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Psalm 45
This Psalm focuses our heart and mind upon all the splendor of a Royal Wedding, evoking all the sights, sounds and emotions associated with the tremendous occasion whereby the king of Israel would be united in holy matrimony with his bride!
We are not told exactly which king of Israel this great poem was penned about but many have imagined David, Solomon or one of their descendants. One does not have to look too deeply to see the exalted language which appears, language so lofty the writer of Hebrews applies the Psalm to the Lord Jesus Christ:
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”—Hebrews 1:8-9
This passage is taken from Psalm 45:6-7.
While the Psalm was originally written to commemorate the union between a Hebrew king and his bride, but we also have what C.S. Lewis described as “the second meaning of the Psalms”. Which leads us to an important point, this Psalm is essentially Messianic, in other words, Psalm 45 is about Christ the Groom and the Church His bride and the love which Christ and Church share with one another.
Thrust Statement: Let us come to see the marriage ceremony between the Hebrew king and his bride which testifies to the infinitely greater marriage between Christ and His Church!
- The Glory of the King in Verses 2-9
- The King’s Attributes—The second verse opens up with “you are the most handsome of the sons of menhteousness” mentioned. Is this why you love Christ?
- The King’s Words—Notice the phrase “grace is poured upon your lips…”
- The King’s Military Victory—In verse 4. Christus Victor “Christ the Victor” means that through the Cross of Christ humanity was liberated from the bondage of sin and death.
- The King’s Wedding—Verse 8 was the inspiration for the hymn “Out of the Ivory Palaces”: “My Lord has garments so wondrous fine, and myrrh their texture fills; its fragrance reached to this heart of mine, with joy my being thrills. Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe, only his great eternal love made my Savior go.” This marriage event is amplified greatly in the N.T. and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
- The Joy of the Bride in Verses 10-12
- Forget the Past—In verse 10. Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23), and “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). The marriage relationship requires us to leave all our loyalties behind. The Bible says “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife” (Gen. 2:24).
- Honor your King—In verse 11. This phrase “bow to him” is very strong. This suggests a certain reverence and submission performed by the bride for her groom—”Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…-Ephesians 5:22-25a.
- Look Ahead—The Psalmist sees at least 3 things in the future for the bride:
- The Brides King will love her in verse 11
- The Bride will receive honor because of her relationship to her King in verse 12.
- “Joy and Gladness” will forever be hers with her great King in verse 15.
- The King’s Advent in Verses 13-17—Notice verse 15. It is through the marriage union of Christ and the Church that we have the kingdom perpetuated. This corresponds to the book of Hebrews; For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering… And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”—Hebrews 2:10 & 13
- Notice verse 17—”I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.” Are we doing what the Psalmist did? Are we seeking to perpetuate the knowledge of God?
When God describes the relationship He desire to have with His people, the way He illustrates it through the marriage union. Is this kind of relationship we have with God?
