psalm 45, a royal wedding - bible study...

http://www.BibleStudyWorkshop.com 1

Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell

A Royal Wedding

Psalm 45:1-17

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

http://www.BibleStudyWorkshop.com


A Royal Wedding

by

Clyde M. Miller Text: Psalm 45:1-17, 1. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. 2. You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. 3. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. 4. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. 5. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. 6. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 7. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. 8. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. 9. Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. 10. Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. 11. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.




12. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. 13. All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. 14. In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. 15. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. 16. Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. 17. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. (NIV) Introduction: I. The title designates Psalm 45 as “a love song” (NRSV). A. The context of the psalm reveals that we have a description of the wedding of a king and his bride who will become queen.

1. The rendering “a wedding song” (NIV) is, therefore, also appropriate.

II. For information about “the sons of Korah”, see the introduction to Psalm 42. III. Verses 8-15 indicate a wedding procession, and verses 1-7 show that it is a royal wedding.

A. Psalm 45:1-7, My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty




ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (NIV)

B. Psalm 45:8-15, All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. (NIV)

IV. The fact that it is a love song makes it unique in the Psalter.

A. The content, however, includes such royal themes as righteousness, military prowess, and the recognition that the king is God’s vice regent.

1. This is the implied focus of interest in the psalm. B. The need for progeny to continue the line of David is justifiable reason for including this psalm in Israel’s devotional literature.




V. “Later the psalm was interpreted messianically, and still later allegorically.” (Ash)

A. The former step seems natural (cf. Ps. 45:6), but the latter is quite dubious as an interpretive mode for the psalm.

1. Psalm 45:6, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (NIV)

VI. “After a scribal introduction (Ps. 45:1), the king is heroically described as handsome and eloquent (Ps. 45:2), a mighty warrior (Ps. 45:3-5), a paragon of just sovereignty (Ps. 45:4,6,7), possessor of an eternal throne (Ps. 45:6), specially blessed by God (Ps. 45:7), and magnificently prepared for the wedding (Ps. 45:8-9).” (Ash)

A. Psalm 45:1, My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (NIV)

B. Psalm 45:2, You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. (NIV)

C. Psalm 45:3-5, Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. (NIV)

D. Psalm 45:4, 6, 7, In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of




your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (NIV)

E. Psalm 45:6, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (NIV)

F. Psalm 45:7, You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (NIV)

G. Psalm 45:8, 9, All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (NIV)

VII. In Ps. 45:9 the bride is introduced. She is advised and promised blessing in her new role (Ps. 45:10-13a). Her wedding procession is beautifully pictured in Ps. 45:13b-15. Finally, a blessing (Ps. 45:16-17), including a divine oracle (Ps. 45:17), is bestowed upon the pair”—Ash.

A. Psalm 45:9, Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (NIV)

B. Psalm 45:10-13a, Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. All glorious is the princess within her chamber; (NIV)




C. Psalm 45:13b-15, her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. (NIV)

D. Psalm 45:16, 17, Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. (NIV)

E. Psalm 45:17, I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. (NIV)

Commentary:

Thematic Introduction Psalm 45:1, My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (NIV) I. Literally, the psalm begins, “My heart bubbles forth” or “boils over”, and here expresses the poet’s exuberant enthusiasm for his task.

A. “Theme” is literally “word”, “verses” is literally “doings” and “like” (RSV) is an explanatory interpolation. B. “Pen” could be the predicate nominative, and thus “tongue” could be a metaphor for “pen”.

II. It is not, therefore, possible to know whether the author first sang the song at the wedding and later wrote it down.

Praise to the King




Psalm 45:2-9, You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (NIV) Psalm 45:2a,b, You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. (NIV) I. Verse 2a sets forth the king’s beauty.

A. Physical form and presence were considered desirable for a king, although God was not as interested in that as were people (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7).

1. 1 Samuel 16:7, But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NIV)

II. Verse 2b describes the “grace” of the king.




A. This term may include more than physical beauty. B. His manner of dealing with people may be implied. C. In that case, “lips”, by synecdoche, stands for the entire speech.

Psalm 45:2c-3, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. (NIV) I. Since God has “blessed” the king (2c), that is, put His stamp of approval upon him, he can be expected to go to battle as the “mighty one” robed in his royal “splendor and majesty”. Psalm 45:4, In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. (NIV) I. He can also expect to be victorious over national enemies in a just war based on “truth, humility and righteousness”.

