A SONG OF LOVE

Psalm 45 is a Royal Wedding Song of Love written by the sons of Korah, who were Levites. In David’s time they served as musicians in the temple worship. This poem is a celebration of the reign of great kings like David or Solomon. Prophetically, it is a song of love, symbolizing God and His people, Christ and the Church or commitment in marriage. Believers must see themselves as the faithful Bride of Christ.

The psalmist feels inspired and excited by “a good theme”. This is a deep emotional response to the amazing sight of the King in his majesty and holiness. It describes the power of worship, as the heart overflows with love in the presence of God. It is a terrible thing when a bad heart is passionate about sinful things. But it is wonderful spiritual chemistry when the heart is passionate about a good theme. The King is Christ Himself. The Psalmist recites his poem to the King. His tongue is the pen of a ready and skillful writer. It shows divine inspiration. God gave him the words to express his love for the King of kings. Lesson: pray that God gives you His words to express your love for Him. Learn to speak “Truth in Love” (Eph 4:15). Truth means sincerity and integrity. Speaking the truth is essential, but it must always be done in love. Love means the sacrificial love that desires the best in another. This balance of Truth and Love is vital for spiritual maturity and to keep the unity of the Spirit in marriage and church. This balance prevents truth from becoming harsh and love from becoming permissive. True worship comes from a pure, devoted and faithful heart. Christ is worthy of our highest praise.

“You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore, God has blessed You forever”. The word “fair” means to be handsome and bright. King Jesus has a supernatural excellent majestic beauty, above any other beauty. On earth, Jesus had a humble appearance. Isaiah prophesied that “He has no stately form or majestic splendor that we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would be attracted to Him” (Isa 53:2; AMP). This beautiful appearance describes the resurrected Christ, The King of kings, Our High Great Priest, The God-Man in heaven. The beauty of Christ is the beauty of His character, holiness, and glory. His words are filled with Grace. When Jesus was on earth, people were amazed at the wonderful words that He was speaking. “So, all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Lk 4:22).

When the Pharisees sent soldiers to arrest Jesus, they came back saying “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (Jn 7:46). Their encounter with Jesus left them so astonished that they returned without arresting Him. This shows the unparalleled authority and wisdom with which Jesus spoke. His words went deep into people’s hearts, touching not only religious men but all sorts of people, even the soldiers. An encounter with Jesus can transform even the hardest of hearts. We should pray for opportunities to introduce others to Jesus, trusting that His words will have a profound impact. Recognize and submit to the authority of Christ in all areas of life. His teachings are not just historical records but living words that demand a response. Like the officers who were bold enough to return without arresting Jesus, we should have the courage to stand by our convictions, even when pressured by societal expectations. Worship Jesus! Never forget that God the Father has blessed God the Son forever! In Christ, we are recipients of this everlasting grace and favor.

The King speaks words of love and grace, but He is not a weak man. He is a Man of War. This is how Apostle John saw Jesus coming to earth at His second coming, to punish all evil. “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:11-16). The King is girding His sword. He is ready for battle, to defend His own people. The Sword is the Word of God (Eph 6:17), coming with power and authority, to conquer all His enemies. Jesus is called “The Mighty God” (Isa 9:6). He is the ultimate warrior who defeated sin and death. He will appear with glory, majesty and royal dignity at His second coming! Lesson: the Word of God is a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. We are urged to be spiritually prepared to face challenges, to stand firm in our faith, to live a life that honors God and exemplifies His character.

Christ is seen riding on His horse in triumph. He is the Servant King, The Lion and the Lamb. Truth represents faithfulness. Humility denotes a servant leadership style, and justice involves fairness and righteousness. These attributes are perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ, who declared Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6). Christ did not become king thru deception, violence or wickedness, but thru the Power of Love. The right hand means power and authority. Jesus did awesome miracles to reveal the power of God. True majesty is found in humility. Lesson: We are called to be humble like Jesus. Our ultimate victory is found in Christ who triumphed over sin and death.

“Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; The peoples fall under You”. The arrows represent Truth and God’s judgment. They come quickly, having a deep impact on the heart. God tells His Son: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps 2:8,9). The nations are the worldly powers who oppose God and His plans. All God’s enemies will be defeated and destroyed. Christ defeats His enemies with the sharp sword in His mouth, by the penetrating power of the Word of God, to convict of sin and change lives. When hearing God’s Word, Peter’s and Stephen’s hearers were pricked at heart (Ac 2:37; 7:54). The arrows are many. Some kill sin in our flesh. Others kill fears and doubts. Lesson: We should study God’s Word and allow it to work in our hearts. Preach the Word!

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom”. The King is God! He is praised and exalted as God! The King sits on His eternal Throne in heaven. Not only that these words say that Jesus is the eternally enthroned God, but God the Father addresses God the Son as God! Men’s kingdoms are temporary. God’s Kingdom and Throne is eternal. The scepter is a symbol of royal authority and government. God’s rule is characterized by justice and righteousness. Justice is the idea that people are to be treated fairly, impartially, properly, and reasonably by the law and by the judges. Justice means punishing evil and rewarding the good. Justice is not just an aspect of God’s rule; it is central. “For I, the LORD, love justice” (Isa 61:8). Lesson: Understanding God’s eternal and just rule should lead us to submit to His authority in every area of our lives. Repent of sin and also, trust God to reward you for good deeds.

