For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: Psalm 45:1-9
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you for ever. 3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendour and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honoured women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
A. Find Out:
- Who is being spoken about? v.2
- What things is he encouraged to do? v.3-5
- Who is then spoken about, and how? v.6
- How is one then described in terms of outlook? v.7
- How is he further described? v.8
- What about him is further revealed? v.9
B. Think:
- How is this psalm seen to be about a man?
- How is he seen to be more than a mere man?
- What does this psalm encourage him to do?
C. Comment:
Without doubt this is a messianic psalm. It is about a man who is a ruler, but who shares so intimately that he is obviously far more than just another king. He is the coming Messiah.
He is a man (v.2) whose words have divine blessing (v.2), who is being encouraged in the song to put on his royal splendour and go forth and conquer (v.3). Yet this is not an ordinary battle, this is a battle for truth, humility and justice (v.4). Then the throne that is being spoken about, is God’s throne. Suddenly there is a blurring of the distinctions between this man’s rule and God’s rule (v.6). This king loves righteousness (v.7) and God has therefore elevated him. Verse 8 gives us a picture of this king beautifully dressed in wonderfully scented clothes as he enjoys the life of the palace. Then comes the final piece of the jigsaw: this king is also a bridegroom (v.9) with his bride at his side. That is why the heading of this psalm is a “Wedding Song”.
In his public teaching Jesus referred to himself as a bridegroom (see Mk 2:19,20). In the book of Revelation (19:7) the picture is given of Jesus, the Lamb, coming together with his bride, the church. Immediately after he is shown as the coming conquering king (19:11 -16). Can this present psalm be interpreted in any other way? No.
D. Application:
- Jesus is a conquering king. He comes to take a kingdom to himself.
- Jesus is also the bridegroom, and he takes us to be his bride.
Passage: Psalm 45:10-17
10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honour him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,
people of wealth will seek your favour.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her –
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
A. Find Out:
- What is she counselled to do? v.10
- What also is she to do and why? v.11
- What will happen? v.12
- How is she described? v.13-15
- What of the future? v.16
- How will she be viewed by others? v.17
B. Think:
- Read again Rev 19:7,8
- How is the bride viewed by the bridegroom?
- How is the future more important than the past?
C. Comment:
The second half of the psalm moves from the bridegroom to focus on the bride. If the first half was prophetic about Jesus, the second part must be prophetic about the church. Let’s so view it.
The first instruction is to forget the past (v.10b). Jesus also warned us not to look back (Lk 9:62). Lot ‘s wife failed by looking back (Gen 19:26 ). The Israelites grumbled because they “looked back” (Ex 16:3). In verse 16 she is told that her fruitfulness will mean she forgets the past. Be fruitful!
The second instruction is to honour the Lord. Having committed yourself to him, go on and honour him – because he is so blessed by you. As we receive his love, our hearts should respond. As we respond to this love and are seen for what we are, the world will come and seek us out (v.12). They will seek Jesus in us.
Verses 13-15 describe her beauty. Rev 19:8 tells us that the beauty of the clothes of the bride are her righteous acts. Increasingly as the time nears, the Lord will enable his bride to be dressed in more and more righteous acts.
Finally, in eternity, all who look on will praise the Lord for the wonder of what they see God has done in His church (see Eph 3:10 ).
D. Application:
- Jesus is preparing his bride for his return.
- May our lives glorify him and draw others.