Psalm 78:1-5 “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles of old…”

 

The King's Story was planned and written before time began.  The invisible God, the Majestic Maker, created the heavens and the earth for His pleasure.  It would be a perfect place to make His home.  All life was created by Him and it was all good.   A garden was planted; trees of life and knowledge were there.  A man was created from the dust to serve the Majestic Maker and to be the care taker of His home. 

 

Then the Majestic Maker caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he was sleeping, He took one of his ribs.  From that rib, the Majestic Maker formed a woman, man's helper, so that the care taker wouldn't be alone.  The Majestic Maker brought the woman to the man when the man awoke, and the first marriage ceremony was performed - the two joining together as one flesh.  The Majestic Maker was pleased.  He tells the man and woman to be fruitful and to multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it.  He has provided everything for them.

 

The serpent, the most cunning of all beasts created by the Majestic Maker, wants control over the Earth for himself, so he deceives the woman.  Both the man and the woman then disobey the Majestic Maker's commands.  He banishes them from the garden, driving them away from His home.  The Maker curses the serpent, all mankind, and the land that He has created.  The serpent will have to slither on his belly and eat dirt all his life.  His offspring will be hated by mankind. 

 

The man and woman are cursed, too.  The woman will multiply in her sorrow and conception.  She will bring forth her children in pain and she will have to serve her husband.  Her heart will always long for him.  The man will rule over his wife and will eat his food in sorrow.  He will have to work hard for his food because the land will produce thorns, making it difficult for him to gather his harvest.  He will eventually die and return to dust.  Their sin lead to their separation from the Majestic Maker, and now the curse of death would be passed on to their children.

 

Sons and daughters were born.  Cities were built.  Mankind grew wicked and the Majestic Maker was grieved.  Only one man was righteous and found favor with the Maker.  The Maker brought a flood to destroy all flesh upon the earth, but saved the righteous man and his family.  A covenant of protection was made; the Maker would not destroy the earth again by flood.

 

The righteous man's son dishonors his father, the son is cursed.  More sons and daughters are born.  The people come together to build a great city and tower for themselves.  The Maker sees the city and tower they are making and confuses them so that they stop their building.  The people then leave the city speaking different languages.  They leave “Babel” and separate, scattering to distant lands.

 

New cities are built.  Nations and kingdoms are established.  According to the Majestic Maker's plan from the beginning, it was now time to establish a kingdom of His own.  A descendant from the righteous man is chosen to be the Father of many nations.  The Majestic Maker shows the man the location and land that He desires for His kingdom.  It is already being occupied by other nations, though.  A covenant of promise is made between the righteous man and the Maker.  The Maker promises the man that He will give this land to his seed and they will possess it. 

 

Because of strife, the covenant Father separates from his nephew who came with him to the Promised Land.  The nephew, who was like a son to the covenant Father, chooses to dwell in the land to the East and settles in the city of Sodom.  The Majestic Maker is grieved over the great sin of Sodom and destroys her and her sister city, Gomorrah, with fire and brimstone.  At the request of the covenant Father, though, his nephew and family are saved before the destruction of those cities.

 

Sons are born to the covenant Father, one according to the flesh and one through promise.  According to the Maker's plans, through the son of promise, the Royal lineage would come.

 

The Majestic Maker not only desired a kingdom, but He also desired a wife.  According to His plan, the Maker's wife would be a descendant from the covenant Father.  An insignificant maiden is chosen from the lineage of the son of promise.  The Majestic Maker predestined her to be His beloved.  She had been betrothed to Him at her birth and her dowry had already been set according to the Majestic Maker’s covenant of promise.  She had a rough childhood because she was loathed by other members of her family, and she was living as a slave in the land of Egypt when the Majestic Maker passed by her to see her progress. 

 

He hears her cry for deliverance, so with signs and wonders and His mighty hand, the Majestic Maker rescues her and delivers her from bondage.  A wedding feast is prepared.  A marriage covenant is made, the Maker's Law and Word is given, a marriage contract.  At His mountain, the maiden gives her vows to her Husband, the Majestic Maker.  A tent of meeting is prepared, a temporary home in the wilderness for the Maker and His wife, Israel. 

