Psalm Category: Royal Psalm

Central Thought: Psalm 45 reveals the majesty and meaning of Christ’s royal wedding with His church.

*Keyword: *Mashah (v. 7). Mashah is translated as “anointing” (NIV) in verse 7. The verse depicts God anointing the earthly king with the “oil of joy” in order to set him apart from his companions. This action is another indication that this Psalm speaks of Jesus. Jesus is the anointed one of Psalm 45! (See Luke 4:18; Acts 4:26-27; Acts 10:37-39.)

Psalm 45

Weddings are wonderful occasions. In a culture that is averse to ceremony, weddings provide a welcome dose of pomp and glamor. The bride wears a beautiful and utterly impractical dress. The church is filled with candles, flowers and inspiring music. There is a regal feel to the entire event.

Our experiences of weddings will assist us in interpreting Psalm 45. As you read Psalm 45, you are entering into the palace of the king on his wedding day.

The Majesty of the Wedding (vv. 1-5, 8-17): In the first verse we are given a glimpse into the heart of the psalmist. The psalmist notes that his heart is “stirred” by what he sees and records. What stirs his heart? It is stirred by the glory of the king, the beauty of the bride, and the majesty of the wedding.

First, he is stirred by the glory of the king (vv. 1-4). The king is the “most excellent of men,” his “lips have been anointed with grace,” and he is “blessed” by God (v. 2). The king is a glorious warrior adorned in full military dress (v. 3). His glory is not only found in his victory in battle, but also in the fact that he fights on behalf of “truth, humility and righteousness” (v. 4).

Second, he is stirred by the beauty of the bride (vv. 10-15). Her beauty is particularly referenced in vv. 13-14 where she is described as wearing a gown “interwoven with gold” and as accompanied by an entourage of young maidens.

Third, he is stirred by the majesty of the entire ceremony (vv. 8-9). In vv. 8-9 we see a vivid snapshot of this majesty. These verses depict an opulent palace filled with both dignitaries and festive music. The king is wearing handsome garments, and at his right hand is the “royal bride in gold of Ophir” (v.9). No wonder the psalmist’s heart is stirred!

The Meaning of the Wedding (vv. 6-7): While Psalm 45 is clearly beautiful, one may wonder why it is in the psalter. After all, this psalm is like a DVD of an ancient Israelite royal wedding. Even the Israelites may have wondered about the relevance of Psalm 45 after the kingship of Israel was no more. In addition, why do we sing it? Is it in the psalter solely to provide Reformed Presbyterians something to sing at weddings?

Psalm 45 is in the psalter for the following reason: It speaks prophetically of King Jesus. First, there is the description of the warrior-king in vv. 2-5. Here the king is described as girded with a sword (v. 3), clothed in majesty (v. 3), riding on a war horse (v. 4) and defeating the nations (v. 5). Is this not a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus the great white horse rider of Revelation (19:11-16)?

Second, verses 6-7 seem to confuse the earthly human king with God. The psalmist describes the glory of the human king (vv. 2-5) and then seamlessly begins speaking of the throne of God (vv. 6-7). What can explain this relationship between the human king and the divine king? Only the incarnation of the Son of God can make complete sense of these verses. This conclusion is confirmed by their application to Jesus in the first chapter of the Hebrews (vv.8-9).

Of course, if this psalm speaks of Jesus, then the beautiful bride in this psalm is His church (Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. 19:7-8). Note that “the king is enthralled by your beauty” (Psalm 45:11). This is how Jesus thinks of His church. This is how He thinks of you! Your response to Christ’s adoring affection should be the same as the bride in v. 11, to “honor him, for he is your lord.”

—Anthony Selvaggio