A Song Fit for a King

Psalm 45

I address my verses to the king, but to which king?

 Psalm 45 is subtitled as a “love song,” and reads as a wedding song for the king. It divides nicely into two parts. The first part praises the king as the most handsome of men (2) with graceful lips (2) and blessed by God (2). The song hopes the king will be victorious in battle (4) and fight for the cause of truth and righteousness (4). May the king be a mighty king (3), full of splendor and majesty (3). Or to put it more succinctly, “long live the king.”

The second part speaks to the bride dressed in a multi-colored robe (14), surrounded by her wedding party (14), beautiful and glorious (13). She is encouraged to forget her family and father’s house (10) for the king desires her beauty (11). What she gives up in her father will be replaced by sons who will become princes in all the earth (16). Because of this, she will be remembered and praised by nations forever and ever (17).

However, the two parts are divided by a very important verse. The singer of this love song switches from singing about the earthly king and begins to praise the heavenly King. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (6). You rule Your Kingdom in uprightness (6). You love righteousness and hate wickedness (7).

In other words, the earthly king, handsome as he might be, is sitting on a throne that belongs to God. The singer hopes that the earthly king will rule as the Heavenly King rules. May God, the earthly king’s God, anoint him to do so (7).

Those who are familiar with the history of Israel in the Old Testament know that the earthly kings of Israel and Judah were rarely good kings. In fact, of the 42 earthly kings, only 10 did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. And even those 10 were far from perfect. The messianic hope was that God would send a perfect king, a descendant of David to sit on David’s throne, to rule with the scepter of uprightness, to love righteousness and hate wickedness, to ride out victoriously for the cause of truth.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (see Luke 1), he told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and she would give birth to a son who will be the Son of God. The Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.

In other words, the perfect King has finally come.

If we read Psalm 45 through the eyes of Mary, it comes to life in a whole new way. She left her father’s house and gave birth to a son who would be the Prince of Peace in all the earth. Her name is remembered in all generations, and nations around the world praise her forever and ever. Furthermore, her child is the long hoped for perfect King, the only One able to sit on the throne of God and rule perfectly as God.

But as the New Testament calls the church the bride of Christ, we can all read ourselves into Psalm 45. We forget our people and join the Kingdom of God. We have the opportunity to lead others to faith in Christ, thereby making them princes in the Kingdom of God. Never again will we put our hope in an earthly king to hopefully rule in truth and righteousness. Now, the Perfect King sits on the throne of God reigning over an Eternal Kingdom. Now, our heart overflows with a pleasing theme to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I address my verses to the King of Kings.

To whom do you sing?