The Cause Of Christ

by Chris Simmons

Psalms chapter 45 is a beautiful Psalm depicting the glory, splendor, and majesty of a king and the presentation of his bride in marriage. If there were any question as to whether this is a Messianic Psalm and prophecy, the Hebrew writer very clearly answers that and ascribes this Psalm (verses 6-7) to our Messiah in Hebrews 1:8-9 where it says, “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above your companions.’”

Prophetically, in harmony with Hebrews chapter 1, it is noted in verse 2 that the King is “fairer” than all and that “grace is poured upon (or through) Your lips.” Luke records in Luke 4:21-22, “And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” Indeed, as Paul wrote to Titus (2:11-12), grace came teaching! The cause of Jesus Christ was to reveal and teach of the grace of God.

Beginning in verse 3 of Psalms 45, we then read of the victorious reign of Jesus over all the earth. Jesus came to fight for our spiritual freedom and did so by girding His sword against Satan. Revelation 1:16 refers to Jesus brandishing “a sharp two-edged sword” which the Hebrew writer defines as the word of God (Hebrews 4:12). The Psalmist in verse 4 said of the King, “in Your majesty ride on victoriously.” But what is it that the King would succeed and prosper in? The second half of verse 4 continues with these words, “For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness.” Many seek today to reign in the kingdoms of men by setting out their issues or causes. Some have economic causes, some social, some environmental. All claim to be fighting for some type of “cause.” Our King, Jesus Christ, stated His causes which are both simple and profound: truth, meekness, and righteousness.

The cause of “truth.” The Lord’s majestic bride is to define, promote, defend, and celebrate truth. John said of Jesus in John 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” During Jesus’ ministry we know that Jesus avowed in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Towards the end of His ministry Jesus, after being asked by Pilate if He was a king, said in John 18:37, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” We likewise are to serve “for the sake of truth” (II John 2) and ensure that truth is defended (Galatians 2:5), supported (I Timothy 3:15), rejoiced with (I Corinthians 13:6), and loved (II Thessalonians 2:10).

The cause of “meekness.” The Hebrew word in Psalms 45:4 refers to the attribute of humility or mildness and is thus very similar to the Greek word for “gentle” or “meek” used in Matthew 5:5 where Jesus taught, “blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth.” Vine says of the Greek word “It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.” This meekness is our voluntary submission to take the “yoke” of Jesus Christ upon ourselves as invited by Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This was the basis for Paul’s preaching as he wrote in II Corinthians 10:1, “I Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” This cause for humble submission to the will of God must continue on.

The cause of “righteousness.” Above all else, Jesus came to make man “right” with His heavenly Father. Not by our own merits but through “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22). Paul learned this in his life as he sought to “gain Christ” and be “found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own … but that which is through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:8-9). Jesus called for those in His kingdom to “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:5) and in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” As we read in Luke 19:10, Jesus came, and had as His cause, “to seek and to save the lost” and to make them right with God.

In the conclusion of this Psalm (verses 10-16) we read of the words to the bride by the King. Prophetically, this is the Christ speaking to His bride, the church. From three different perspectives in the New Testament, we read of Jesus and His bride.

Repeatedly during His ministry, Jesus referred to wedding feasts in His parables. For example, in Matthew 22:1-3 we read, “And Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king, who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast’.”

Following Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of God, Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:23-32 that Christ’s relationship to the Church was as a husband to his wife, that Christ gave Himself for His bride that “He might sanctify her” so that He might “present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.”

Finally, in the book of Revelation, we read of the presentation of the bride to her husband. John wrote in Revelation 21:2, 9-11, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband … And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb’” (cf. Revelation 19:6-10).

We need to always remember that the cause of Jesus Christ is to include His bride in all her purity and holiness.

The thoughts and ideas of man continue to attack the true “cause” of Jesus Christ by suggesting and promoting such temporal causes as entertainment, recreation, secular education, and a whole variety of social causes. May we ever respect the cause of Christ that is revealed in this prophetic passage. That being truth, meekness, and righteousness along with a reverence for His teaching and His bride for whom He gave His life (Acts 20:28).