 

Israel can't meet her Husband face to face yet.  Only the Maker's Spirit can meet with her through a veil.  She begins to become lonely and is not happy with this arrangement.  After many trials, the time has finally come for her to leave the wilderness.  Israel arrives in the land promised to the covenant Father.  With great courage and a strong army, Israel conquers her enemies and possesses the Promised Land.

 

Israel grew and matured and became very beautiful.  Priests and Prophets are brought to her to teach and direct her in the behavior of royalty.  A royal city, Jerusalem, is established for Israel and that is where she makes her home.  It is in Jerusalem where the Majestic Maker commands His Temple to be built.  It is made out of stone, wood, and gold.  It is where Israel can meet with her Husband, but a thick veil still separates them.  The Majestic Maker promises to appoint a King in Jerusalem who will set up His Kingdom and His house and establish it there in Jerusalem forever.  Israel is given rest and all her needs are met, but she misses her life back in Egypt.

 

The Majestic Maker adorns Israel in jewels and fine linens.  She is anointed with oil and she succeeds to royalty.  Her fame spreads throughout the world.  Instead of a loathed maiden, she is now known as “Queen Jerusalem”.  All her needs are attended to, but the Queen is not satisfied.  She grows tired of waiting for her King and His kingdom, so she secretly entertains foreigners - good looking, young captains and princes.  She gives herself to them, making them her lovers, drinking their wine, worshipping their idols, practicing their spells.

 

She wants more lovers, but she can't have them all.  Her husband sees what she is doing and is displeased and jealous.  In order to save and preserve his wife and the King's city, the Majestic Maker divides her body into two – transforming her into two sisters.  Both sisters, unfortunately, become haughty women, harlots.  Wickedness abounds, darkness fills the land of Israel.

 

The eldest sister leaves the King's city and establishes a new one to the north.  She proclaims herself "Queen Samaria".  Her lust is insatiable and she is obsessed with drinking and idols.  The Majestic Maker pleads with her to return to Him, but she stiffens her neck and rejects the Maker’s Law and covenant.  Prophecies of judgment are given to her from her Husband through prophets, but she does not heed His warnings.  She commits adultery and breaks her vows to Husband by serving the gods of other nations, practicing their witchcraft.  This provokes the Majestic Maker to anger.  In His anger, He gives to her a certificate of divorce and removes her from His sight.  Now without the protection of her Husband, in her drunkenness and foolishness, she is delivered into the hand of her lovers.  They strip her and slay her with a sword, executing judgment on her, just as the prophecies foretold. 

 

Even though Jerusalem, the younger sister, saw what happened to her elder sister, Samaria, Jerusalem becomes more corrupt.  Calling herself “Queen”, right in the midst of the King’s city, she increases her harlotry and entices her lovers there with riches, wealth, and feasts.  She strips for them, so her lovers defile her and then they alienate her.  In their drunkenness, her priests and prophets deceive her with lies.  They trash the King's house and vomit all over the tables.  Prophecies of judgment are given to her, also, from her Husband through prophets.  She pretends to heed their warnings and return to him, but her whole heart is not in it.  So she goes back to her casual harlotry.  This greatly angers the Majestic Maker, and because of His wrath, war comes upon the King’s city.

 

The king of Egypt first comes up against her and takes away hers and the King’s treasures.  Then the king of Assyria besieges her.  Finally, the king of Babylon and his armies come and surround the King's city.  The King's house is ransacked.  Queen Jerusalem is stripped bare and taken captive to the land of Babylon.  The King's city is destroyed. 

 

In captivity, Queen Jerusalem truly repents.  Hope in her King's arrival is restored.  A secret word is given; a book is made, sealed until the time of the end.  After a time, the King's city is rebuilt, but not like its former glory.  Queen Jerusalem is allowed to return to the King’s city, but she is weak and tired.

 

The priesthood is restored.  The Maker’s Law is brought back to the city.  New decrees, man-made, are given by the priests.  Unfortunately, lust for pride and power comes upon them and weak Jerusalem is subjected to a new kind of bondage. 

 

The priests become greedy and lazy.  They become gluttons and drunkards once again.  Jerusalem's spirit is brought low.  She is full of sadness and grief.  She is sick and wasting away.  The walls of the King's city are like prison bars to her.  The Majestic Maker sends prophets to her to remind her of His prophecies to make her new and whole again – body, soul, and spirit, but she struggles in her belief.

