Psalm 45

Opening & Theme — A Love Song for the King (Messiah) — Psalm 45 : 1

“Welcome to Torah Today Ministries and our continuing series Tehillim Talks, our studies in the Psalms.
And I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve introduced one of these with, this is my new favorite Psalm.
But here I go again with Psalm 45, my new favorite Psalm.

I call this Psalm a song for Messiah’s wedding.
And that is the only Psalm out of the 150 that is a love song that’s addressed to the king.
And it describes the king and his bride.

But I get ahead of myself.
So let’s just dive right in and look at the attribution.
To the choir master, according to Shoshanim — שׁוֹשַׁנִּים (Shoshanim).

Shoshanim is a Hebrew word that means lilies (or some translators, roses).
Whatever Shoshanim is referring to, it’s probably a melody that the Psalm is to be sung to.
Some suggest that maybe it’s a particular kind of instrument or instrumentation that the Psalm is to be performed to.

Regardless, the word means lilies or roses.
It’s a maskil — מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil), which means it’s a teaching Psalm by the sons of Korah.
And again, the only Psalm that is called a love song.”

Two Halves: King & Bride — Psalm 45 : 1–2

“Now, the Psalm is easily divided into two halves.
The first half is to the King — and I list seven attributes of the King that I see here.

You might number them differently or divide them a little differently,
but it’s just for convenience and to help emphasize some of the characteristics of this King.
Then the second half is to the bride, and I list seven attributes of the bride in the same way.

But the first verse and the last verse of the Psalm are the poet speaking basically to the reader—introducing the Psalm and then bringing it to a conclusion.

So in Psalm 45 : 1, the poet says:
‘My heart is a stir with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the King.’

This is the only Psalm that has something like this at the front,
because all the other Psalms (if there are any exceptions, I’m not sure what they are) address themselves to God.
They’re sung to God — they’re praises to God.
But here, the author says, ‘I address these words to the King.’

And the question is, who is the King?
Across the centuries, commentators have differed.
Some say King David, some Solomon.
Some say the King is actually the Torah scholar—the person who dedicates life to studying God’s Word, teaching it, and living it out.

But I believe the King in view here is King Messiah.
And of course, many rabbis through history have said the same.
I’m emphatic that it is King Messiah because the writer of Hebrews 1 : 7–9 tells us this explicitly.

Still, the Torah scholar analogy fits, for the faithful scholar reflects Messiah.
One who studies, teaches, and lives the Word bears God’s image.
So to a degree, the faithful teacher reflects Messiah — as does the Bride of Messiah.”

Attribute 1 — Blessed Speech & Beauty (יָפֶה Yafeh) — Psalm 45 : 2

“You are the most beautiful of the sons of Adam.
Some translations say handsome, but the Hebrew word is Yafeh — יָפֶה (beautiful).

Grace is poured upon your lips; some translations say ‘grace pours forth from your lips.’
Both are accurate — literally ‘upon your lips.’
It’s a picture: if grace is poured upon his lips, then when he speaks, grace comes forth from his lips.

‘Therefore, God has blessed you forever.’ (Psalm 45 : 2)
And there’s a principle here — if our speech is filled with grace, we will experience a heightened sense of blessing from God.
Let’s be as gracious in our speech as we can be.”

Attribute 2 — Truth, Humility & Righteousness; Majesty (הוֹד Hod) & Splendor (הָדָר Hadar) — Psalm 45 : 3–4

“Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one — גִּבּוֹר (Gibor) — in your majesty and splendor — הוֹד וְהָדָר (Hod veHadar).

These two terms often appear together. We encounter them repeatedly in the Psalms.
Hod and Hadar mean majesty and splendor — something awe-inspiring to see.

Now, what’s interesting is that the first time ‘Hod’ appears in Scripture is Numbers 27 : 20, where God tells Moses to lay his hands on Joshua (Yehoshua — יְהוֹשֻׁעַ).
‘You shall invest him with some of your hod (majesty).’

Joshua’s Hebrew name is Yeshua — יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua).
So here we see a hint — the King is Yeshua, endowed with the majesty of Moses and the glory of God.

‘In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth, meekness, and righteousness.’ (Psalm 45 : 4)

Truth, humility, and righteousness describe Messiah perfectly.
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14 : 6).
There was no deception in Him; He was humble and sinless.”

Attribute 3 — Victory: Sword & Arrows; Word as Weapon (חֶרֶב Cherev) — Psalm 45 : 5

“Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.

We saw the sword in verse 3, now arrows in verse 5.
The sword is for close combat; arrows reach enemies far away in space and time.

The arrow tip is a two-edged blade — like a miniature sword.
Both sword and arrow symbolize the Word of God.

