Psalms 45:1

PSALM 45

THE PROPHETIC PROTHALAMION FOR CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE

THE NEW JERUSALEM IS THE WIFE OF THE LAMB (Revelation 21:9)

THE HOLY CHURCH IS THE NEW JERUSALEM (Revelation 19:9)

This psalm is called, "A Royal Wedding Song,"[1] "The Celebration of the Marriage of a King,"[2] "A Nuptial Song of a King,"[3] "An Ode for a Royal Marriage,"[4] "The Epithalamium of Jesus Christ and the Christian Church,"[5] "A Wedding Benediction,"[6] etc.

There are two radically different views among modern scholars regarding the nature of this psalm. The critical community agree that, "We deal here with an actual king, not with an ideal future Messiah; who this king was we cannot say."[7]

On the other hand, "There is a tradition of long standing, both in the synagogue and in the church of Christ that this psalm deals with King Messiah and his bride the Church."[8] Of course, that is the correct view; and it has been accepted by both Jewish and Christian scholars for more than a thousand years.

There is still another interpretation that represents a very naive and feeble attempt to harmonize the two views already stated. This method of viewing the psalm applies it to some literal king of Israel, but allows that some of the language might later have been applied to Christ. Such an interpretation is indefensible, illogical and impossible of acceptance. Why? There never was in the history of Israel or of any other nation a King to whom the language of this psalm may be intelligently applied.

Concerning this third `interpretation,' Spurgeon had this to say: "Some see Solomon and Pharaoh's daughter here - they are short-sighted; others see both Solomon and Christ here - they are cross-eyed."[9] We might also ask, `What about those who find Ahab and Jezebel here'? to which we must say - they are blind!

Even the critics admit the Jewish interpretation of this psalm as absolutely Messianic; and Addis gave that Jewish interpretation as the reason why the psalm is in the Canon.[10] Furthermore, we cannot believe that Israel, who was the divinely appointed custodian of the Old Testament, would ever have admitted to the sacred canon of the holy scriptures a psalm that merely celebrated an earthly marriage.

We are not in the least disturbed by the critical assaults upon this psalm. We should have expected it. There is not a prophecy in the Old Testament which they have not attacked; and despite the fact that some commentators have been deceived by such attacks, the simple truth is that "there is no intelligent alternative" to the traditional view which is capable of commending itself to any honest investigator. As Leupold put it, "There are too many fatal weaknesses that mark every other approach."[11]

Many of the authors whose works we have read regarding this psalm are loaded with long pages trying to determine "which king" of Israel was marrying "what princess" in this psalm. All of this type of writing is worthless, because, "Many of the statements here are wholly inapplicable to any human sovereign."[12] "The language used here is of such a transcendental character that it could only be strictly true of the Messiah, the ideal King; and we find it quoted with a Messianic meaning in Hebrews 1:8-9." [13]

The organization of the psalm is: (1) the introduction (Psalms 45:1); (2) address to the King (Psalms 45:2-9); (3) address to the Bride (Psalms 45:10-14), and (4) the conclusion (Psalms 45:16.17).

INTRODUCTION

Psalms 45:1

"My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter;

I speak the things which I have made touching the king:

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

"My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Psalms 45:1). According to Mowinckel, as quoted by Leupold, "This is a claim of inspiration on the part of the psalmist."[14] It is clear enough indeed that the psalmist here attributes his words, not to himself, but to another.