(Psalm 45)

(Continued from p.396, Dec. 1929)

The full title of our psalm (and let us always remember that the titles are just as much inspired as the psalms themselves) reads:"To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Koran, Maschil, A Song of Loves." The title therefore is very full, and indicates the character of the contents in a remarkable way.

Three psalms are entitled "Shoshannim," or "Al-shoshannim," meaning "upon lilies"-viz.:Ps. 45, 68 and 80. In ,each case, we have the preface, "To the chief Musician." The one here addressed would doubtless be the leader of Israel's sweet singers (see 1 Chron. 6:51-48). What a mark of grace that the descendants of the rebellious Korah (Numbers 16) were chosen to lead the praises of Israel! For us, the Chief Musician is the One who could say:"In the midst of the assembly will I sing praise unto Thee."

"Upon lilies" has occasioned some controversy but it has been pointed out that the references to the flower in the "Song of Songs" help to a right conclusion. A Palestinian writer has described the lily of the Holy Land as luxuriating in the valleys and usually found growing among thorns; he says, "Nothing can be in higher contrast than the luxuriant, velvety softness of the lily and the crabbed, tangled mass of thorns."

We always associate this lovely flower with chastity and beauty, therefore it may well speak to us of the holy Manhood of our blessed Lord, and all the attractive grace seen so perfectly in Him, in contrast to this scene where the curse occasioned by man's sins still rests.

It is a "Song of Loves," or, as is usually accepted, "A Song of the Beloved," and whichever way this may be interpreted, it will readily be conceded that the psalm is full, blessedly full, of Christ. The preface, verse 1, has a beautiful alternative reading:"My heart bubbleth up with good matter:I speak of the things which I have made touching the king:my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." The heart is full of delight, and while "musing, the fire burned," until a burst of praise is poured forth to the One whose glorious majesty had captivated the writer.

Son of Man, yet Son of God, fairer than all the earth-born race, He stands uniquely alone, transcendent in loveliness. "Grace is poured into Thy lips." John's testimony, "Full of grace and truth," is surely in beautiful accord with what is here written of the King; and "God hath blessed Thee forever," speaks of that which is beyond the earthly blessing made sure to Israel, for whatever is established in Him must abide eternally.

The psalm unfolds the triumphant reign of Messiah, and the association of the Jewish remnant with Him in the day of His manifested glory, when He takes the throne and rules in righteousness. It may help us to a right understanding of the psalm if we read verses 3 to 5 as a parenthesis, showing how the kingdom will be established. He comes, not to take the throne peacefully, acclaimed by a world grown weary of conflict and glad to hail the "Prince of peace," He is bidden to gird His sword upon His thigh, and go forth in majesty, glory and power. He must subdue all things to Himself, putting down His enemies. Truth and righteousness demand the execution of judgment upon the wicked and rebellious inhabitants of the earth. It is the answer practically to the previous psalm (vers. 23-26). The enemies of the King and His people fall, and the way is prepared for the establishment of the Kingdom.

But the King is indeed King by divine right; more – HE IS GOD. The. next section of the psalm (vers. 6-9) gives Him His proper place.

Hebrews 1 :8, 9 quotes these verses when contrasting the position of angels with the place and glory of the King. God made His angels spirits, but He hails this glorious Person, "Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever:a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy Kingdom." So it is God's righteous pronouncement of Messiah's path in Ps. 45:7. "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness" will be characteristic of His glorious reign, His scepter will be a right scepter, His rule a righteous rule. But Isa. 9:6 reads:"To us a Child is born," and so here He is anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows. What wonderful grace, what a holy marvel, that when He enters upon His glorious inheritance it will not be in solitary grandeur, but with those who are "heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ!" In Zech. 13:7 He who is hailed as Jehovah's Fellow is seen smitten in His humiliation, and then associating His followers with Himself! So also in Isa. 53:10-12. His soul is made an offering for sin, but the pleasure of the Lord prospers in His hand, and He divides a portion with the great:they share in the spoils of victory.

The excellency of His glorious Person is next before us. "All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made' Thee glad." It will be remembered that in the "oil of holy ointment" (Exod. 30:23-25) myrrh and cassia predominated, and these speak of the graces seen in perfection in Him. Aloes too were among the chief spices (Song of Solomon 4:14).

The Queen is seen in gold of Ophir at the right hand of the King. This is necessarily the godly remnant, received in grace and clothed in righteousness-the Jewish Queen, the earthly Bride. She is called upon to forget her father's house. Association with this glorious King necessitates a complete yielding to Him, and laying aside all former earthly links. "So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty, He is thy Lord, worship thou Him." Love can never be satisfied with anything less than complete surrender, and it is in yielding to Him entire affection and worship, that the preciousness of His love is enjoyed. Thus all else is forgotten.

Tyre and other nations own her with presents, and entreat her favor; blessing once more flows to the nations through the Jews. The Queen is "The daughter of a King," 1:e., perfectly suitable to be the companion of a King. "The Sanctifier and sanctified " are all of one, "for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." Born of God, she is all glorious within, and clothed with wrought gold-externally and internally she is perfectly suited to her new place and relationship. As to the virgins, her companions "that follow her," it has been suggested that Jerusalem is the queen and the cities of Judah her companions.

There is no longer glorying in the fathers; the One who perfectly fulfilled every promise eclipses those in whom the promises were deposited. Instead of fathers, their children are made princes in all the earth. Messiah has come in glory and judgment, the Lord of Hosts is with His people, joy and gladness fill the whole scene; so in the psalms which follow we see the consequences- complete triumph over the enemies of Israel, and Jerusalem once more the center of the whole earth. (See Ps. 46-48 and 50.)

"Israel's race shall then behold Him,
Full of grace and majesty!
They who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced Him, nailed Him to the tree,
Then in glory, then in glory,
Shall their great Messiah see."

J. W. H. N.

(To be continued, D. V.)