Psalms 45
DOYLY— Shoshannim.] By this term we may understand all those instruments which had six strings. Bp. Patrick.
Ver. 1. My heart is inditing &c.] My heart is full and ready to overflow with an important and glorious subject, which I have meditated, and am ready to utter in honour of king Solomon; who is but a shadow of that great King whom we expect. Travell.
— a ready writer.] That is, a well-instructed writer; a writer prepared and ready, by a perfect knowledge of the subject he undertakes to treat. Bp. Horsley.
Psalms 45:2
- Thou art fairer &c.] Thou, O king, art lovely above all other persons, thy speech is most acceptable and persuasive, because the Lord loves thee, and has poured his choicest blessings upon thee: yet do these but faintly represent the eternal blessings, which He will bestow on that great King, who shall be “in favour with God and man,” and who shall make all men “wonder at the gracious words which proceed out of his mouth.” Bp. Patrick.
Psalms 45:3
- Gird thy sword &c.] Put on thy royal ornaments, and the ensigns of thy power, that thou mayest appear with such splendour and majesty, as may serve for an emblem of that sovereign authority, in which the Lord of all the world shall hereafter appear among men. Bp. Patrick.
Psalms 45:4
- And in thy majesty &c.] May thy kingdom be every
Psalms 45:5
- Thine arrows are sharp &c.] Thy power shall be sufficient to subdue thy greatest enemies; so shall the grace of Christ be mightily successful in bringing the Gentile world into subjection to his kingdom. Dr. Hammond.
Psalms 45:6
- Thy throne, O God, &c.] The kingdom of the Messiah is never to have an end. And herein is Solomon a type of Him: the kingdom of Judah, now settled on him, shall endure till the time of the Messiah’s coming, and entering on his immutable kingdom. Dr. Hammond.
Psalms 45:7
- Thou lovest righteousness, &c.] Thou, O Christ, lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity; therefore God the Father hath advanced Thee above all angels and men, and exalted Thee to reign for ever at his own right hand. And herein also was Solomon a type of the Messiah, whose preference of wisdom to wealth was highly rewarded by God, beyond all other men. Dr. Hammond.
Psalms 45:8
- All thy garments &c.] Thy wedding garments, worn by thee on this joyful occasion, scatter through the royal apartments, richly inlaid with ivory, a fragrance of the sweetest perfumes: in like manner shall the heavenly graces of Christ be diffused, as a sweet odour over his faithful servants. Travell.
— myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.] Perhaps these were the drugs, with which the oil for the anointing the kings of Israel and Judah was prepared. Two of them, the myrrh and cassia, are the same with those from which the oil for the consecration of Aaron and his sons was commanded to be made. See Exod. xxx. 23, 24. Street.
Psalms 45:9
- Kings’ daughters &c.] Thy court was attended by