Psalm 45 - Psalm Of The Sons Of Korah Series

Psalm 45 For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.

Ron Ferguson 2021 ronaldf@aapt.net.au

You will notice a title to this Psalm, and the word “shoshannim” means lilies and it is probable referring to the shape of the musical instrument or to a tune. It is a song of loves, called a conjugal song. By way of introduction Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says The union and glories of Christ and his Church are described. He is addressed as a king possessed of all essential graces, as a conqueror exalted on the throne of a righteous and eternal government, and as a bridegroom arrayed in nuptial splendour. The Church is portrayed in the purity and loveliness of a royally adorned and attended bride, invited to forsake her home and share the honours of her engaged Lord. That commentary specifies Christ but to the Jewish mind when written, it did not mean that.

Psalm 45 v 1 “My heart overflows with a good theme. I address my verses to the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psa 45:2 You are fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured upon Your lips, therefore God has blessed You forever.”

This is a most beautiful psalm written by a gifted writer and inspired by God. We shall see the beauty of the psalm as we study it today. There is an extra blessing associated with this psalm because it is one of the Messianic Psalms. Messianic Psalms are about the Lord Jesus Christ, and are often prophetic in some way. The writers at the time did not know they were writing about Jesus as His coming was 1 000 years still future, but the Holy Spirit spoke through these writers, holy men of old whom God moved. One of the proofs of a Messianic Psalm is that the New Testament quotes from it to refer to the Lord Jesus. We will see that as we progress through this one. I think there are about 18 Messianic psalms.

The writer begins with his own inner feelings about what he is penning. Verse 1 begins with the excitement felt by what he is doing. His heart overflows with the subject – actually an image of a fountain that is just bubbling over and can not be contained. The psalm is praise to the King and is a rare Old Testament song to Messiah. It is noted that only "psalms of high and solemn importance" have formal explanations of this kind, announcing the intention of the writer. He uses a metaphor – his tongue is his pen.

Verse 1 begins with the occupation of the writer’s mind, and this psalm is the unfolding of the majesty of this king (a king). It is all about the king that gives such joy and readiness to the writing of majestic themes. But, you may ask, “Who is this king being addressed?” There is no doubt that the king here is King Messiah, because the New Testament supports that. Even the Jewish comments on this verse support that. The Chaldean Targum paraphrases verse 2 by saying, “Thy beauty, O King Messiah, is greater than that of the sons of men.” And the eminent Jewish expositor Aben-Ezra says, “This Psalm treats of David, or rather of his son the Messiah.” The original has “a king” but the clearest understanding is that it is THE King.

Verse 2 goes beyond any earthly description of a man and belongs to the Person whose Name is above every name, that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Jesus is the Son of Man but He is greater than all men for He is the God-Man. Grace is poured on Him for He is grace and His lips spoke grace here on earth, and He is today the gracious Redeemer whose life was given in love. He was the One who was rich in the palaces of heaven but for our sakes, He became poor so that through His poverty we might become rich. That is grace, the grace that belongs to the only begotten Son of the Father. O, yes, God has blessed Him. Through His suffering, He has been given a Bride and is seated at the right hand of the Father until He rises to claim His Bride in full at the Rapture. This is the same one as in Hebrews 1 v 3 “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Psalm 45 v 3 “Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One, in Your splendour and Your majesty! Psa 45:4 In Your majesty, ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness. Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. Psa 45:5 Your arrows are sharp. The peoples fall under You. Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.”