Psalms 45

The psalm flows from the praise of the King's royal, divine nature and martial victory into a wedding ceremony where the bride is called to allegiance, concluding with a blessing of the King's eternal fame.

• The King's throne is established forever (v. 6).
• The King will greatly desire the bride's beauty (v. 11).
• The King's name will be remembered in all generations (v. 17).

• Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear (v. 10).
• Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house (v. 10).
• Worship thou him (v. 11).

• The arrows of the King are sharp in the heart of his enemies (v. 5).

• The 'Sons of Korah' were a guild of Levite singers and gatekeepers responsible for the musical service of the Temple.
• Royal wedding songs, or epithalamia, were common in the Ancient Near East to celebrate political alliances sealed by marriage.

• The 'gold of Ophir' refers to the finest, most sought-after gold in the ancient world, signifying the wealth of the King.
• The use of myrrh, aloes, and cassia highlights the luxurious atmosphere of the royal palace, perfumed for the wedding procession.

• The psalm is classified as a 'maskil' (H4905), indicating a poem of instruction or wisdom.
• It functions as a Royal Psalm, specifically focusing on the marriage of the Davidic King.

• Hebrews 1:8-9 explicitly quotes Psalm 45:6-7, applying these verses directly to the Son of God, identifying the King as Jesus Christ.
• The description of the bride's purity and gold-wrought clothing provides early imagery that finds resonance in the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21.

• Hebrews 1:8-9: 'But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever...' directly cites the Psalm's attribution of divinity to the King.

• nāṣaḥ [H5329, Hebrew]: The 'choirmaster' or the one who is eminent; it sets the tone for a public, formal performance.
• ʾělōhīm [H430, Hebrew]: In verse 6, the King is addressed as God. Matthew Henry observes that the Mediator is God, 'else he had been neither able to do the Mediator's work, nor fit to wear the Mediator's crown.'
• ʿôlām [H5769, Hebrew]: Indicates the 'vanishing point' of time; used here to emphasize the eternal, unchanging nature of the King's reign.
• sāp̄ar [H5608, Hebrew]: The psalmist's tongue is described as a scribe or one who recounts/celebrates, emphasizing the intentional, divinely inspired nature of the poetry.

• The King is addressed as 'God' (v. 6), a high title that transcends the status of typical Davidic kings and demands an ultimate, Messianic interpretation.
• The progression from individual hero (the warrior King) to corporate body (the Queen and her companions) mirrors the relationship between Christ and his redeemed people.

• While many scholars focus on the Messianic application, there is historical debate regarding whether the psalm initially described a contemporary historical event, such as the wedding of Solomon or Ahab to a foreign princess, which was then typologically applied to the Messiah.
• The exact identity of the 'queen' (v. 9) is debated: some historical-critical scholars argue it refers to a specific political alliance (a foreign princess), whereas traditional, canonical readings see it as a type of the Church.