Christ in the Psalms - Psalm 45

seyiodus (61)in #psalms • 6 years ago

Psalm 45: the king and his bride

This psalm is a song for the wedding of the King. The psalmist probably had a historical event in ancient Israel, but there are enough verses that cannot refer to a king of that time. So here we will have to see a mortal king from the line of David, who represents the Messiah in all its glory. Psalm 45 consists of two parts. Verses 2-10 are about the royal bridegroom - about his beauty, his eloquence and his righteous kingship - while verses 11-18 describe the bride who will have numerous offspring and glory among the nations.

The King

The bridegroom is described as a king who rules in sincerity.

"Gird your sword to the hip, o hero, the sign of your majesty and glory. Come into your glory and start the struggle for truth, humility and justice. Let your hand perform formidable deeds "(Psalm 45: 4-5).

Then the Psalmist says:

"Your throne is forever and ever, O god, the scepter of justice is your king's scepter, you love righteousness and hate evil. That is why God your God has anointed you with oil of gladness, as none of your equals "(vs 7-8).

The 'scepter of the law' refers to the practice that the king was also a judge. And those who speak justice on behalf of God are also often referred to in the Scriptures as "god". We see that for example in the law:

"If the thief is not found, the master of the house while the gods are approaching ... He, who obeys the gods , will give to his neighbor ... "and" The gods you shall not curse and praise a prince among your people "(Exodus 22: 8-9,28, NIV).

Thus also in this psalm we see the king referred to as 'god'. Through his righteous judgment, whereby the king is anointed by God ("anointed" is in Greek, "Christ"), he is exalted above his equals. The NBV translators clearly have difficulty with this use of the word god (as is already apparent in Exodus 22). However, these verses are cited in the letter to the Hebrews, where they are clearly applied to Christ. There, even in the NIV, it becomes clear what is literally in the Psalm:

"But to the Son he says: ... Righteousness hath loved you and hated iniquity: therefore, O God, hath your God you anointed with oil of gladness, as none of your equals. "(Hebrews 1: 8-9)

This draws Him as a subordinate to God Himself in heaven, who has appointed Him as king.

The bride of the King

The second part of the Psalm describes the bride of the king. In the Old Testament, the marriage relationship is regularly used as an image of the relationship between God and his people. The people of Israel are regularly described as "women" of God. And from this comes the image that Israel, when it does not serve God in the prescribed manner, describes it as a woman who is unfaithful to her husband. The image of a whore used in the book of Revelation is in turn derived from it. In the New Testament, this image of a bride is used in the same way for the relationship between Christ and his congregation.

"Men, love your wife, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her to sanctify her, to cleanse her ... and to take her in all her splendor" (Ephesians 5: 5). 25-27).

We see it in the gospels, in the parables about a wedding supper and the verses where Christ calls himself the bridegroom. But also in the book of Revelation: "Let us be glad and exult, let us give him glory because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride is ready." She is allowed to dress in pure, radiant linen. for all the good done by the saints "(Revelation 19: 7-8).

The message of Psalm 45, according to the writers of the NT

If the description of the king in Psalm 45 refers to Jesus, it is, of course, reasonable to see in the description of the bride also characteristics of the bride of Christ, the people of true believers. The part about the bride begins with:

"Listen, daughter, see and hear, forget your people and the house of your father, ask the king your beauty, bow to him, he is your lord." (Psalm 45: 11-12).

The first call is reminiscent of the call that Abraham received from God.

"The Lord said to Abram: Go away from your land, leave your family, leave your close relatives [literally: your father's house], and go to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12: 1).

The NBV translators have a tendency to translate less literally and, above all, to represent the meaning. It is therefore difficult to recognize in the NBV where the same words are used. But Abraham was called to leave everything behind and go to a land that God would point out to him. Thus the bride of the King is also called to forget her origin, to be born again, to follow her King and to be faithful to Him.

Conclusion

In these two psalms is spoken about the kingship of Jesus. He will rule and direct all nations. He is supported in this by "his wife", a people of believers whom He has accepted.

"The word is trustworthy: for if we died with him, we will also live with him: if we persevere, we will also reign with him: if we deny him, he will also deny us." (2 Timothy) 2: 11-12).

In the previous episode in this series, we saw how in Psalm 2 it is already announced how Jesus will rule over all nations, and how He is assisted in this by the believers who are worthy to be judged at his return. Isaiah speaks in that connection about a king (singular) and princes (plural). That is why the bride is also sung in Psalm 45.ccC

Thanks for reading.

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