On Psalm 45—Part 3

The fact that the bride of Christ represents believers can also be seen in the following verse.

(2Co 11:2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

(Ps 45:10) Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
(Ps 45:11) So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Just like a bride loving her bridegroom with her whole heart, so also one who comes to Christ must give up everything else. "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty ... ". "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Lk 14:26)EMTV. The Scripture also mentions "your futile way of life handed down from your forefathers" (1Pt 1:18)EMTV. Believers should turn away from it and follow instead Christ, who is the true way of life. This is part of forgetting "thine own people, and thy father's house" (Ps 45:10).

(Ps 45:12) And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

Note that Ps 45:12 continues to address the "daughter" mentioned in Ps 45:10-11. The Scripture mentions that those who belong to Christ will reign with him also on earth. Therefore, those on earth will seek their favor. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" (Rev 2:26). "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev 20:4). "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Mt 5:5).

(Ps 45:13) The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

The phrase "king's daughter" can remind us of the fact that believers are considered to be children of God. While in other passages these children are called "sons", in Ps 45 a child is typically called "daughter".

(Jn 1:12)EMTV ... as many as received Him, He gave them the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His name;

(Ro 8:16)ASV The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God

(Ps 45:14)KJV She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
(Ps 45:15) With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.

The psalm uses several distinct metaphors to describe believers. The queen (Ps 45:9) represents the church. The daughters of kings (Ps 45:9) and the virgin companions (Ps 45:14-15) also represent believers. Moreover, every believer is represented by the "king's daughter" (Ps 45:10-13). While the daughters of kings could be interpreted as descendants of other believers, the virgin companions could be understood as believers that were impacted by the life of the "daughter". Since they follow her, they might be people who came to faith through her ministry. We read that they "shall be brought unto thee". Clearly "thee" refers to the Lord, for the psalm is spoken to him. Furthermore, the phrase "the king's palace" in Ps 45:15 does not imply that the verse is not spoken to the Lord, given that a king was often addressed at the third person, such as in Est 8:4-5 and 2Sa 14:19-20. Thus, one interpretation of Ps 45:15 is that it is addressed to the king. There is, however, one more possible interpretation. Since the Hebrew for "shall they be brought" can also be translated "shall ye be brought", a second interpretation would be that the verse is addressed to believers. In the absence of clear indications excluding one interpretation or the other, given that nothing can escape the attention of the author of the psalm, we must conclude that both interpretations were meant.

(Ps 45:16)NKJV Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons,
Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.

The word for "instead" means also "under". It may refer to the order in which fathers and spiritual descendants will come to the King. The statement "whom You shall make princes in all the earth" may remind us of the time when the Lord will return.

(Lk 19:16)MKJV And came the first, saying, Lord, your mina has gained ten minas.
(Lk 19:17) And he said to him, Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a least thing, have authority over ten cities.
(Lk 19:18) And the second came, saying, Lord, your mina has made five minas.
(Lk 19:19) And he said the same to him, You be over five cities.

(Mt 5:5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

(Rev 21:7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Ps 45 is about Christ. God addresses directly the Son in verses 2 through 9 and 14 through 17. Those that Christ has redeemed are also addressed in verses 10 through 13. The psalm concludes with a promise that there will be believers in every generation.

(Ps 45:17)NKJV I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

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