PSALM 45:1-2

We open up the blessed study this week of Psalm 45.  The title tells volumes of truth. It says, ‘To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.’  This song was to be sung at public worship by the sons of Korah, the chief musician or directors of public worship.  It is a ‘Maschil’ Psalm that is a Psalm of instruction or learning.  The word ‘Shoshannim’ is the word ‘lilies’.  The word is used in the Song of Solomon when he converses with his lover, the servant girl.  She called him ‘the lily of her valleys’ and he refereed to her as a ‘lily among thorns’.  It is called a ‘song of love’ that refers to a love song to be sung at a wedding.  There are several ideas for the present purpose of this writing but ultimately it was a picture of Christ and His Church.  We have heard the earthly phrase that is a ‘marriage made in heaven’ when most of them turn out t be a marriage made in hell.  We are told that 50% of all marriages end up in divorce.  The song is not the sensual love of an earthly couple but the marriage of a heavenly Bridegrooms marriage to His elect spouse.  We find this Psalm can be divided into two parts.  Verses 1-8, ‘The Royal Bridegroom Described’ and verses 9-17 ‘The Righteous Bride Described’.

            Let us begin to look at the Royal Bridegroom in verses 1-2 which says, “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou are fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” 

            I have entitled these two verses “Thy Glorious Grace”.  In verse 1a the Bride (Church) speaks of her Bridegroom (Christ) and we find here ‘The Consequences Of Grace’.  The writer speaks of ‘the heart’ the center of all man’s affection.  His thoughts, feelings, and doings come from here.  The Bride says the heart is ‘inditing’.  The word means to over flow, eruption, or bubble over.  The phrase ‘good matter’ is the word good spell, gospel, or goodness.  When a warm heart and good news meet together the consequence will be a bubbling over that all will witness.  When I think of the pending good news of spending eternity in a honeymoon relationship with our Bridegroom and Saviour, my heart leaps with joy.

            In verse 1b we find ‘The Cost Of Grace’.  The Bride speaks of the things that have been ‘made’ for the King. (Bridegroom)  The word means those things which cause great cost or sacrifice.  The life of sacrifice ‘touches’ our Bridegroom.  The Bible says that our Bridegroom is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  The central theme of this Psalm is the ‘King’.  We find Him in the Song of Solomon as the Shepherd King. The Lover, Shepherd King, and Bridegroom is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord.  The cost of grace is seen in verse 1 when David says his words equal the carefulness of the writer’s pen.  Men often speak in haste and write with care.  The Bridegroom says he writes and speaks with great care.

            In verse 2a we find ‘The Comeliness Of Grace’.  The word ‘fairer’ is a double word for beautiful.  It literally says thou art beautiful, beautiful.  Jesus is so emphatically lovely that words must be doubled in order to explain His fair beauty.  In verse 2b we find ‘The Communing Of Grace’.  All of grace meets upon the lips of our darling Bridegroom.  We are told in John’s Gospel that He is full of grace.  Because of this we are told that God the Father hath ‘blessed’ him forever.  The word means to lift high and to hold in high regard and speak well of.  Such was the words of the New Testament spoken by the Father.  ‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’  My, what will it be like to see our eternal husband face to face in all His glory?

.