s). Take a moment to pray for opportunities to share God’s love song. Ask the Lord for divine appointments, whether they are your friends, family, or co-workers. Your obedience to God is an expression of love. God will smile over you regardless of how the conversation goes. Let God’s affections, not other people’s acceptance or rejection, be your motivation.
Footnotes:
Part 1
John 8:12 — “I am the light of the world…”
Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Revelation 13:8Matthew 26:41 — “Watch and pray…”
Luke 23:44–45 — “…darkness came over the whole land…”
Acts 2:20, Revelation 6:12Matthew 27:51, Romans 8:22, Matthew 27:46
Matthew 6:22 — “If your eye is single…” (KJV)
Matthew 5:8 — “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
John 3:30 — “He must increase, I must decrease.”
Part 2
2 Timothy 1:9 – “…this grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
Isaiah 49:16 – “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”
Zephaniah 3:17 – “He will rejoice over you with gladness…He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Psalm 19:1-4 – “The heavens declare the glory of God…”
Genesis 2:24-25 – “The two become one flesh…naked and unashamed.”
Genesis 3:1-6 – The serpent tempts Eve and deceives her.
Isaiah 24:5 – “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.”
Hosea 2:19-20, Ephesians 5:25 – “…Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Colossians 1:20 – “…to reconcile to Himself all things…by making peace through His blood.”
Revelation 21:1-5 – “Behold, I make all things new.”
1 John 4:18 – “Perfect love casts out fear.”
Genesis 3:8-10 – Adam and Eve hide from God’s presence after sinning.
Colossians 1:16 – “…all things were created by Him and for Him.”
1 John 4:7-8 – “…let us love one another, for love comes from God…God is love.”
Hebrews 4:9-10 – “There remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God…”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has set eternity in the human heart…”
Romans 6:4-5 – “…just as Christ was raised from the dead…we too may live a new life.”
Deuteronomy 7:22 – “The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little…”
Exodus 34:14 – “…the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Ephesians 5:27 – “…to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle…”
Paraphrased from John Piper’s quote, rooted in Psalm 16:11 – “In Your presence there is fullness of joy…”
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