All Glorious Within

This weekend I am at the Daughters of the King Assembly in El Paso, TX. Daughters of the King is an Order for women and girls devoted to prayer, service and evangelism. An Order is a bit different from a regular club or organization in that lifetime vows are taken. Often when we think of ‘Orders’, we think of monks, nuns, and clergy but there are many orders for ‘regular’, lay men and women. Daughters of the King and the Third Order of Franciscans are just 2 of them.

Way back when I joined the Order as a senior in High School, the Order had a Psalm, as well as Hymn, for the Order. We no longer do, but Psalm 45 remains a favorite of mine. It is labeled as an “Ode for a Royal Wedding” and as such is fitting to all who aspire to live into their Baptismal vows as the Bride(s) of Christ. The first 8 verses are about the King. In verse 9, the focus shifts to the Bride, the Betrothed One, the Queen. The Psalm ends with promises of a rich heritage and many sons, as is fitting for a wedding.

My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you for ever.
³ Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty.

In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
⁵ Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.

Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
⁷ you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
⁸your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
⁹daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house,
¹¹and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
¹²the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people ¹³with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
¹⁴in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
¹⁵ With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.

In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
¹⁷ I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.

This translation (RSV) says, “The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes”. The KJV says “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.” I like the idea of being ‘all glorious within’. Isn’t that what we should believe about ourselves as chosen brides of the Lord? The symbolism of royalty and wedding is what we should all aspire to as Daughters (and Sons) of our King.

Recently I watched the good old Disney animated film, Sleeping Beauty, because I have always been struck by the imagery in that movie of good vs. evil. Aurora is betrothed to Philip as a child and the good fairies work to keep her safe until it is time for her wedding. Evil is not to be stopped, or so it seems because she pricks her finger and falls into an endless sleep while Malificent captures the Prince. However, in the end, the three fairies free Philip, who triumphs over the Dragon with the help of the Sword of Truth. Then he awakens the Princess from her sleep. Certainly Malificent is the complete opposite of a Princess who is 'all glorious within'.

Similarly, we are already safely betrothed to our Prince of Peace. but the world we live in makes it appear sometimes that Evil is in control. We know, though that the war is over and it’s just the final battles that we are engaged in. With the help of the Sword of Truth and the Prince, we too will triumph! "True Love Conquers All" is the closing line and that is true for us as well. We are more Truly Loved than Aurora and her Prince because our Holy Lover is Love Incarnate!