THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XLV: A Lesson In God's Blessing For Grooms And Brides

(Psalm 45:1-17)

I. Introduction

A. When a bride and groom get married, everyone, including the wedding couple, wants God's blessing for them.

B. Psalm 45:1-17 is a royal wedding psalm written to be performed at a royal wedding, and it offers important instruction to both the bride and the groom on obtaining God's rich blessing in their marriage (as follows):

II. A Lesson In God's Blessing For Grooms And Brides, Psalm 45:1-17.

A. Verse one in the Hebrew text comprises the introductory remarks in the English Bible (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1013), so we stay with the verse numbering arrangement of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We translate Psalm 45:1-17 as follows (Ibid., Kittel, p. 1013-1014):

1. "My heart is stirred by a wholesome theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skilled writer," Psalm 45:1.

2. "You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, upon the grounds that ('al ken, Ibid., p. 1014; B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 487) Elohim has blessed you forever!" v. 2.

3. "Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty man; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty," Psalm 45:3.

4. "In your majesty ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth and the humility of righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds," Psalm 45:4.

5. "Let the nations fall beneath your feet; let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of your enemies," Psa. 45:5.

6. "Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom," Psalm 45:6. [Ex. 21:6; 22:8-9; Ps. 82:1 as here use "Elohim" of human judges who represent God's rule.]

7. "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; upon the grounds of these conditions ('al ken again, cf. v. 2), Elohim, Your Elohim, has set you above your companions," Psalm 45:7.

8. "All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad," Psalm 45:8.

9. "Daughters of kings are among your beloved women; at your right hand is the royal bride in the gold of Ophir," Psalm 45:9.

10. "Listen, O daughter, and consider and give ear; forget your people and the house of your fathers," 45:10.

11. "Then the King will be enthralled by your beauty; because he (emph. pron.) is your master, then bow yourself down in homage to him!" (Psalm 45:11)

12. "And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor," Psalm 45:12.

13. "All glorious is the daughter of the king within (the father's house-chamber); gold interwoven is her vesture," Psalm 45:13.

14. "In embroidered garments she will be led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you," Psalm 45:14.

15. "They are led with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king," Psalm 45:15.

16. "Your sons will take the place of your fathers, you will make them princes throughout the land," 45:16.

17. "I will perpetrate your memory through all generations; upon the grounds of these conditions ('al ken again, cf. v. 2, 7) as stated the nations will praise you forever and ever," Psalm 45:17.

C. We note significant observations and applications of this psalm toward edifying believers (as follows): the introductory remarks term this psalm a "maschil," an instructive psalm (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Psalm 32), so the thrice repeated emphatic causal, 'al ken (v. 2, 7, 17) reveals (a) the Groom ("king") is blessed of God because he loves righteousness and hates evil (v. 2, 8), and (b) because these conditions exist with the Groom, the Bride ("daughter") is encouraged to forget her father's house for what it can provide her and instead cleave to her Groom, the "king" for blessing, v. 10-12. (c) She will then be blessed and honored with the Groom, and (d) he will see his posterity as a king enjoy God's blessing, Psalm 45:16-17.

Lesson: A Groom must give himself to love righteousness and hate evil as God will then bless him, and God's blessing provides comforting blessings for his Bride that equips her to be able to shift her dependence from her father's house to rely on her Groom, solidifying the marriage and leading to eventual family blessing.

Application: May especially grooms love righteousness and hate evil for marital and family blessings. (Psalm 128)