Psalms 45:1

PSALM XLV

The contents of this Psalm are generally summed up thus: The

majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom; or an epithalamium of

Jesus Christ and the Christian Church; the duty of this Church,

and its privileges. The Psalm contains a magnificent

description of the beauty, ornaments, valour, justice, and

truth of the Divine Bridegroom; the beauty, magnificence, and

riches of the bride, who was to become mother of a numerous and

powerful posterity. The preamble is found in the title and

verse Psalms 45:1.

The description and character of the Bridegroom, 2-9.

The address to the bride by her companions, 10-15.

A prediction of her numerous and glorious descendants, 16, 17.

NOTES ON PSALM XLV

The title is nearly the same with that of Psalms 69:1 and Psalms 80:1 "To the chief musician, or master of the band of those who played on the six-stringed instruments, giving instruction for the sons of Korah; a song of loves, or amatory ode; or a song of the beloved maids." The Vulgate and Septuagint have, For those who shall be changed, or brought into another state, which some have interpreted as relating to the resurrection of the just; but if I could persuade myself that the title came by Divine inspiration, I would say it more properly belonged to the calling and conversion of the Gentiles, and bringing them over from idolatry to the worship of the true God. By some the word ששנים shoshannim, is translated lilies; and a world of labour has been spent to prove that these lilies mean the saints, Jesus Christ himself, and the Divine light which is a banner to them that fear him. I cannot believe that any such meaning is intended, and, consequently, I cannot attempt to interpret the Psalm after this model. I believe it to be an epithalamium, or nuptial song, which primarily respected Solomon's marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh; and that it probably has a prophetic reference to the conversion of the Gentiles, and the final aggrandizement of the Christian Church.

Verse Psalms 45:1. My heart is inditing a good matter] רחש rachash, boileth or bubbleth up, as in the margin. It is a metaphor taken from a fountain that sends up its waters from the earth in this way. The Vulgate has eructavit, which is most literally translated by the old Psalter: Mi hert ryfted gude word. [Anglo-Saxon] My heart belcheth. - Anglo-Saxon.

I speak of the things which I have made touching the king] אמר אני מעשי למלך, literally, "I dedicate my work unto the king." Or, as the Psalter, I say my werkes til the kyng. This was the general custom of the Asiatic poets. They repeated their works before princes and honourable men; and especially those parts in which there was either a direct or constructive compliment to the great man. Virgil is reported to have a part of his AEneid before Augustus, who was so pleased with it that he ordered ten sestertia to be given him for every line. And the famous Persian poet Ferdusi read a part of his Shah Nameh before Sultan Mahmoud, who promised him thirty thousand denars for the poem.

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.] I shall compose and speak as fluently the Divine matter which is now in my heart, as the most expert scribe can write from my recitation. My tung of maister swiftly wrytand. "That es, my tung is pen of the Haly Gast; and nout but als his instrument, wham he ledis als he wil. For I speke noght bot that he settis on my tung; als the pen dos noght withouten the writer. Swyftly wrytand, for the vertu of goddes inspiracioun is noght for to thynk with mons study, that he schewes til other of the purete of heven; that es some for to com that he wrytes." - Old Psalter.