Sermon Tone Analysis

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*Psa 45:1*  *For the director of music.

To the tune of "Lilies."

Of the Sons of Korah.

A /maskil./

A wedding song.*

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Psa 45:2  You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.

Psa 45:3  Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

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

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

Psa 45:6  Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Psa 45:7  You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

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

Psa 45:9  Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

Psa 45:10  Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.

Psa 45:11  The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

Psa 45:12  The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor.

Psa 45:13  All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.

Psa 45:14  In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.

Psa 45:15  They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.

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

Psa 45:17  I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

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Everyone loves a wedding!

Remember. . . . .

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1982    Charles, Lady Diana Spencer – 750million people TV 900k on streets of London

 

2003    Mary and Frederick   record numbers

 

1947    Q and P           millions – on radio

 

                        Details – Sir William McKie. . . .

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Wedding photos . . . .

– often now bearing little resemblance!!!!! – scrubbed up!

 

 

*1.

**Remember . .

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Psalms: Words to God, but given to people by God  for people to speak to God*

 

 

The word of God to us that we may speak to God – cover range. .

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sometimes surprising

 

Teach us how to both react  - as last week, when awful things happen to God’s people,  and tospeak to God about almost everything.

If true, what’s a wedding  song  doing here?

Relieve the pressure?

When would we ever need to make a wedding song part of our armoury for dealing with life in this world and speaking with God about it?

I mean, why not just write in prose and merely record the wedding?

Let’s keep those questions in mind as we come to this Psalm – 45 this morning.

*2.

**V 1 tells us this is a song fit for the king.*

READ

 

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Perhaps he is the poet laureate, the palace poet

 

HAS to write something to say on the occasion of the wedding of the king

 

Passion           same word as turmoil

 

Noble theme – not about ordinary things, but a noble theme

 

And he is a good wordsmith – otherwise they wouldn’t employ him!

These are not just any words, but the words of a song fit for the occasion – andmore, fit for the occasion of the wedding of the king

 

He tells us he’s written a song fit for the king.

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3.

He is writing about

 

*The King who is fit for a song!*

Not just any old King!

 

Echoes of one of the great central parts of OT

 

2 Samuel 7 v 11 on – this is God’s King, whom God has blessed eternally!

NOW: Gracious words!

Mighty deeds of valour

 

Eternal throne ~/ kingdom ~/ dynasty

 

Urges the king  - and everyone else – the glory heaped on this king

 

 

4.

And the mention of the bride now ready for her husband now brings the focus onto her:

 

V 10ff

 

*A bride made fit for her king*

 

Forget your family!!!

 

Honour the king

 

This is what this day is about – it’s about him more than her – and she is recognised by all as fit for her lord.

And he concludes with the 2nd millennium BC equivalent of   “and they all lived happily ever after”

 

At least that’s the wish – and the promise – last 2 verses

 

People – we have a problem!

Two actually!

The king and his people are Israelites –

 

                              2 Samuel 7 – to David. .

.  for ever!!!!  Yet –

 

                              Within one generation – fractured, under threat – finally after 4 centuries . . . . . of less than glorious kings,

 

                              The mighty warrior became the mouse that roared

 

                              The defender of right became the perpetrator of wrong

 

Are these hollow words, then, relic of a bygone era?

What use to us?

Why are we here on a cold morning reading a 3000 year old poem?

It didn’t work out like this!

 

 

B.

Verse 6

 

What does verse 6 mean?

Yes – no mistake – it’s addressing this king as God

 

Monotheists!        NO OTHER GODS BUT ME

 

Yet in these words: words of men which are the words of God for the people of God to use in speaking to God – blasphemy?

This is why it’s dangerous just to pick out a part of the Bible and focus on it without understanding where it fits in the overall plan of the Bible

 

e.g.

Psalm 23

 

Occaasionally you will find bits that really jar

 

So, how come he calls him God?

 

 

Push a bit further

 

In NT

 

300 references to the Psalms

 

80 direct quotes – out in front!

And Jesus : Luke 24 : spoke of him!

So it’s not till you get to NT that you can really understand and sing with full understanding of the true son of God, who speaks gracious words of righteousness, and truth, and rules over all the world in justice, who is the victor for his people defeating the enemy of God on the cross, and so adored and admired.

And we are not left to wonder of this is right that Psalm 45 applies to Jesus:

 

Hebrews 1

 

But what about the bride?

The bride whom people from all nations will recognise and praise?