Your Throne, O God, Is Forever
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Reading: Psalm 45
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.
13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
Pray
The Splendor of the Royal Wedding
Unique intro comes from a context of dangerous and bitter circumstances:
Ps 42 has the people of Israel alienated from God’s presence, desperate for him to return among them
Ps 43 pleads for vindication against oppressive enemies
Ps 44 remembers God’s faithful actions of old, but God has rejected and despised his people.
26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
But then Psalm 45 begins with a uniquely poetic introduction:
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
What happens between Pss 44 and 45 to create such an incredible change of heart? How can these singers go from the extremes of rejection to adulation in such short order? What makes this kind of difference?
God’s Perfect Word and Perfect Plan Bring Perfect Peace through His Perfect Reign
God’s Perfect Word and Perfect Plan Bring Perfect Peace through His Perfect Reign
Pleasing Theme is lit. “good word” - you might could say “good news.”
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
The King’s Majesty (2-9)
Grace-anointed Lips - sign of God’s Spirit empowering all his speech (to bless the people and to make just laws)
Blessed by God forever (see v. 7-9 for expression of this)
Images of a warrior king
Prepared for battle (3)
He is a “mighty one,” or as we might say “a hero” (3)
He has both splendor and majesty (3)
Victorious for God’s purposes (truth, meekness/humility, righteousness) (4)
Capable of incredible feats by God’s empowerment (4)
His arrows are sharp (he does not spare the wicked foe) (5)
The king’s throne is actually God’s throne, and it is eternal (6) - this seems to be a sidebar of praise to God for his work through the king
King rules righteously
Scepter is of righteousness (6)
King loves righteousness, hates wickedness (7)
Blessings of God upon the king
Anointed (7)
Robes are fragrant - a constant reminder of his divine blessing and imperative (8)
Ivory palaces represent the opulence and power of his kingdom (8)
His reputation among the nations commands distinction and brings king’s daughters in his direct service (numerous treaties and powerful international relations) (9)
The queen at his side in fine gold (9) (cf. Pr 19:14, 31.10ff.)
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.
13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
The Queen’s Majesty
Her majesty is derived from the King
She is called to leave her house and people and join to the king’s house and God’s people (a la Ruth; cp. Gen 2.24) (10)
She derives value from the king’s estimation (he desires her beauty) (11)
She bows to the king in submission (11)
Her majesty shares in the King’s splendor
Tyre represents the nations bringing their riches to the royal couple (12)
She is glorious, adorned with clothes containing gold (13)
Her robes have many colors (she’s fashionable) (14)
Her party comes joyfully into the king’s presence (14-15)
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
The Future Majesty
Their sons will rule throughout the earth from this very place (16)
They will be glorified and remembered for eternity future (17)
But what does this have to do with me?
Today we suffer through difficult circumstances and ask where justice might be found. Today we see evil seemingly overwhelming good. We see nations turning from God and oppressing people with violence and tyranny. We see leaders abdicating their responsibilities and speaking lies in office. We see greed and selfishness running rampant as life-saving equipment and medicines are hoarded, rationed, and villanized.
Oh, but a day is coming: a day in which God’s glorious king will reign in the splendor and majesty of God himself.