Psalms 45

Psalms 45:6-9

This psalm is an illustrious prophecy of Mufiah the prince; of him speaketh the prophet this, and of no other man; and to him it is expressly applied, Heb. i. 8. The profane speaks the excellency of the long, ver. 1. The psalm describes, 1. The royal bridegroom, who is Christ. (1.) The transcendent excellency of his person, ver. 2. (2.) The glory of his victories, ver. 3—5. (3.) The righteousness of his government, ver. 6, 7. (4.) The splendor of his mercy, ver. 8, 9. 2. The royal bride, which is the church. (1.) Her custom gained, ver. 10, 11. (2.) The nuptials submissed, ver. 12—15. (3.) The issue of this marriage, ver. 16, 17.

his mighty sword. (3.) Wo to the sinner’s soul against whom the arrows of vengeance are ready on the string.

6. ‘Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7. ‘Thou louvît righteousness and hatedt wickedness: therefore + God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8. ‘All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and caffas; out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9. ‘Kings daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

The Psalmist having set forth the king Messiah victorious over his foes, here describes him on his exalted throne, in robes of majesty, and graced with most magnificent attendants.

1. His throne and righteous administration are remarked. Thy throne, O God; no less a personage than the eternal Jehovah; not a creature of the highest rank, but the full-casulent Creator, whom angels adore, Heh. 1. 8, 9, and whose kingdom ruled over all, and eternal as universal, for ever and ever: equitable in all his administration, the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre; none shall have cause to complain: even those that receive the sentence of eternal death shall be亙收既久, and own their condemnation just. Thou louvît righteousness, or righteous persons; those who under the influence of faith and love, walk after his own blessed pattern and precepts, and hatedt wickedness of all sorts, and those who practice it; and will, in condign punishment, make his hatred of it appear to all eternity. Note, We are all under this government; and whether we will or no, must stand or fall by his decisions. How highly than doth it import us to consider, whether we are dutiful subjects whom he loves, or wilful rebels whom he hates?

2. The appointment of Christ to his mediatorial kingdom is observed, v. 7. Therefore God, even thy God, John xx. 17, who appointed him for the work of redemption, and was the head of Christ and his God, as incarnate, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness; all spiritual gifts and graces, without measure, were bestowed upon the man Jesus, that he might be every way qualified for the undertaking whereunto he was appointed; and have in all things the pre-emmenence in the forpassing excellence of his human nature, as well as in the transcendent dignity to which he was advanced above his fellows.

3. His royal apparel is mentioned. All thy garments shall of myrrh, aloes, and caffas; alluding to the ingredients of the holy oil, Exod. xxx. 23. out of the ivory palaces; heaven, from whence he came forth thus gloriously arrayed, and to which he is now returned; whereby they have made thee glad; either the Messiaque himself, who delighted in these glorious garments; or it may be read, for which, and refer to believers, who are chastised with his robes of righteousness, and his garments of salvation; and thus adorned, the Saviour takes pleasure in their beauty.

4. His court appears magnificently splendid. Kings daughters were among thy honourable women; the children of God are sons and daughters of the eternal king, and their highest honour is to be attendants on his exalted Son; seeing by him they obtain this glorious relation, becoming children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. And as particular believers, virgin souls of royal extraction appear his attendants, his church lies as a queen at his right hand in gold of Ophir; adorned with gifts and graces more pure and precious than the finest gold; or rather beautiful in his bright robes of spotless righteousness, which as he commands, Rev. iii. 18. the hath bought. We may say of him, with greater propriety than the queen of Sheba did of Solomon’s servants, 1 Kings x. 8. Happy are they that stand continually before thee; for a greater than Solomon is here.

5. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house. 11. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him. 12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall interest thy favour. 13. The king’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. 14. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle-words: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. 15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayst make princes in all the earth. 17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Vol. I.

Psalms 45:10-17

As the former part refused to the king, this respects the queen, the Lamb’s wife; and she is called daughter, either referring to her relation to God’s dear Son, or as a term of tender and affectionate regard.

1. A solemn injunction is given her. Hearken, consider, incline thine ear: thou art no longer thine own, thy husband’s will must be thy law; hearken to it with attention, consider it with delight, and incline to it with cheerfulness; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; let no attachment beside engage thy heart, the whole belongs to him. They who would be Christ’s spouse, must be separated for him from whatever here below would ensnare and draw away their affections; compared with our love to him, we must hate father and brother; yea, our own lives also. So shall the king have pleasure in thy beauty: this is an argument for her faithful adherence to him alone; the delight he would take in her, and the happiness thence resulting. Another is drawn from his right and authority over her: He is thy Lord; thy mother, to whom obedience is so highly due; and therefore worship thou him, as thy maker, as well as thy husband and thy Redeemer, who is most high in the glory of God the Father; equal as teaching his Godhead, and therefore to be adored with equal honour, John v. 23. Note, (1.) We cannot entertain too high thoughts of the glory of our divine Lord: the humiliation of the man must never lessen in our eye the essential and self-existent deity of the Son. (2.) None can call Christ their bridegroom, whose fidelity and love doth not evidence the truth of their relation. (3.) The Lord’s delight is those who love and serve him; no beauty in his eye like the beauty of holiness.

2. The convention of the Gentiles unto her is foretold. The daughter of Tyre, the nearest bordering brethren nation, shall be there with a gift, offering up herself and her goods for the support of the gospel; even the rich among the people; not only the lower ranks in life, but even kings shall interest thy favour; desire to be admitted into the communion and fellowship of the gospel, which in a measure hath been, and shall yet be, more eminently fulfilled in its season.

3. Her beautiful apparel and admission into her husband’s palace is observed. The king’s daughter is all glorious within; her soul is adorned with every device and gracious disposition; her clothing is of wrought gold; a shining profession, and exemplary conduct, mark all her steps. She shall be brought unto the king, conducted by the hand of grace, and prepared for her high estate, in raiment of needle-work; the pure and precious robe of her Redeemer’s righteousness; or those bright garments of immortality, which in the resurrection-day she shall put on: the virgins her companions; the souls preserved in purity, unspotted from the world, that follow her in all holy ordinances and godly conversation, shall be brought unto thee, to the eternal enjoyment of thy presence and love. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought, amidst congratulating angels, themselves lost in wonders, love, and praise; and no marvel! when they shall enter into the king’s palace; the heaven of heavens, the place where his throne of glory stands; and where, next his own, thrones are prepared for them, that they may reign with him eternally. May my poor soul be numbered among these virgin fellows.

4. The Progeny of the Redeemer is promised to be many and illustrious. Instead of thy fathers, the Jewish flock from whence he sprung, shall be thy children, of the Gentile world, admitted into the church instead of the Jews, who were rejected; whom thou mayst make princes in all lands, for his dominion shall be from sea to sea; the very idea of the Gentiles shall come in unto him, and their kings reign by his appointment and for his glory: and also, from all these nations shall there be a choice generation, to reign with him as kings and priests for ever, Rev. i. 6. In consequence of this spread of the gospel, the Father engages to make his memorial everlasting. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations, by maintaining a perpetual succession of faithful men: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever; whilst sun and moon endureth, there shall be a generation to praise him; and when these bright luminaries are extinguished, the praises of our Jesus shall continue the burden of the never-ceating song of eternity. Amen, and Amen.