The Word of God is ‘sharper than any two-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4 : 12).
And when Mount Sinai — also called Mount Chorev (חֶרֶב, ‘sword’) — was revealed (Exodus 19 – 20),
God gave His Torah there.

So when we see the sword, we think of God’s Word destroying falsehood and ego.
It cuts between light and darkness, truth and lies.
We destroy enemies by turning them into friends through truth.

Paul himself was once an enemy of Messiah (Acts 9 : 1–22) — until the truth pierced his heart.”

Attribute 4 — Divinity: “Your Throne, O Elohim” (אֱלֹהִים) — Psalm 45 : 6–7

“‘Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever.’ (Psalm 45 : 6)
Elohim can mean God, angels, or judges who exercise God’s authority.

But Hebrews 1 : 7–9 quotes this verse and applies it directly to Messiah:

‘Of the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’

So the writer of Hebrews makes it clear that Psalm 45 : 6–7 is about King Messiah.”

Attribute 5 — Anointed Rule: Scepter & the Two Messiahs Discussion — Psalm 45 : 7

“The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions. (Psalm 45 : 7)

The word ‘anointed’ is mashiach — מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach), from which comes ‘Messiah.’

In Genesis 49 : 22–24, Joseph is shot at with arrows; and in Genesis 49 : 10, the scepter will not depart from Judah.
These first appearances of arrows and scepter point to Messiah ben Yosef and Messiah ben David.
One Messiah — two comings.”

Attribute 6 — Fragrant Garments; Entourage; The Queen in Gold of Ophir (אוֹפִיר) — Psalm 45 : 8–9

“Myrrh, aloes, and cassia are the fragrance of all Your garments;
from ivory palaces, stringed instruments make You glad. (Psalm 45 : 8)

Garments represent character — Messiah’s character is fragrant and pure.

‘Daughters of kings are among Your precious ones; at Your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.’ (Psalm 45 : 9)

Ophir’s gold was considered the finest of all — symbol of royal worth and divine splendor.”

The Bride

Attribute 1 — Redemption: Hear, See, Incline; Forget Your People — Psalm 45 : 10

“‘Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house.’ (Psalm 45 : 10)

She is a foreign bride — called to leave her past.
Shema שְׁמַע (hear), see, and obey.
Like believers, she must ‘leave and cleave’ (Genesis 2 : 24).”

Attribute 2 — Devotion: Desired Beauty; Bow to the Lord — Psalm 45 : 11

“‘Then the King will desire your beauty, for He is your Lord; bow to Him.’ (Psalm 45 : 11)

Only those who leave behind the old world to follow the King fully are desired as His bride.”

Attribute 3 — Preeminence: Gifts from Tyre (צֹר Tzor) — Psalm 45 : 12

“‘The daughter of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts — the richest of the people.’ (Psalm 45 : 12)

Tyre, a wealthy trading city (1 Kings 5 : 1–12), symbolizes the nations honoring the Bride.”

Attribute 4 — Inner Glory vs Outer Adornment; מִשְׁבְּצוֹת (Mishbetzot, Gold Settings) — Psalm 45 : 13–14

“‘The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her raiment is interwoven with gold.’ (Psalm 45 : 13)

Her glory is internal — like the high priest’s garments in Exodus 28 – 29.
The same word Mishbetzot (מִשְׁבְּצוֹת) — gold settings — appears eight times there and once here.

Rashi notes that her garments are even more glorious than those of the High Priest (כֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל).”

Revelation 21–22 Echoes; Clothing & Companions; Rashi on the “Virgin Friends” — Psalm 45 : 14–15

“Her virgin companions follow her; with joy and gladness they are led into the palace of the King. (Psalm 45 : 14–15)

Rashi connects these ‘virgin friends’ to Zechariah 8 : 23:
‘Ten men from the nations … shall take hold of the robe of a Jew and say, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’

The Bride leads the nations to the King — a beautiful picture fulfilled in Revelation 21–22, the New Jerusalem and the Lamb’s wife.”

Attribute 7 — Her Future: Sons as Princes — Psalm 45 : 16

“‘In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.’ (Psalm 45 : 16)

Her children replace her fathers — the gospel working backward, as C.S. Lewis said.
Those

who once rejected will one day bow to the King.
And the kings of the earth bring their glory into the City (Revelation 21 : 24–26).”

Closing Word of the Poet — The King’s Name Remembered — Psalm 45 : 17

“‘I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise You forever and ever.’ (Psalm 45 : 17)

The poet ends with eternal praise to the King — Messiah Yeshua.

This psalm overwhelms with beauty.
It transports us from David’s songs to the future wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19 : 7–9).
Study it, meditate on it, read Revelation 21–22 —
and you’ll see the glory of our King and His Bride.

Until next time, I wish you shalom שָׁלוֹם — and may God bless.”

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