December 17
Reading: Psalm 45
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people.
13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber,
with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
Psalm 45 is a wedding poem and reminds the reader of the Song of Solomon. It was written by the Sons of Korah on behalf of one of David’s brides and the wedding procession. Verses 1-9 are the words that the bride says to her king. Verses 10-17 are the words the wedding party says to the bride. All the words are meant ultimately to come from God and be praise to God. It is a wedding.
God invented men and women. (Matthew 19:4-5) He made marriage. He performed the first wedding. (Genesis 2:22-25) All of this reveals God’s good design and His Kingdom.
But this poem goes further than that.
As marriage is a picture of the Lord’s relationship with His people Israel and now the Church, so this psalm is a picture of how we worship and honor King Jesus, our bridegroom. We recite our words of praise to Him. He is our majestic King and our mighty warrior. As we honor Him, He makes us beautiful and dresses us in righteousness. He gives us a heritage among the nations forever.
I find verse 10 particularly instructive. When we come into God’s family, we choose to forsake all the things we used to love in this world. And we will not regret it because the gifts that come from King Jesus are far better.
Read this psalm again and think about what it means for you to be the Lord’s treasured bride.