My heart is on fire, boiling over with passion. Bubbling up within me are these beautiful lyrics as a lovely poem to be sung for the King. Like a river bursting its banks, I’m overflowing with words, spilling out into this sacred story.
A Contemplative Song of Instruction for the Loved One
To the melody of “Lilies” This psalm is an illustrious prophecy of Messiah the Prince: it is all over gospel, and points at him only, as a bridegroom espousing the church to himself and as a king ruling in it and ruling for it. It is probable that our Saviour has reference to this psalm when he compares the kingdom of heaven, more than once, to a nuptial solemnity, the solemnity of a royal nuptial, Mt. 22:2; 25:1.
I. The Royal Bridegroom, who is Christ.
This emotional wedding song prefigures prophetically the relationship of Christ and His bride, the church (Eph. 5:32). Ancient rabbis have applied it to the Messiah and His majesty.
1. The transcendent excellency of his person (v. 2).
45:2 As this earthly king is identified among the sons of men, King Jesus oftentimes identified Himself as the Son of Man.
2. The glory of his victories (v. 3-5).
3. The righteousness of his government (v. 6, 7).
45:6, 7 The writer of Hebrews applies these verses to Jesus, the Son of God (Heb. 1:8, 9). “Messiah” represents the Hebrew word for one who is anointed.
4. The splendor of his court (v. 8, 9).
“Messiah” represents the Hebrew word for one who is anointed. The Hebrew word myrrh is taken from a root word that means “suffering.” Jewish Rabbis refer to myrrh as “tears from a tree,” a symbol of suffering love. The Hebrew text reads “aloes and cassia.” Both are equated with the anointing spice, the incense burned in the Holy Place. Or “from the ivory palaces.” This is an obvious reference to the Holy Place, as our High Priest comes from the chamber of glory to be with us. The word ivory is taken from a Hebrew word for “white and glistening.”
45:9 That is, there stands the “soon-to-be” queen. Ophir was an ancient source of gold, perhaps located in Arabia or Africa.
II. Of the Royal Bride, which is the Church.
Lilies in the Bible are metaphors of God’s precious people. See Song. 2:1–2; Hos. 14:5; Luke 12:27–28. Many believe this was the wedding song composed for Solomon as he married the princess of Egypt. But the language is so lofty and glorious that we see One greater than Solomon in its verses. This is a song of the wedding of Jesus and his Bride, the Church.
1. Her consent gained (v. 10, 11).
45:10 Forget means more than leaving parents as in Gen. 2:24. The bride of a king was often from another nation, and so she had to break with her own culture to marry, just as Christians now must forsake marriage to worldly things in order to be part of the bride of Christ.
2. The nuptials solemnized (v. 12-15).
45:12 The daughter of Tyre represents the inhabitants of the richest commercial city in OT times. Those who become the bride of Christ also receive gifts (Mark 10:29, 30).
Or “virgins.” (See Rev. 14:1–4; cf. 2 Cor. 11:2.)
45:15 Gladness: Likewise, believers experience excitement and joy in meeting with Christ. See Deut. 28:47.
3. The issue of this marriage (v. 16, 17).
45:16 Sons: The pain of leaving the old culture is lost in the joyous expectation of seeing future generations—one’s own children—reigning with Christ (Eph. 2:6).
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