Psalm 45 Commentary
Imagine you are Solomon sitting on Israel’s throne. You should be dead worried when you hear ululations and compliments likening you to God. Nothing like this should be said about a mortal. Yet we have psalm 45.
It is an easily observable fact of life that men and women have always looked for the Creator God. And when they fail to find Him, they create all sorts of replacements. By design, human beings are worshippers. They must always worship. This human need could probably even outrank the known basic human needs like food and security.
A man either creates an object or installs himself as an object of worship. This psalmist doesn’t have this kind of trouble. There is a king on Israel’s throne who happens to be an appropriate object of worship. So the wedding song has been crafted into an image, a larger-than-life version, which the psalmist superimposes on the poor king. And we know he doesn’t deserve any of the compliments beyond the fact that the LORD, his God has blessed him forever.
But wait a minute. The Book of Hebrews draws on the strength of this psalm and explains our puzzle. Everything is in place. This psalm is celebrating the reign of Israel’s real King. His reign is everlasting. Excellence speaks of perfection. It is an attribute exclusively reserved for the immortal King Jesus. Mighty, truth, humility, and justice are foundational elements of His kingdom.
Then we have the bride elegantly dressed for the occasion – in gold of Ophir. The New Testament saint knows the value of holiness. The bride’s holiness becomes an impressively expensive vestment; the beauty of virginity. The King is enthralled. The imagery is truly powerful. Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the King’s palace. There is joy in the kingdom of God. It is a special gift to the Body of Christ; the fruit of the Spirit.
As an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the saint, this psalm is simply beautiful. Joy and gladness accompany the grand celebrations. On the other side is a joyless existence in continuous gloom and sadness. It means someone is worshipping and praising something and someone else, other than the real King. He alone deserves worship.
This psalm invites us to reflect on worship and the special relationship that the saint enjoys with the King. At the same time, it stands as a warning to the King’s enemies. His sharp arrows stand ready to pierce the hearts of the King’s enemies. Let everyone forget the rest and let the King be enthralled by your beauty.
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