Psalm 45
1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
4In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,
11and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people.
13All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
This is a powerful Christological Psalm. Verses 2 and 3 speak of one of the sons of men whom God has blessed forever who has a sword on his thigh as victor. Some may object that this refers to Christ, despite its obvious overtones of Messianic application.
But verse 6-7 are unmistakable. We know this is about Jesus because the writer of the Book of Hebrews says it is. He brings it out even more strongly. He says in Hebrews 1 that God says to the Son “Your throne O God…”.
God says to God. Here we have Christ the Messiah, the deity of Jesus, the trinity, the exaltation of Christ. Jesus the King.
He has rescued us from sin which was threatening to damn us forever. He is the triumphant One over everything. This Psalm lifts Him up and calls us to bow down and worship (verse 11). He even rescues the Gentile nations and not just Israel (v.12). The church is portrayed in the Psalm as a waiting bride who comes out to be welcomed by her King and husband (v. 13-15). What a glorious example of the unity of Scripture, the supremacy of Christ throughout the Scriptures, the theme of Christ in Scripture and the salvation that is for all those who believe in Him. What a Book, what a God, what a Gospel!
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