This psalm has been called a king’s wedding song. It brims with royal pageantry and wedding imagery. The bridegroom here is a king of God’s people preparing to marry the one he loves. This psalm was probably used at many royal weddings in ancient Israel.

Later in Israel’s history this psalm came to be seen as a picture of the promised Messiah-King, who would come to deliver and unite with God’s people. And in the New Testament God’s people recognize Jesus as the Messiah-Savior and see the church (God’s people) as his bride, based on teachings about a wedding feast in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 22:2; 25:1; Revelation 19:7; 21:2).

The psalmist talks about being anointed with “the oil of joy.” The joy we have in Christ as our Savior can be with us always. And yet we are often distracted by worries and troubles in this world, forgetting the amazing blessings and potential we have as Christ’s anointed ones.

Weddings are joyous events. So even as we deal realistically with the struggles of this world—just as Jesus does—we can look forward to full life with him in the kingdom of God. And we can share that good news with others, so that they too can have this joy— now and forever.

With whom can you share the joy of full life today?