 

From the beginning, the Majestic Maker had given ancient prophesies to righteous men, prophecies that foretold the birth of a Mighty King.  This King would remove the curses over mankind and the land, bringing redemption and salvation for all people.  His Kingdom would be established with judgment and justice, and then peace would come to the land.  This King would rule the world, but His passion would not be in ultimate power.  His deepest desire would be for His Bride.  He would be coming to redeem her and give her new life.  His Bride would be Jerusalem.  He is the King she has been waiting for!

 

A great light pierces the darkness.  A Child is born - Immanuel - God with us.  His lineage goes back to the son of promise and the covenant Father, just like it was foretold.  Good news is given, proclamations of peace and salvation throughout the King's city.  The prophesied King has been born!

 

The young King grows in favor and stature, filled with wisdom.  The grace of God, the Majestic Maker, is upon Him.  His name is called Jesus, the Son of God.

Prophets confirm the ancient prophecies.  Priests and rulers fear the young King.  Wicked schemes are devised; the serpent of old plots to kill the young King.

 

The young King reaches out with forgiveness to Jerusalem.  He speaks tenderly to her.   She recognizes His voice and knows that He is her Husband, the Majestic Maker in the flesh.  His word and touch brings healing and joy to her.  He promises His life and eternal love to her and reminds her of their marriage covenant in the wilderness.  He will fulfill His promise to her to make her new and whole again – just as the prophets foretold.  This time, she will be a virgin Bride.  Their union as one body is the mystery of His Kingdom.

 

A part of her wants to believe in Him and all that He says, but a part of her still holds on to the words and ways of the priests.  She is afraid to leave her prison and the bondage of the priests.  She is used to being in bondage.

 

A private dinner is planned, bread and wine is shared.  A renewing of vows - the King and His wife renew their marriage covenant.  A betrayal in the garden - the young King is captured, persecuted, and sentenced to death.

 

The young King hangs on a cross.  The priests mock him.  Darkness covers the land.  "It is finished" and the young King dies.  Jerusalem weeps bitterly.  All her dreams of freedom seem lost.

 

The young King is laid in a tomb.  Morning begins to dawn.  The stone has been rolled away.  The young King is alive!  He appears to His love.  She doubts that it is him at first, but then she sees His hands and believes.

 

The King tells Jerusalem that she is free from the ancient curse of death.  She is given a promise of power and a command to be His witness to the world.  With His seed planted within her and a departing kiss, the young King ascends to Heaven to prepare a place for His Bride.  She will be made new again.  He will return for her and she is not alone.

 

Jerusalem waits in the King's city, just like He said, for the promise of power.  A mighty wind fills the room.  Jerusalem is filled with the Spirit of God, the power that she was promised from her King.  She starts to speak in different languages.  She begins her witness to the world.  The breath of life stirs within her.  His Spirit is with her.

 

Jerusalem increases in the King's wisdom and understanding.  She realizes a new life has now begun to grow inside her.  Her spirit joined with His, her heart redeemed by His love, a new soul starts to develop, like fruit on a tree.  The ancient garden has been replanted. 

 

She starts her mission to spread the good news of her King.  She is a bold Ambassador.  The Priests are jealous of her power.  They persecute her and throw her in prison.  Though behind bars, she has the King's comfort and love.

 

By His Spirit, the King gives his wife a revelation.  She is no longer to be called by her maiden name.  Her new name is Zion, New Jerusalem.  Her destiny is to be an Overcomer, a Royal Warrior.  She is given the key to the sealed Book of the Prophets - signs and wonders that will happen at the time of the end, when her King will return for her.

 

Zion has been given the King's authority to do the work of building His Kingdom and to tend to the King's garden.  She is to be fruitful and to multiply.  Zion has the King's light and life within her and His home is inside her heart.

 

Zion is released from prison and she travels to distant lands to find those who will join with her and pledge their love to the King.  Prophecies stated that seven trees would be planted in the King's garden - three in the desert of the east and four in the wilderness of the west.  Zion finds seven women who are willing to commit their lives to the King.  Zion shares her heart and soul with them and they transform, becoming a part of her body - the virgin daughters of Zion.  The King's light has now been given to them, too.  Though they are now one body, they are scattered throughout the world.  Letters from the Book of the Prophets are given to the daughters to remind them of their duty to the King, who is now their Husband – all according to His plan from the beginning.  (to be continued…)

The King and the Fellowship of the Bride

Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.  (Psa 74:12 JPS)