Psalms 45
PATTo the chief Musician npoti Shoshannim, for the Sons of Korah. MaschiL A Song of Loves. The foregoing Psalm is not more sad. and mournful, than this (as Theodoret observes) is joyful and comfortable: promising the most glorious things to them. The author of it is not named: but it was delivered, as, the former, to the master of music, for the use of God’s service in the tabernacle; to be sung upon Shoshanniin (by which we may understand all those instruments that had six strings) by the sons of Korah, to the known tune of Maschil, (see Psal. xxxii.) And being a Song of Loves, as the title tells us, (alluding plainly to the name of Jedidiah, given to Solomon by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. xii. 25.) most interpreters conclude itwas composed upon the occasion, at least, of Solomon’s marriage with Pharaoh’s daughter: who, it is most probable, was a proselyte to the Jewish religion. Some few, indeed, will not allow so much as this, that there is any respect to Solomon at all in this Psalm, but • only to Christ. And the truth is, many of the expressions in it are so magnificent, that they can but in a very poor and low sense be applied to Solomon and his bride: and some of them scarce at all. Though, on the contrary side, other expressions seem so plainly to belong to him, that they can no other way, but by allegory, be applied to our Saviour. Therefore I believe that I ought not wholly to omit all respect to Solomon and his marriage in’my Paraphrase; though principally I shall direct the Psalm to Christ. It being so apparent, that no’ Christian can deny it, that the mind of the prophet, while he was writing some part of this Psalm, was carried quite beyond king Solomon, to the great King, the Lord Christ. Or, at least, he was guided to use words so high, that they proved too big for Solomon: and we must say, as our Saviour doth in another case, Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. And so the best of the Jewish interpreters acknowledge.’ highly exalted thee,0 God, above all others whom he calls his sons; and conferred on thee such supereminent gifts, as make a joy among thy subjects far exceeding that, by whose sound the very earth was Tent, when Solomon was anointed king, and preferred above all his brethren, (1 Kings i. 39,40.)
Psalms 45:1
IrJLY heart is inditing a good matter: J speak of the things which I have made touching the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready tvr iter. My heart is full of a festival song, which I have meditated, and am ready to utter in praise of king Solomon; who is but a shadow of that great King which we expect: in honour of whom chiefly I will, recite what I have composed, with such fluency, as shall equal the style of the most skilful writer. t
Psalms 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is, poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Thou, O King, art lovely above all other persons, thy speech is most acceptable and persuasive; because the Lord loves thee, (2 Sam. xii. 24.) and hath therefore promised long blessings to thee; which yet do but faintly represent the truly eternal blessings, which he hath bestowed on that great King, who when he conies it shall be said that he is in favour with God as well as man; (Luke ii. tdt.) and speaks as never man spake, (John vii. 4G.) so that all wonder at the gracious words which proceed out of his mouth, (Luke iv. 22.)
Psalms 45:3
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. Put on thy royal ornaments, and the ensigns of thy power, O most mighty prince; and appear like thyself in such splendour and majesty, as may serve for an emblem of that most illustri– ous power and sovereign authority, wherein the omnipotent Lord of all the world shall shew himself among men.
Psalms 45:4
And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things^ And may thy kingdom so prosper every way, in the planting all virtue among, thy subjects, and terrifying thy enemies; that it may prove a lively type of the happy government of the Lord Christ: whose kingdom, shall prevail over all, when he goes forth like a great conqueror, (Rev. xix. 11.) not to enslave men’s persons, or to spoil them of their goods, but to settle the true faith among them, to make them humble and meek, just and charitable: and for the furtherance of this glorious work, thy mighty power, O Lord, shall instruct thee to do miraculous and amazing things, (Luke iv. 3G. v. 2G.)
Psalms 45:5
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Which shall make thy word pierce, like sharp arrows, into the hearts of all those that oppose thy royal authority; and make the nations of the earth (far more than shall obey king Solomon, though he should reign over many kingdoms, 1 Kings iv. 21.) humble themselves, and become subject to thee. Ver. G. Tliy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.] O great Lord, the God of king Solomon, and of all those that are called gods in heaven or earth; the judge of the whole world: how weak and tottering aro the thrones of all other princes in comparison with thine, which shall never be subverted? It is the glory of king Solomon, that God hath promised his kingdom shall continue many ages: (2 Sam. vii. 13.) but thou shalt reign for ever and ever; and of thy kingdom there shall be no end: (Luke i. 33.) thy laws are so just and so good, thy government so equal and fit, that they shall be subject to no alteration.