“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions”. Righteousness means to be good and to do good. It means living in accordance with God’s laws and commands. The love for righteousness implies a desire to uphold justice and truth. God is holy. He hates sin, evil and wickedness. God the Father has anointed God the Son. This shows both Christ’s divinity and His submission to God the Father. It is a reminder that God is a Trinity. In the Old Testament, kings, priests and prophets were anointed with olive oil. They were set apart for a special purpose, to serve God. Anointing shows divine approval and power from above to do ministry. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Ac 10:38). Jesus’ anointing with the Holy Spirit at His baptism marks the beginning of His public ministry. Jesus was doing good works, teaching God’s Word, feeding the hungry, showing the love and mercy of God. His moving from place to place, demonstrates His commitment to reach all people. Jesus’ healing ministry was a direct confrontation with the forces of evil. The devil’s oppression refers to both physical sickness and spiritual bondage. His effectiveness in ministry was because “God was with Him”. Christ has suffered on earth. He was rejected by men. Nevertheless, He fulfilled God’s plan as the Savior of men. He is now filled with Joy and He is deeply satisfied. The “oil of gladness” is a special anointing that brings joy and celebration, coming from fulfilling God’s will and the ultimate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.

“All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; From ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad” (Ps 45:8; AMP)

The King’s perfume spreads all over. It shows holiness, wealth, purity and divine favor. Myrrh, aloes, and cassia were costly spices and perfumes used in ancient times for anointing and embalming. The wise men brought myrrh to Baby Jesus, recognizing Him as King and prophesying His death. Ivory was very expensive. It was imported from distant lands. It indicates wealth, splendor, and the luxurious setting of the king’s court. In the palace you could hear the harps, the sound of worshipping God. The King is glad when He hears worship. It shows Peace and Joy in His Kingdom. Lesson: Just as the king’s garments are fragrant, believers are called to be the aroma of Christ in the world, spreading His love and Word. We must worship God in Spirit and in Truth! Be grateful to God and rejoice in all circumstance of life.

In heaven, the worshipers use harps to worship the Lamb of God. “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:8-10). The scroll represents God’s plan and will for humanity, especially in the matter of salvation. Christ is the only One who has the authority to take the scroll of redemption and judgment from God’s hand. The four living creatures are special angels that represent all creation. The twenty-four elders represent the believers in heaven. Falling down before the Lamb shows the divine authority and worthiness of Christ, who died to save us. The harp is a traditional instrument used for worship and prophecy. There must be music, worship in the House of God. The smoke of incense pleases God. The golden bowls full of incense shows how precious the prayers of the saints are to God. Christ is the Faithful collector of our prayers. The lifting of hands means total surrender, humility, purity, and openness to God’s will. Lesson: God hears and answers our prayers. Every weeping in prayer is crowned with the total triumph of Christ.

The wedding is about to start. The anointed King is great not only for who He is, but also for those He associates with. The highest royalty are the maids of honor at His wedding. The greatness of Christ is also seen in the type of men and women who were His devoted followers over the years. The Gold of Ophir is the purest and most expensive gold. The bride dressed in her wedding gown of gold shows the Bride’s glory and the prosperity of God’s kingdom. The right hand means a position of authority, favor and honor. As Christ sits at the Father’s right hand, so the Church, His Bride, stands at the right hand of Christ. The Church has great influence in God’s Kingdom. Lesson: The honored women in the royal court remind us of the influence and leadership roles that women can hold within the church and society. Just as the queen stands at the king’s right hand, we are invited to live in close relationship with Christ, understanding our position of favor and authority we have in Him.

“Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house. The King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him! This is advice to the Bride. She must listen well and understand the wise counsel. There must be a shift of allegiance and identity. At the wedding day, the Bride must leave her family and fully embrace her new life, as the King’s wife. Lesson: Abraham had to leave his family and his country to obey God’s call. Leaving behind the “father’s house” symbolizes a transformation, leaving the old ways and embracing a new life. Our identity is now found in our relationship with Christ, who redefines our purpose and direction. Jesus said: “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). “A disciple” is a learner or follower who adopts the teachings and lifestyle of the teacher. A relationship with Jesus is a willful choice based on Love. The word “hate” here means to love less. It is not easy to love Jesus more than your natural family. This is a great sacrifice and includes self-denial. Lesson: Our love for Jesus should be so profound that all other loves pale in comparison.

The King is captured by the beauty of His Bride. Christ passionately loves His Bride, the Church. This beauty is spiritual. It is the purity and holiness of the Church, as a Radiant Bride who is without stain or wrinkles (Eph 5:27). This beauty is achieved by Christ’s redemptive work. The Bride bows and worships the King. This is an acknowledgement of her submission, honor, loyalty and love. Christ is the Lord of the Church. The term “lord” denotes ownership, authority, and responsibility. As the Bride, the Church is called to live in a manner worthy of her calling, with purity and devotion to Christ. She has many other benefits. People from all over the world will come to seek her favor and bring rich gifts to her. This refers to influential and wealthy people who seek favor and blessings, those who recognize the value of aligning with God’s anointed. Lesson: All worshippers are generous. Wealth and influence should be used to serve God and not for selfish desires. The Royal Bride is “all glorious”, not because of herself but because she is one with Christ. Here we see the secret or the glorious authority of the Church. Her glory is not seen by men. Her glory appears only “within the palace”. Her clothing is woven with gold, with many gifts from the Holy Spirit. Her entourage is made by virgins, those who are pure in their hearts. These are servants of God in the church. They all partake of her happiness. Lesson: do not seek fame! It is enough that Christ sees us beautiful.

“Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth. I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore, the people shall praise You forever and ever”. This is a prophecy that the royal couple will be fruitful. They will have many sons, royal princes. The fathers have passed away. A new generation of worshippers is born. The King’s name shall be remembered forever and praised from generation to generation. Lesson: Live with an eternal perspective, focusing on your future hope in Christ. Amen!