A. “Humility” may seem to be out of place in describing a warrior king.

1. The quality, however, implies that God is truly the “mighty one” (v. 3), and the king is His underling.

B. “Righteousness” here carries an ethical connotation.

1. The king is expected to treat his subjects right. 2. David is said to have done so (2 Sam. 8:15).




a. 2 Samuel 8:15, David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. (NIV)

C. The “right hand” was a symbol of strength and dignity (Ex. 15:6).

1. Exodus 15:6, "Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. (NIV)

D. “Awesome deeds” are those that demand attention and submission.

Psalm 45:5, Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. (NIV) I. Verse 5 elaborates the final thought of verse 4.

A. The awesome deeds will be manifested in victory won over pagan enemies. B. “Enemies” and “peoples” are complementary terms indicating foreign political foes of God and the king.

Psalm45:6, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (NIV) I. “Your divine throne” (RSV) renders Aelohim as an adjective.

A. While Ael and Aelohim can occasionally be translated as adjectives referring to that which is great, as in “great city” (Jonah 3:3), and “mighty cedars” (Ps. 80:10), neither word seems to be used elsewhere to mean “divine” in the Old Testament.




1. Jonah 3:3, Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. (NIV)

2. Psalm 80:10, The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. (NIV)

B. The syntax of the present passage suggests that Aelohim should be rendered in direct address, “O Aelohim”. C. The rendering, “O God”, however, in this context is as misleading as the phrase, “divine throne”. D. We propose the translation, “Your throne, O mighty one, endures for a long time”.

1. The king, not God, is being addressed. 2. “For ever” often means a time of long, but not eternal, duration. 3. Neither David nor the Davidic dynasty lasted literally for ever. 4. “A scepter of justice” indicates that the war under consideration is one approved by God and, therefore, victory can be expected.

Psalm 45:7, You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (NIV) I. Psalm 33:5a says that God loves righteousness and justice.




A. The king described in Psalm 45:7 is aware of that and imitates God in his royal activities. B. “Therefore” indicates the consequent relationship between the king’s faithfulness and continued divine blessings bestowed. C. “Anointed”, in the context of the psalm, does not refer to the king’s coronation, but to his endowment of gladness in connection with his wedding. D. “The oil of joy” or “gladness” was promised the exiles in Babylon upon their being returned home by the LORD (Isa. 61:3).

1. Isaiah 61:3, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (NIV)

E. God gives enjoyment to those who please Him through obedience (Eccl. 2:24-26).

1. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (NIV)




Psalm 45:8, All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. (NIV) I. Verse 8 describes the king’s handsomeness in his perfumed wedding robes as he waits for the wedding procession to begin.

A. “Palaces adorned with ivory” alludes to the habit of kings elaborately adorning their furnishings with inlaid ivory (1 Kings 10:18,22; 22:39).

1. 1 Kings 10:18, 22, Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons. (NIV)

2. 1 Kings 22:39, As for the other events of Ahab's reign, including all he did, the palace he built and inlaid with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? (NIV)

B. The beautiful hymn, “Out of the Ivory Palaces,” is based on the messianic interpretation of this passage.

Psalm 45:9, Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (NIV) I. “Daughters of kings” would make appropriate attendants at a royal wedding. II. “Gold of Ophir”, the best in the world at that time, was woven in strands into the bride’s wedding gown, thus providing attire fit for a queen!




Praise to the Prospective Bride

Psalm 45:10-15, Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. (NIV) Psalm 45:10, Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. (NIV) I. She is encouraged not to be forlorn as she leaves her father’s house to live with the king.

A. “Daughter” is a metonym for “people”. B. She is not being encouraged to forsake her relationship with her family, but she is now to put first the interests of the king.

Psalm 45:11, The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. (NIV) I. Marital bliss will cure her homesickness.

A. Affection is essential for a happy marriage.

1. The king is enthralled by the queen’s beauty.

B. In turn, she should show him the honor due her husband and his position.




1. “Lord” here means “leader”.

Psalm 45:12, The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. (NIV) I. “The daughter of Tyre” refers to the people or women of Tyre.

A. If the latter, the phrase forms a synonymous connection with “men of wealth”.

1. Synecdoche is, therefore, employed to include all the populace.

B. The first line could also be read, “A Tyrian robe is among the gifts” (NIV, n.). 1. Lavish gifts will prepare her for her new life style.

2. Tyre, a prominent city in Phoenicia, was legendary for its wealth.

3. To have representatives from Tyre at the wedding ceremony would enhance it greatly.

Psalm 45:13, All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. (NIV) I. The prospective bride is in waiting “within her chamber” for the wedding procession to begin.

