Commentary - Psalm 45:6-9

Bird's-eye view

Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song, an epithalamium, likely composed for an earthly king like Solomon on the occasion of his marriage to a foreign princess. But the language employed by the psalmist quickly overflows the banks of any merely human monarch. The descriptions are so exalted, the claims so ultimate, that the Holy Spirit guides us, through the author of Hebrews, to see the true King and the ultimate marriage being celebrated here. This is about the Lord Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church. The immediate historical context is a shadow, a type, pointing to the glorious substance.

In these four verses, we are at the very heart of this majestic portrait. The King is addressed directly as God, His throne is eternal, and His rule is defined by absolute righteousness. This is followed by the reason for His exaltation: His unwavering love for righteousness and hatred for wickedness. Because of this moral glory, He is anointed with a joy that surpasses all others. The scene then fills with sensory details, the fragrance of His garments and the music of His court, culminating in the presentation of His queen, the Church, in splendor at His right hand. This is a picture of Christ's divine authority, His moral perfection, His overflowing joy, and the glory He shares with His redeemed people.

Outline

Context In Psalms

Psalm 45 is unique among the psalms as a "love song" (shir yedidot) dedicated to a king's wedding. It is designated as a Maskil, a didactic or skillful psalm, intended to instruct the people of God. While it celebrates a specific historical event, its placement in the Psalter and its inspired language ensure that Israel would read it messianically. The Spirit is teaching the people to long for a King whose beauty, power, and righteousness could only be perfectly fulfilled in the Son of David to come. The New Testament confirms this reading, making it impossible for us to read it any other way. The author of Hebrews quotes verses 6 and 7 directly in Hebrews 1:8-9, applying them to Jesus to demonstrate His superiority over the angels. This is the definitive, inspired interpretation.

Verse by Verse Commentary

v. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

The psalmist, overflowing with his subject, makes a direct address to the King, and the address is breathtaking. "Your throne, O God..." Let there be no quibbling here. Some have tried to render this as "Your throne is God's throne" or "Your divine throne," but the most straightforward reading, and the one sealed by the New Testament, is a direct address to the King as God. The author of Hebrews puts it beyond all dispute: "But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.'" This is a high peak of Old Testament Christology. The Messiah to come is not merely a great king or a prophet; He is a divine King. His throne is not temporary, subject to the political winds and the decay of all earthly things. It is "forever and ever." This establishes the absolute permanence and stability of Christ's rule. His kingdom will not be overthrown; it cannot be shaken.

The character of this eternal kingdom is then defined. "A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom." The scepter is the symbol of a king's authority and power to rule. Christ's scepter, His royal authority, is one of uprightness. The word means straightness, equity, justice. His rule is not arbitrary or tyrannical. It is not based on raw power, but on perfect righteousness. All His decrees are just, all His judgments are true. This is the foundation of our security and peace. Our King rules in perfect righteousness, and therefore His kingdom is a kingdom of true order, peace, and flourishing.

v. 7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.

This verse provides the moral foundation for the previous statement. Why is His throne eternal? Why is His rule one of perfect uprightness? Because of His essential character. "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness." This is not a statement of mere preference or policy. This is the very engine of His being. The love for what is right and the hatred for what is evil are not two separate things, but two sides of the same coin. You cannot truly love righteousness without a corresponding hatred for its opposite. Christ's entire life on earth was a demonstration of this. He loved the Father's will, and He hated the sin that marred God's creation and enslaved mankind. This moral perfection is at the heart of His qualification to be our King and Savior.

"Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You..." Because of this perfect, warrior righteousness, a great reward is bestowed. Notice the Trinitarian echoes here. God the Father ("Your God") anoints God the Son. The anointing is the setting apart for a special office and purpose, and it is accompanied by the outpouring of the Spirit. What is He anointed with? "With the oil of joy." This is not a joy born of ease or comfort. This is the joy of victory, the gladness of a warrior who has fought and won. It is a joy that comes from accomplishment, from establishing righteousness. And this joy is superlative: "above Your companions." Whether the "companions" are other earthly kings, or the angels, or even redeemed men, Christ's joy is in a category all its own. He is the preeminent one, the joyful King, and the source of all our joy.

v. 8 All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.

The scene now engages our senses. The anointing oil of joy is accompanied by the fragrance of royalty. "Myrrh and aloes and cassia" were costly, precious spices used in incense, perfumes, and anointing oils. They speak of wealth, honor, and beauty. They also have connections to worship (incense) and burial (myrrh and aloes were used to prepare Jesus' body), reminding us that our King's glory was achieved through sacrifice. His garments are not stained with the filth of this world, but are redolent with the beauty of His holiness and the sweetness of His victory.

The fragrance is joined by sound. "Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad." The setting is one of unimaginable splendor. Palaces inlaid with ivory were the height of luxury and power in the ancient world. And from these glorious halls comes music that brings gladness to the King. This is the music of heaven, the worship of the redeemed, the celebration of His triumph. Our King is not a dour, grim monarch. He is a King who delights in beauty, in music, and in the joyous praise of His people. His court is a place of celebration.

v. 9 Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

The camera pulls back to show the royal court. It is filled with nobility. "Kings' daughters are among Your noble ladies." The attendants, the ladies-in-waiting, are themselves of royal blood. This speaks to the immense glory and honor of this King. The greatest of the earth are honored to simply be in His court. This points to the day when the nations will bring their glory into the New Jerusalem, when kings will bow down before Him.

But there is one who holds the place of highest honor. "At Your right hand stands the queen." The right hand is the position of authority, favor, and fellowship. And who is this queen? In the immediate context, she is the foreign princess Solomon is marrying. But in the ultimate fulfillment, she is the Bride of Christ, the Church. She is presented in breathtaking glory, clothed "in gold from Ophir." Ophir was famous for providing the finest, purest gold. This is a picture of the Church, purchased by Christ's blood, being presented to Him without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the perfect righteousness that He Himself provides. She does not stand before Him in her own rags, but in the costly, glorious garments He has won for her. This is the destiny of God's redeemed people: to stand at the right hand of the King of kings, sharing in His glory and His joy forever.