Psalm 45

Read  Psalm 45 ESV

Who - The sons of Korah write a choir song to the king and his bride.  

What - This love song appears to be for both the king and his bride.  It is also an expression of hope in the LORD’s blessing of their marriage and family.  

When - No indication who this king and queen are, nor when they existed.  

Where - Unstated

Why - On this joyous day with all of its attention on the king and bride, this song reminds them of the Lord's hand and purpose in their lives.

How - This psalm seems to have many references to cultural norms of that day that are unclear to us as modern Westerners.  The King is praised as a victorious warrior of truth and righteousness.  The Lord has blessed the king with power and prosperity because of his obedience and faithfulness.  One of the blessings is his beautiful bride.  His queen is one of the LORD’s gifts.  The queen to be is described along with the blessings God has given her and the blessings he will give her.  She and her servants enter the palace with joy and gladness.  The queen to be will become the mother of princes.  She will be remembered for generations as one of the gifts from the LORD to her people.

In verse 6 the psalmist writes, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”  This is best understood as the throne of God which has been given to the Son of David as the reigning king.  This is also how it is seen by the author of Hebrews in Heb 1:8-9 when he cites this verse.  Christ as the great fulfillment of the promise of a son of David, enjoys the throne given to Him by God as the Messiah.  

So What 

1. Every bride and groom should see the blessing of the LORD and his good gifts to them on their wedding day.  
2. Husbands, as well as husbands to be, should see her bride as a gift to them from God.  
3. As sons of the King we should be warriors of truth and righteousness, like our heavenly Father.  
4. In times of plenty and during joyful events we should enjoy them as the gifts from God they are.  Nothing more, but nothing less either.  
5. The bride is leaving their father’s house to join her groom in a new house.  Her focus and energy is to be in her new home and its success.  Her new identity is in her union with her groom.  
6. While verse 16 expects the birth of children as in physical offspring, it need not be seen in this way only.  Spiritual children is an appropriate application.  
7. All of this is ultimately fulfilled in Christ and His bride the church.  
8. Along with the author of Hebrews we must affirm and declare Jesus Christ is the great anointed Son in whom the hope and rule of all things exist.