1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. NIV
Psalm 45 is a poem of adoration presented to the king and his bride at a royal wedding at some point during the generations of monarchy in Israel. The first nine verses are addressed to the king. Verses 10-17 are addressed to the new bride. It should be noted that this psalm preserves an interesting look into the blurring of activities that both honor and dishonor the Lord.
Throughout verses 1-8, which of the glamourous comments that the poet uses surprises you the most? Which one is most awkward? Which one do you believe is most accurate? Which one do you believe is the most exagerrated? Which is honoring to God? Which might be dishonoring?
Would God be pleased about the situation in verse 9? What revelation does this verse give you about the practice of faith in Israel at the time of this wedding occurred? Why do you think this psalm is still included in the Book of Psalms?
::::: DIGGING DEEPER :::::
Read God's guidelines for a king's behavior back in Deutoronomy 17:14-20. In what ways has the king in Psalm 45 gone wrong?