THE PROCESSION OF THE CHURCH.
Psalm 45:10-17.
Psalm 45:2-9 was addressed to the King. Now Psalm 45:10-16 is addressed to the queen. The queen stands for the Church (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9).
The Church is addressed as “daughter” (Psalm 45:10a). She is born of God, and she is espoused to the Son of God. The instruction here is, “Hearken; consider; incline thine ear.” In other words, ‘If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear’ (cf. Matthew 13:9). We are obliged to listen to the Word of God, receive it into our hearts, and live accordingly.
The instruction is clear: “forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house” (Psalm 45:10b). When we come to Jesus, we leave behind our worldly ties (cf. Matthew 19:29). We leave behind our sinful life. And we leave behind all dependence upon ourselves. The Church is at her best when she is not tainted by worldliness.
“So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty” (Psalm 45:11a). If we have any beauty to be desired by the Lord, it is a gift of His giving: Christ ‘loved the church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it’ (cf. Ephesians 5:25-26). The King delights in the beauty of the Church, in her righteousness, which was of His own giving (cf. Matthew 15:28 - ‘O woman, great is thy faith’).
“He is thy Lord; and worship thou Him” (Psalm 45:11b). We must not forget that Jesus is our Lord as well as our Saviour. He is God, and worthy to be praised.
“The daughter of Tyre” (Psalm 45:12a) stands for the Gentiles. Tyre was the commercial centre of the Ancient Near East. She brings a gift, as did the wise men from the East.
“The rich” also come, to the church, to “intreat thy favour” (Psalm 45:12b). The Church has no favours to give, but such as she receives from her Lord.
“The King’s daughter is all glorious within” (Psalm 45:13a). Christ reigns in her heart. She is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
“Her clothing is of wrought gold” (Psalm 45:13b). She is clothed with the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“She shall be brought unto the King” (Psalm 45:14a). This is the ultimate rest for the people of God.
Her “raiment of needlework” (Psalm 45:14b) represents the sovereign grace of God, which brings her to Christ. ‘Nobody can come to Me except the Father draw them: and I will raise them up at the last day’ (cf. John 6:44).
“The virgins her companions” (Psalm 45:14c) represent the faithful members of the Church. They are pure in heart (hence, “virgins”). They are her “companions” – those who walk the walk with her. And they follow and are brought unto the King [just as Paul says, ‘Be ye followers of me, even as I am also of Christ’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1)].
“With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought” (Psalm 45:15a). Jesus said, ‘I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also’ (cf. John 14:3).
“They shall enter into the King’s palace” (Psalm 45:15b). Jesus also said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’ (cf. John 14:2).
“Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children” (Psalm 45:16a). This is recompense for the queen’s dutiful leaving of her father’s house (cf. Psalm 45:10).
“Whom thou mayest make princes in the earth” (Psalm 45:16b). There shall never lack servants, saints indeed, to stand in the service of the true Church of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the whole earth. Every one of them is of royal lineage (cf. Revelation 1:6).
In the final verse the LORD God our Father addresses Jesus.
“I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations” (Psalm 45:17a). This is the same Jesus in whom the Father is ‘well pleased’ (cf. Matthew 3:17: Matthew 17:5). This is the same Jesus who has been preached through all the ages of the Church.
“Therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever” (Psalm 45:17b).
I am reminded of the Scottish Metrical Version of Psalm 72:17 -
‘His name for ever shall endure;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be bless’d in Him, and bless’d
all nations shall Him call.’
Amen.
