A Love Song Psalm (45) set to "Lilies"

PSALM 45

1 For the leader. Set to "Lilies." By the descendants of Korach. A maskil. A lovesong: My heart is stirred by a noble theme; I address my verses to the king; My tongue is the pen of an expert scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of men; gracious speech flows from your lips. For God has blessed you forever. 3 Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh; [gird on] your splendor and majesty. 4 In your majesty, succeed, ride on in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness. May your right hand teach you awesome things. 5 Your arrows are sharp. The people fall under you, as they penetrate the hearts of the king's enemies. 6 Your throne, God, will last forever and ever; you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity. 7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy in preference to your companions. 8 Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy. 9 Daughters of kings are among your favorites; at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir. 10 Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention! Forget your own people and your father's house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty; for he is your lord, so honor him. 12 Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples, will court your favor with gifts. 13 Inside [the palace], the king's daughter looks splendid, attired in checker-work embroidered with gold. 14 In brocade, she will be led to the king, to you, with the virgins in her retinue. 15 They will be led in with gladness and joy, they will enter the king's palace. 16 You will have sons to succeed your ancestors; you will make them princes in all the land. 17 I will make your name known through all generations; thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.

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This is a Royal Psalm and is a love song celebrating the marriage between the king and his bride. It therefore has a flavour of the Song of Solomon about it. Allegorically it is therefore a reflection (as every marriage is intended to be) of the relationship between Christ and His beloved Church. Paul exhorts husbands to sacrifice and dedicate their lives to their wives as Christ gave His life for the Church (Ephesians 5:25) "that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her with the water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." I still haven't learned to be such an effective husband as God would have me to be after over 33 years of marriage, but I still tell my wife I love her and even (not often enough) give her some flowers.

The Psalm also is an enlargement of the scope of of the Messianic prophecy we read in Psalm 2. Whoever the king is that this Psalm was originally written about, He depicts one greater than any Davidic king and definitely speaks of Our Lord and Saviour.

Read the Psalm again and allow God to speak to you about marriage and the wonderful relationship we can enjoy with Him as being part of the Bride of Christ. My favourite section is verses 6-9: "Your throne, God, will last forever and ever; you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy in preference to your companions. Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy."

What an encouragement and gracious privilege it is to follow and serve one whose throne lasts forever, rules with justice, is beautiful beyond description and delights to hear the music and worship of His true followers.