Psalms Chapter 45:1-9 #TheKingofKings #TheBride #TheKing #TheMarriage #WarriorKing (Unless otherwise cited this devotional is from the King James Version-Psalms 41 mainly because it is public domain.) But read this Psalm in the NIV for clarity of the Genre.)
Context
The title names this poem ‘a wedding song’, and certainly its content fits the occasion of a royal wedding. The psalm is a kingship psalm and more specifically a love poem, with some connections to the Song of Songs. The poet addresses both the king and his bride and extols both of them, as well as urging them to fulfill their duties as warrior-king and his queen (Longman 2014, 201).
1(To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.) My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Cayce 2018, states that verse 1 offers a “Title”: Two new notations are found, ‘according to the Shoshannim’ and ‘A Song of Love’. The first most likely had to do with the tune used in accompaniment with its words” (Cayce 2018, Psalms 45:1)
What a fantastic thing to be on God’s behalf! We have already talked about the tongue being untameable tongue, but this writer is in control of his tongue and is “ready” to use it as an instrument that writes about the “good matter” that his heart has experienced. These things pertain to the “king.” These things pertain to the “king.” Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to use one’s Spirit guided tongue on behalf of their leader and never have to worry about what is going to come back to “shame” them?
Just look at Luke 4:22 “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?” The people were astonished that Jesus could speak so graciously/eloquently. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This king is the King of Kings in his nations, and he is connected to God through His word. There isn’t a combination that is more special than that. Longman declares that the “king” is noble (or ‘good’, ṭ ôb ) theme is the king and his queen on the occasion of their wedding day” (Longman 2014, 201).
The Swagger of The King
- 2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
- 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
- 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
- 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
- 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
- 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
God’s blessing on the king makes him a king par excellence, and handsome to boot as noted in the phrase “fairer than the children of men.”One of the kings most notable characteristics is his congenial manner of speaking to people. Verses 3-6: He is meek, speaks the truth, and is a righteous man. Not only is The King the protector of his people, but he is also the leader of all wars. He uses his sharp “arrows [to strike fear in] the heart of [his] enemies. Although the king has the authority to rule, he does not have the authority to wage war with the intent of making himself the most powerful king in the ancient near east.
Only God has that right. “6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.”
Hebrews 4:12 speaks to the power of God, and the power enmeshed in His Word. “For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” When He speaks, it happens. When Christ returns again to this earth, we will see THE KING of KING in all of His power and glory. He will be the bridegroom coming for His bride. That is why this psalm has some parallels that match what will happen in the king of Israels King and THE KING of KINGS Kingdom!
Revelation 19:11-16
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” “His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” “And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
It is crucial that we understand the context of the words of this psalm and the relationship between The King of Israel and the Covenantal God. Longman explains that relationship.
In what is surely the most difficult verse of the poem (v. 6), the poet assures the king of the perpetuation of his dynasty ( your throne . . . will last forever and ever ). This assurance is rooted in the covenant that God made with David, which promised him that ‘Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever’ (2 Sam. 7:16). What initially shocks the reader is that the king appears to be addressed as God ( your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; so NIV, also the Septuagint), when the theology of Israel has no room for the concept of a divine king. On the other hand, the king was certainly seen as God, the king’s human representative on earth (Ps. 2), who wages war on his behalf.
Therefore, as God’s representative here on earth the king of Israel had to bejust and a man of integrity. He represented God. He was more than an ambassador! He was anointed by God to be the king. ” 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” He experienced a joy that other kings did not experience.
What is that joy? The joy of knowing the God of Israel through an intimate relationship.
Verses 8-9 are reminding us that this psalm is about a special occasion. It is the king’s wedding day. Just look at the unique dress, and the use of the most extravagant and fragrant spices “smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces. The daughters of other kings are in attendance, and the king’s bride has a seat of honor, decked out in the gold that comes from Ophir. As my friends would say, “That was some shingding!” NB: No one knows the exact location of Ophir, but apparently the gold from that place was special. This special wedding celebration reminds all of us of the time when we will be dressed in white sitting at the suppoer with the Lamb. Hid bride adorned for her wedding feast.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb: Revelation 19:6-9 ESV
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Even so come Lord Jesus come. Your bride awaits!
References
Cayce, Ken. 2017. “Books of the Bible.” http://www.bible-studys.org/About%20Me.html. Accessed October 140, 2018.
Longman, Tremper, III. 2014. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. Accessed October 14, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central.
You Are Not the Only One 