Day 97

Psalm 45: Read here – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2045&version=NASB

The historical setting of this Love song is the marriage of Solomon with the daughter of the king of Egypt (1Kings 3:1). However, no scripture is exhausted by its historical occasion. We can see here the union of the Messiah & His people. The writer begins by recounting ‘A good theme,” but this is the greater theme! The birth of Christ is the arrival of the great warrior & the great king.

There is a sense of joy and celebration throughout the psalm. It celebrates a royal wedding, but at the same time, the text of the psalm itself and the way the NT quotes this psalm, require us to regard its general tone and many of its specific lines to speak of the ultimate King, Jesus the Messiah.

V2-5 begins a poetic and powerful description of the King, praising and exalting Him both for who He is and what He does. The psalmist begins by simply noting the beauty of the King, saying He is more beautiful (fairer) than all others (superhuman). The emphasis here is on the character of the Messiah, on the beauty of His nature and personality. The beauty of the King extends to His words, which are filled with grace. His grace-blessed lips speak grace-filled words. This was marvellously true of Jesus. In His early years it was said, “So all bore witness to Him, and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.” (Luke4:22) Even the opponents of Jesus said, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John7:46). His word instructed the ignorant, resolved the doubtful, comforted the mourners, reclaimed the wicked, silenced his adversaries, healed diseases, controlled the elements, and raised the dead. In the beauty of His character and the graciousness of His words, the King enjoys the blessing of God, and enjoys it forever. This King is also a man of war, a Mighty One armed with a sword. The phrasing of this psalm is likely the source of some of the phrasing of John’s description of Jesus returning in triumph in Rev19:11-16. The ‘splendour’ of the King is in ‘truth, meekness & righteousness.’