Psalm 45:6
Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 45
Psalm 45 is another Messianic psalm. This one is not written by David but by the sons of Korah. It’s a wedding song. Unlike some of the other psalms about Jesus where he speaks in the first person, this one is written in the third person about Jesus. As we will see, it’s a wedding song about the King and his Bride.
The king in the psalm is addressed and described in verses 3-9 while the queen bride is addressed and described in verses 10-16. We can clearly see Jesus in the first half of the psalm as the king. The author of Hebrews makes it plainly clear for us by quoting verses six and seven in Hebrews 1:8-9 claiming it describes the Son.
Describing Jesus, the psalmist tells us that Jesus comes armed with the Word of Truth as his sword clothed with splendor and majesty (vs 3). He comes in the name of truth, humility and justice to free us from captivity and lead us to victory (vs 4-5). He will then reign on his throne forever as a righteous king and judge (vs 6). God has placed him above the all the angels and installed him as king (vs 7-8).
Don’t miss the psalmist making the connection between Jesus and the Tabernacle. The psalmist writes about the Messiah being anointed with oil and the fragrance of his garments in verses seven and eight. Jesus was anointed with oil indicating his role as our High Priest. His robes are fragrant with aromas of myrrh, aloes and cassia.
Recall that myrrh and cassia were components used to create the holy anointing oil used in tabernacle and temple worship (Ex 30:22-25). God commanded that this anointing oil and its scent were not to be used in Israel for any purpose other than the priesthood sanctifying a man as a servant of God. And now we see Jesus’ garments covered with this fragrance establishing his eternal position as High Priest.
Turning to the last half of the psalm, the bride is at the king’s right hand. The bride of the king is the Church which as Jesus-followers is us. So we would do well to obey the psalmist and “listen, daughter, and pay careful attention” to what follows (vs 10). We are to “forget your people and your father’s house” (vs 10).
When we come to Jesus, we are to leave our world behind and be devoted to our king. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). It’s a hard truth but when we decide to follow Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family. We have a new master and that means leaving our past behind. We are to “honor him, for he is your lord” (vs 11).
When we decide to follow Christ, our future is glorious. “In embroidered garments she is led to the king” to live with him forever. We will be “led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king” (vs 15). The apostle John tells us, “[Jesus] has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever!” (Rev 1:6).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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