A. She is robed in a gown interwoven with gold.

B. What a ravishing picture she will present to the king!




Psalm 45:14, In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. (NIV) I. It was customary for “virgin companions”, much like our modern bridesmaids and matrons of honor, to be chosen to accompany the bride.

A. With the queen, with her “embroidered garment”, a beautiful environment will be created for the king.

Psalm 45:15, They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. (NIV) I. In addition to all the pomp and splendor already mentioned, the place of the wedding will add to its joy and magnificence.

A. The palace, always an ornate place, doubtless will be lavishly adorned for the wedding.

Promise to the King

Psalm 45:16-17, Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. (NIV) Psalm 45:16, Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. (NIV) I. The king will in time be honored and remembered through his royal sons instead of his royal ancestors.

A. The fulfillment of this promise of royal progeny will help ensure the continuance of the Davidic dynasty, according to the divine promise (2 Sam. 7:12-17).




1. 2 Samuel 7:12-17, When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. (NIV)

Psalm 45:17, I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. (NIV) I. The perpetuation of one’s memory is still extremely important, but it was much more so in ancient times, and especially in royal circles.

A. “For ever and ever” means “for long duration”.




The Messianic Interpretation I. The New Testament book of Hebrews, 1:8-9, quotes verses 6-7 and applies them to the royal sonship of Christ.

A. Hebrews 1:8, 9, But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (NIV)

B. Psalm 45:6, 7, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (NIV)

II. The Davidic king, a type and shadow of Christ, fell far short of the divine ideal of righteous rule.

A. It is only Christ, the antitype, who perfectly lives up to the standard. B. The rendering, “O God”, is appropriate in the New Testament passage where the messiah is being considered.

1. Christ was Immanuel, “God With Us”, even while he lived in a human body (Mt. 1:23).

Application: I. Social traditions, such as weddings, can be used to glorify God.




A. Christ honored this tradition by performing his first miracle in Galilee at a wedding (John 2:1-11).

1. John 2:1-11, On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (NIV)

B. Christ, our spiritual king (Mt. 2:2; 27:11), took center stage and glorified the occasion by performing a miracle to spare the host from embarrassment over the lack of wine.

1. Matthew 2:2, and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (NIV)




2. Matthew 27:11, Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. (NIV)

II. Prayers, songs and sermons at weddings are usually calculated not only to add to the festiveness, but also to focus attention on the sacredness of the marriage vow and the sanctity of life-long fidelity of the marriage relationship.

A. God should be kept foremost in mind in marriage if it is to be all that God intended.




Questions

Psalm 45:1-17

(Questions based on NIV text.) 1. Psalm 45 is designated in the title as “a ______________________ ____________________.” The wedding is of a _________________ on his ___________________ who will become _________________. This psalm can, therefore be called “a ____________________ __________________.” Verses 8-15 indicate a _________________ ________________ while verses 1-7 show it is a _________________ _______________. The fact that Psalm 45 is a _________________ ______________ makes it _______________ in the _____________. 2. The content includes royal themes such as _________________, _________________ _________________, and the recognition that the _______________ is _________________’s ________________ _________________. 3. The need for ____________________ to _________________ the ________________ of _________________ is a _________________ _________________ for including this _________________ in _________________’s ___________________ _________________. 4. Psalm 45 has been interpreted __________________________ and _________________. Which is the preferred interpretive approach? Give reasons for your answer. _______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




5. According to Ash, what twelve points are addressed in Psalm 45? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. “My ______________ is ______________ by a _______________ _________________ as I _______________ my _________________ for the ______________; my ______________ is the _____________ of a _____________________ _____________________.” 7. Describe the king as portrayed in verses 2-9. __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Locate Ophir. __________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Were all the descriptions of the king literally correct or were some poetically exaggerated. Explain your answer. Which descriptions were literally correct and which if any were figuratively embellished? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




10. Define and/or give the significance of: (a) blessed ____________ ________________________________________________________ (b) right hand ____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ (c) awesome deeds ________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ (d) your divine throne ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________ (e) forever and ever _______________________________________ ________________________________________________________ (f) a scepter of justice ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________ (g) palaces adorned with ivory. ______________________________ ________________________________________________________ 11. How much of this psalm is messianic in nature? Give proof for your answer. What well known hymn is based on this psalm? ______ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Describe the bride as portrayed in verses 10-15. Was she homesick? If so, what was said in these verses to assuage this loneliness? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. How could the king’s sons take the place of their fathers? _______ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Whose memory will be perpetuated through all generations? ____ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. What lessons are there in Psalm 45 applicable to our age? ______ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



psalm 45, a royal wedding - bible study...

Documents