The Marriage Song

Where do I begin To tell the story of how great a love can be The sweet love story that is older than the sea The simple truth about the love she brings to me Where do I start

The Poet’s Theme vs.1

This psalm addresses men and not God

va 10-12 imply that the bride was foreign - royal wedding

Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Ancient Wedding Customs

We have to keep these movements in mind as we study Psalm 45. In verses 2–9 we see the king coming for his bride. In verses 10–12 we find advice being given to the bride as she waits eagerly for her bridegroom. In verses 13–15 the bride is led out to the king, the procession makes its way to his home, and the wedding party enters the palace. The final verses are the poet’s personal blessing upon the marriage and its union.

Psalms 42–89, Volume 2 Theological Implications

After prophesying grievous things in the psalm before this, the inspired word now forecasts cheerful things, encouraging the downcast and teaching that they will both conquer and persevere

Psalms 42–89, Volume 2 Theological Implications

The queen’s example must be Ruth (see Ruth 1:16–17), not Jezebel.

The Ultamate meaning of history

The Praise of the King vss. 2-9

Handsome

1 Samuel 16:12 ESV

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

Song of Solomon 1:6 ESV

6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!

Song of Solomon 1:16 ESV

16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green;

Inside is important - Words

Ephesians 5:25–26 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Victorious King

What he was fighting for

“Ride for a truthful purpose and a faithful cause”

“because of truth and meekness and righteouness” kjv

awesome deeds

2 Samuel 7:23 ESV

23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?

Hebrews 1:8–9 ESV

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

8-9 Prepared for the Wedding

The Calling of the Queen vss. 10-12

Forget the Past

Genesis 12:1 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Luke 14:26 ESV

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Genesis 2:24 ESV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Ruth is the Model - contrast Orpah

Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Comfort for the King’s Bride

It is painful to leave behind mother and father, son and daughter. We are attached to the beauties and friendships of this world. “Forget” them all! The King will more than make up for all. Some day you will look back upon the parting with temporal things and think your hesitation silly and ill-founded. When you sit in the ivory palace, arrayed in the gold of Ophir, at the right hand of the eternal King, you will wonder what you saw in those former things. You will never regret it.… Carry through with your discerning choice.… The King must be your one and only love henceforth.6

from Walter Chantry

Object of Desire and Subject of Submission 11

Here truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray— I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Fruitful Submission - 12

The Wedding vss. 13-15

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

The Poet’s Conclusion vss. 16-17

you id masculine - Why? One flesh

Jesus’s second coming

1 John 3:3 ESV

3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

John 14:2–3 ESV

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Revelation 1:7 ESV

7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.