My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. Psalm 45:1

In my "Breaking Free" study, yesterday I read about Tamar and her mourning and devastation after the incident with her half brother, Amnon - found in 2 Samuel 13.  No one took immediate action on her behalf.  She was devastated and seemingly all alone.  Sure, her brother, Absolom took her into his home and then told her to not take it to heart.  And her own father - King David (whom I really love to read about because the realness of his emotion and depth of his feelings for God even in his times of failure) disappointed me here.  I can't imagine how Tamar must have felt.  She was, after all, sent to Amnon with her father's approval.  And, furious though he was, King David did nothing to avenge his poor daughter!  Rejection.  Shame.  Devastation.  'Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing.  She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.'  2  Samuel 3:19.

The ashes were symbolic of mourning - a statement that her life was nothing more than ashes.  Have you ever felt that lost and alone?  That devastation?  That much pain?   I'm not dismissing the pain Tamar felt or taking away the personal pain anyone goes through who experiences such an evil and abominable attack.  However, I don't think you have to be raped by your half brother to feel loss and loneliness or the pain of shame and devastation.  I think there are many situations in life that can cause that kind of feeling of despair.  Where you just want to heap ashes on your own head - maybe because of something done to you or maybe something you've allowed your self to become, do, or take part in.  Shame.  It can keep up bound up in a tight cocoon that keeps us from seeing outside of that part of our lives.  all we see, do, and think is based on the lie that that particular event alone defines who we are.  But God wants to rip that cocoon away and help us live in freedom!  That is where Psalm 45 comes in.

No matter where we are in life, what we've done, what's been done to us. . . if we are in Christ, we are beautiful to Him.  He doesn't see just the ash covered head of the shamed.  He doesn't see just the wounds left by a hurtful situation.  He see His bride in all her beauty.  We are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and that washes away the ashes and is a balm to the wounds we have received.

'10  Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear;  Forget your people and your father's house.  11  The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.   13  All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.  14  In embroidered garment she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.  15  They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.'  Psalm 45