Psalms Reading – 2.12.2022
Psalm 45
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song.
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.
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.
since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve 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;
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve 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;
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, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift, people 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—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift, people 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—
those brought to be with her.
15 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.
This royal psalm praises the king on his wedding day. The psalmist inserts himself in a dramatic way in verses 1 and 17 creating a frame for the psalm. Throughout the rest of the psalm the psalmist praises the king and addresses the bride.
The psalm does not identity any specific king. It was probably written for use by any of the descendants of David. The bride appears to be a foreigner, reflecting the international stature of this king. Lilies is an especially appropriate tune for this wedding song, given the prominence of lilies in the greatest of love songs in the Bible, the Song of Songs.
The psalm is about God’s establishing a royal dynasty that would, in effect, rule over His kingdom on earth. However, it is because of God’s blessing the king “forever” that the king can be praised in such a way. The king is God’s representative on earth to rule with righteousness, justice, and mercy. It is because of God’s favor that the kings could receive such praise, not because of what they could do.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
All of life is a gift of God. Salvation is our response to God’s grace freely given. All praise to God!
Memory Verse: Psalm 39:7, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”
Question(s) to Consider: When you are praised, do you thank God for giving you what you have?