Did You See God at the Royal Wedding?

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Did You See God at the Royal Wedding?

He was there.

For a few hours last Friday, nearly one third of mankind shared a moment.

In a world in which the dark side of humanity is on perpetual display, at a time of unparalleled uncertainty and instability, the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a rare and much-welcomed moment of unity and tranquility, of hope and joy. For a fleeting moment, 2 billion people set aside pride and prejudice, and witnessed human civilization at its best.

We needed this, too.

We live in a world yearning for answers, for solutions—to our failing economies and governments, to our dissolving marriages and families, to our self-destructive creeds and cultures, to the widespread depression and to the yawning poverty of faith and hope. Last Friday, the solution to these problems came in the form of a royal wedding. To grasp this solution, we must have the depth of mind to look past the pomp and pageantry, the elaborate decor, the dress, the celebrities, and even the character and conduct of those in attendance—including the priests and royal patrons.

Seeing the solution is simple, really: All we have to do is consider the truth embodied within the hymns and anthems, the customs and practices, the prayers and supplications.

Take the words, sung by the choir, which accompanied Catherine Middleton as she walked down the isle. “Jerusalem is builded as a city: that is at unity in itself. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.” Written 3,000 years ago by King David, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and canonized in the 122nd Psalm, these words foretell the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, at which point the city of Jerusalem will become the headquarters of God’s Kingdom.

Dwell on that for a moment. Last Friday, 2 billion people witnessed Catherine Middleton glide down the aisle to music that prophesied of a time when Jesus Christ will return and then rule from Jerusalem!

After the bride found her place beside Prince William, the cavernous halls of Westminster Abbey resonated with the sound of 1,900 guests singing a hymn written by Welsh preacher William Williams. “Guide me, O thou great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty; … Open now the crystal fountain whence the healing stream doth flow; let the fiery cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through; strong Deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield.”

What a moving sight: Nearly one third of humanity watching as the congregation recalled in unison the story of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and even more, the spiritual journey from Egypt that God plans for all mankind to take in due time!

Following the hymn, the dean of Westminster began the ceremony by telling the world it was witnessing two people embrace an institution created by God Himself. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God … to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted by God Himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and His Church …” (emphasis mine throughout).

Imagine that, 2 billion people being told that marriage was “instituted by God Himself,” and that it is a physical type of the imminent union of Jesus Christ and His Church!

Next, the archbishop of Canterbury presided over the exchange of wedding vows. “William Arthur Philip Louis,” his baritone voice echoed soberly, “wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God’s law in the holy estate of matrimony?” Once again, it was another glimpse into the supreme Mastermind behind the creation of the marriage institution, and the truth that God created laws of marriage and family that, when embraced, result in blissful, uplifting, unbreakable lifelong relationships.

After the exchange of vows and the ring, the bride and bridegroom knelt before the archbishop as he prayed. “O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy blessing upon these thy servants ….” To many, it was a hollow prayer performed more as a matter of routine than an act of genuine faith. Despite the deeply flawed medium via which it was delivered, the truth embodied in that prayer is accurate! Prince William and Catherine, Queen Elizabeth ii and most of those in attendance and watching via screen—and even the archbishop himself—may not believe it, nevertheless, God is indeed the “Creator and Preserver of all mankind.” And as the “Creator and Preserver of all mankind,” God has the ability, and the intense desire, to solve our problems—if we would only embrace Him and follow His instructions!

After his prayer, the archbishop joined the hands of the bride and groom and repeated the words of Jesus Christ: “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” If mankind would only respect and apply that instruction, it would go a long way to solving divorce and family breakdown!

Next, the choir sang “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” an 18th-century hymn composed by Charles Wesley, the theme of which is the attainment of spiritual perfection. Following the hymn, the royal couple was addressed by James Middleton, the brother of the bride, who recalled the words of God through the Apostle Paul in Romans 12. “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship ….” The words fell on the deaf ears of an audience consumed with the worship of self before God. Nevertheless, this is the solution to our problems. If you want happiness and contentment, peace and prosperity, then give your life over to God—over to observing His law!

Next, the choir sang another hymn, the words of which were taken, yet again, from the Psalms. Following this, the world listened to a performance of Paul Mealor’s “Ubi Caritas,” a motet sung in Latin, with words taken from 1 John 4. Then another prayer was offered, this one based on Jesus Christ’s prayer in Matthew 6.

Afterward the world watched as the congregation, and hundreds of thousands watching from the streets of London, united in a stirring, tear-inducing rendition of “Jerusalem,” a poem originally composed by the 19th-century poet William Blake. Embodied within the song is the story of Jesus Christ’s journey to England as a young boy, and more significantly,His Second Coming at which time the headquarters of God’s Kingdom shall be established in Jerusalem! It was quite a sight: celebrities like David Beckham, Elton John and Guy Ritchie uniting in voice with Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Cameron and tens of thousands of onlookers, singing a hymn about Jerusalem and the coming Kingdom of God. They didn’t know it, but they were singing the solution to mankind’s problems!

Following “Jerusalem” there were more prayers, and more hymns and anthems, all of which included profound words giving insight into the mind and plan of God. Finally, when Prince William and his wife departed, it was to the rousing bellow of trumpets. This too, was a reminder of Britain’s ancient and glorious heritage. In ancient Israel, from which the English descend, the trumpet played a unique and important role. Not only was it an instrument employed in war and celebration, it was a vital component of all the major ceremonies, including coronations and royal weddings.

Those with an objective mind and humble attitude will have no trouble recognizing that from start to finish, the royal wedding was powerful and moving instruction in the mind and plan of God!

Above all, it contained life-changing knowledge that, if applied, would help solve problems! Of course, the instruments via which this message was communicated were hardly perfect. To be sure, the character and conduct of the royal family—and the representatives of the Anglican Church—as with all human beings, is deeply flawed. Nevertheless, behind the pomp and pageantry, the celebrity, the hats and tails, the hypocrisy and the faithless and morally impoverished behavior of some, was a message about God, His nature and His wonderful and inspiring plan for mankind!

If you believe this, then you have to wonder: Was the royal wedding an inspiring gift from God to a hopeless world?

The execution was virtually flawless. Prior to the wedding there were threats of disruption, and even attacks, from both radical Islamists and anti-royalist republicans. In the end, the day could hardly have gone more smoothly. There were no major disruptions; in fact, out of the 1 million or more who flocked to London, fewer than 100 were arrested. The usually rowdy British were calm, respectful and orderly. Whether it was logistics, security, the cars and carriages, the buildings and adornments, it all went off without a hitch.

Even the weather, as the media commentators noted, seemed miraculous. The day was supposed to be overcast and rainy, quintessential English weather. Yet, amazingly, when the radiant bride stepped from the car to enter the abbey, it was as if the sun got jealous: The clouds opened and the sun shone for the first time that day!

It’s up to you whether you believe God’s hand was guiding the material components of last week’s flawlessly executed royal wedding. Not up for dispute, discussion or private interpretation, however, is the truth of God manifest throughout the entirety of the moving and majestic ceremony.

Believe it or not, God was present at the royal wedding last Friday. He was there for you to see, to come to know, and to call upon for answers, for solutions, for hope!