The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The Kingship of Christ.

The unerring instinct of the Church has interpreted this psalm of the Messiah. Each Jewish king, in a sense, foreshadowed the true King. Of Solomon it might be said, in a special manner, that he was a type of the true King; but take him "in all his glory," and he was only a type dim and imperfect. "A greater than Solomon is here." Mark—

I. THE PERFECTNESS OF HIS CHARACTER. Christ's excellence is moral. All that was "fair" in others was but the broken fragments of the mirror. In him we see the perfection of beauty. Others might be "fair" in some things, and not in others, but in him all that is true and beautiful and good shines forth in harmony and fulness. "He is altogether lovely." And the excellence of Christ is not only human, but Divine. The glory of God shines in him He is the perfect King because he is the perfect Man; and he is the perfect Man, because "in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." His perfections, therefore, not only command the homage of all hearts, but they are unchanging and unchangeable as the glory of God.

II. THE SPLENDOUR OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS. In the ancient monuments of Egypt and Assyria we see kings represented as going forth to conquer, and their enemies falling before their arrows. Such is the picture here. But the picture is relieved from all terrors and gloom. The King who conquers here conquers because he is also a Prophet, and because his cause is the cause of right and truth. His sword is "the Word of God." His arrows are the arrows of righteousness. His victory is the victory of love. "Grace" is in his lips. "Truth and meekness" mark his progress. "The people fall under" him—fall to rise again in dignity and strength.

III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF HIS REIGN. (Verses 6-9.)

1. The righteousness of his administration.

2. The happiness of his subjects.

3. The perpetuity of his kingdom.

The kingdoms of this world have no permanence. They contain within themselves the elements of decay. Kings and kingdoms pass away.

"Sceptre and crown must tumble down,

And in the grave be equal made

With the poor crooked scythe and spade."

But it is otherwise with the kingdom of Christ. It is "for ever and ever."—W.F.

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Matthew Henry on Psalms 45:1-5Psalms 45:1-5 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThe psalmist's tongue was guided by the Spirit of God, as the pen is by the hand of a ready writer. This psalm is touching the King Jesus, his kingdom and government. It is a shame that this good matter is not more the…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1-17Psalms 45:1-17 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THIS psalm is regarded by some as a simple epithalamium, or nuptial hymn, composed to honour a royal wedding, and sung as part of the wedding ceremony, at the marriage of some king of Israel or Judah. The mar…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1Psalms 45:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryMy heart is inditing a good matter; literally, bubbleth with a good matter—is so full of it that the matter will burst forth. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; or, I utter that which I have comp…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1-17Psalms 45:1-17 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe glories of the eternal King. This psalm is one of those which set forth in glowing terms the glory and majesty of the King of kings, the Anointed One, who should come into the world. "It is a psalm of the theocratic…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 45:1-5The psalmist's tongue was guided by the Spirit of God, as the pen is by the hand of a ready writer. This psalm is touching the King Jesus, his kingdom and government. It is a shame that this good matter is not more the…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1-17The glories of the eternal King. This psalm is one of those which set forth in glowing terms the glory and majesty of the King of kings, the Anointed One, who should come into the world. "It is a psalm of the theocratic…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1-17EXPOSITION THIS psalm is regarded by some as a simple epithalamium, or nuptial hymn, composed to honour a royal wedding, and sung as part of the wedding ceremony, at the marriage of some king of Israel or Judah. The mar…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:1My heart is inditing a good matter; literally, bubbleth with a good matter—is so full of it that the matter will burst forth. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; or, I utter that which I have comp…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:2Altogether lovely. "Thou art fairer than the children of men." Immense learning and ingenuity have been expended in the attempt to find some historic occasion for this psalm—some Jewish original of these royal portraits…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:2Thou art fairer than the children of men. It has been argued that a description of the Messiah would not lay stress on his personal beauty. But in the Song of Songs the personal beauty of the bridegroom, whom so many cr…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:3Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty; i.e. array thyself as a warrior, for thou wilt have enemies to conquer, and wilt need a sword against them (see Psalms 45:4, Psalms 45:5). With thy glory and thy majesty. Th…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 45:4And in thy majesty ride prosperously; literally, and in thy majesty go forth, ride. The riding intended is probably riding in a chariot. Because of truth and meekness and righteousness; rather, because of truth and meek…Joseph S. Exell and contributors