On Psalm 45—Part 1
(Ps 45:1) To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
The Hebrew verb translated "is inditing" has the meanings "to keep moving, stir". The Hebrew word for "ready" in "ready writer" could also be translated "skillful". The statement "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer" can remind us that "prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being brought along by the Holy Spirit" (2Pt 1:21)EMTV.
(Ps 45:2) Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
The psalm speaks of one who is king (Ps 45:1), is fairer than the sons of men (Ps 45:2), and is blessed of God forever (Ps 45:2). The fact that Ps 45:2 does not state explicitly that the Messiah is a man is an indication that he is more than that. Indeed, Ps 45:6 calls him God. Now, since other Scripture passages mention that the Messiah is also a man, Ps 45:2 could also be understood as stating "Thou art the fairest of the sons of men ... ".
(Ps 45:3)MKJV Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O mighty one, with Your glory and Your majesty.
The word translated "glory" denotes "splendor, majesty".
(Ps 45:4) And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
The following seems to be a more literal translation of Ps 45:4: "And prosper thy majesty! Ride because of the word of truth and the meekness of righteousness; and thy right hand shall show thee awesome things". The Hebrew verb translated "to prosper" means also "to advance, succeed". Thus, "prosper thy majesty" could be interpreted similarly to "glorify thy name" in Jn 12:28. Moreover, the words for "and thy right hand shall show thee awesome things" can also be translated "and let thy right hand show thee awesome things". The word for "to show" means also "to throw, cast, point out, direct, teach". A request "let thy right hand show thee ... " would be a request that the Lord would act, such as in Ps 74:11.
(Ps 45:5) Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
In Hebrew, the words for "Thine arrows are sharp" are at the beginning of the verse and the words for "in the heart of the king's enemies" are at the end of the verse. The following translation respects the word order in Hebrew: "Thine arrows are sharp. Peoples fall under thee. In the heart are enemies of the king". If so, the verse mentions that the king has enemies in his heart. Indeed, Christ works to reconcile enemies to God, just as we read also elsewhere in the Scriptures that "you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled" (Col 1:21). Those who are not reconciled to God are enemies because of wicked works.
As for the sword of Ps 45:3 and the arrows of Ps 45:5, based on other passages we could infer that they are used figuratively to describe weapons of spiritual warfare. "He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away" (Is 49:2)ESV. Now, Is 49:2 is in the context of the Lord using believers to reconcile Jews and Gentiles to himself (Ac 13:47, Is 49:6).
(Ps 45:6)NKJV Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
(Ps 45:7)KJV Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
The word translated "fellows" means also "companions". Those who follow the Messiah could be described as his companions. By following him they also begin to love righteousness and hate wickedness. Thus, they are also anointed with the oil of gladness, though not as much as their leader. Believers are told that "you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things" (1Jn 2:20)EMTV. Further, "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1Jn 2:27). The anointing of the believer is the result of something being poured out. In various passages we read that the Holy Spirit is poured out, such as in Joel 2:28 and Ac 2:33.
Heb 1 confirms that Ps 45 speaks of the Son. Ps 45:6-7 and Ps 102:25-27 are quoted in the following passage.
(Heb 1:8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
(Heb 1:9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(Heb 1:10) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
(Heb 1:11) They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
(Heb 1:12) And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.