Psalms 45:7
Thou lovest i-ighteousness, and hatest tvickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. For thou thyself also immutably lovest all righteousness and goodness, (from which other princes may swerve, and so bring their kingdoms to ruin, 1 Kings ix. 4— G.) and perfectly hatest all impiety and wickedness: for which cause, God the Father hath
Psalms 45:8
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. That, indeed, was a joyful day; and so is this, wherein thou didst appear with great gladness in thy wedding garments, brought out of the stately wardrobes: the odour of which is so fragrant, as if they were made of the richest perfumes among us; and yet nothing so grateful as the knowledge of Christ, >yhich shall be spread as a sweet odour in every place, when he goes to espouse a church unto himself, (2 Cor. ii. 14—16.)
Psalms 45:9
Kings daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.* Thou wast most honourably attended by many princely virgins, the daughters of kings (though far inferior in their descent to the true disciples of Christ, who are all born of God), and next to thyself was placed the royal bride, in a vesture of the purest gold; as an image of the church of Christ, which shall sit with him in heavenly places, (Eph. ii. 6.) having the glory of God upon her, (Rev. xxi. 9.11.)
Psalms 45:10
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house. O royal bride, understand and consider seriously the happiness to which thou art advanced, by being married to such a prince: and never think more of the religion “of thy country in which thou wast born and bred; but become a true proselyte, and consent to the law of God: (as we ourselves and all the world must do to Christ, when he calls us to incline our ears to his heavenly doctrine; and not only renounce all our former rites, but father and mother, and all things else that are dearest to us, for his sake, Luke xix. 26. Eph. v. 31, 32.)
Psalms 45:11
So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him. So shalt thou be most beautiful and amiable in the eyes of the King thy husband, (as Christ by that means shall present to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. v. 27.) who is now become thy Lord: and therefore see thoubcest subject unto him, (as the church must be to Christ; whom God will highly exalt, that at his name every knee shall be bound to bow, and every tongue confess that he is the Lord, Phil. ii. 9, 10.)
Psalms 45:12
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even therichamong the people shall entreat thy favour. The people of Tyre, as rich and as proud as they are, shall come, with their neighbouring countries, and bring thee presents; the most powerful among them shall make suit linto thee for thy friendship, (as the kings’ of the earth shall bring their glory and their honour into the church, Rev. xxi. 24.)
Psalms 45:13
TJte King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is ofivrought gold. For king Pharaoh’s daughter, the wife of our prince, is no less adorned with all excellent qualities of mind, than her body is with rich attire; wherein she now appears in a splendid manner, (as the ornaments of those that arc born of God in the Christian’ church, shall not be so much the outward adorning of wearing of gold, as the hidden man of the heart, which is in the sight of God of great price, 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4.)
Psalms 45:14
Sheshallbe brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work\ the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. She shall be brought home unto the king with magnificent pomp, in embroidered’raiment; and the virgins, her maids of honour, that attend upon her, shall come along with her, (as the church being owned by Christ for his spouse in a solemn manner, and being pure and holy, Rev. xix. 7, 8. there shall be many chaste virgins among us, who shall make a part of it, and follow Christ whithersoever he goes, Rev. xiv. 1. 4.)
Psalms 45:15
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter intoUie King’s palace. They shall express their inward gladness by all the outward tokens of joy, as they go along in that pomp; and so shall enter into the royal palace, (a figure of the church, into which men shall enter with far greater joy, and say, Hallelujah, let us rejoice and be glad, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, Rev. xix. 6, 7. Acts ii. 46.)
Psalms 45:16
Instead of thy fathers shall bethy cluldren, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. And may this be the happy fruit of this marriage, that instead of thy royal ancestors in Egypt, whom thou hast forsaken, thou mayest be the mother of children, whom thou mayest make Tulers in all the countries which are subject to king Solomon, (2 Kings iv. 21. 24.) As, instead of the patriarchs, of our descent from whom we are apt to boast, shall be the twelve apostles and their successors, sitting upon thrones, and judging the twelve tribes of Israel, (Matt, xix; 28.) by whose means the church shall bring forth children unto Christ, whom he shall make kings and priests unto God, and they shall reign upon the earth, (Rev. v.- 10.)
Psalms 45:17
I tvill make’thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and everJ. By this very song I will make thy name to be mentioned with honour throughout all ages, who shall leatn from hence to give thee thy deserved praises as long as the world shall last; and, much more, to propagate the Christian name (prophesied of so long before) to the latest posterity, and celebrate their Worth with perpetual praises, who forsook all to follow Christ, and fcather chose to lose their life, than quit his service, (Jam. v. 11. NaKaptcrofxzv, We call them blessed, &c.)