Instruct Christ’s Bride (45:10-15)

Facts are sadly neutralized when they don't lead to recommendations to action. The glorious truths about the King should lead the bride to “consider” and “incline” her ear (45:10). This call is quite similar to Jesus’s cry, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 11:15). Christ’s glory lays a strong obligation upon those He chooses to claim. Therefore the question is "How should the elect bride respond to this glorious King?"

Once again, it is important to remember how this psalm transcends its ancient near eastern context and speaks directly to Christian believers. The bride of the Israelite king was intended to be an emblem of Christ’s church.

Forget your people

“Forget your own people also, and your father’s house” (45:10).

In marriage there is a leaving of father and mother and cleaving to one’s spouse (Gen. 2:24). Being in covenant with the King is similar. You must be His alone. 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” (Luke 14:26). As important and precious as these other relations are, they pale in comparison to the commitment that Christ demands. He lays an absolute and supreme claim upon His people. Connection to the King is greater than all other bonds. We must put Him first. He is the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:44-46). 

This standard ought to humble us to the dust, for a day doesn’t go by in which we do not fail. Any sin is a failure to love God and to put Him first. A significant part of the Christian life, therefore, is re-confessing one’s idolatry, returning in repentant faith to Christ’s sacrifice, and recommitting to putting Him first. Because our hearts are wayward, the Christian life should be a lifestyle of repentance, but also of joy, for there is no fault or lack in us that Christ does not more than make up for.

Believe that the King loves you

“So the King will greatly desire your beauty” (45:11).

This clearly echoes the Song of Solomon’s romantic expressions (and this parallel, combined with Psalm 45's clear Christocentric focus may be a key to interpreting the Song). But the general idea is “if you forget your father’s house and cleave to me, I’ll set my love on you.” The parallel to Christ is clear: Jesus said “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). When you commit to Him, Christ receives and welcomes you. Of course, you must be given by the Father in order to come to Christ, but it is true that the covenant is sealed by God-given faith in Christ. In short, if you repent and believe the gospel, you will be saved and loved forever (Jer. 31:3). 

Worship the King

“Because He is your Lord, worship Him” (Psa. 45:11).

The ancient bride’s relation to the king was more than that of a wife, for she was subject to him as her king as well, so she is told to worship him. To a greater degree, this is true of believers in Christ, for He is fully Divine. “Christ has all right to our service, and by creation, redemption, and covenant, we are absolutely bound to serve and honor him in all things” (adapted from David Dickson, on Psalm 45). 

Believe that blessings come with knowing Him

This is where the psalm's instruction to the bride lingers:

“The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; the rich among the people will seek your favor. The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; the virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace” (45:12-15). 

To many people, becoming a Christian seems like the end of joy, as if you are giving up everything delightful to enter a grim, monastic sort of life. Let this passage banish such fears. The ancient bride is told that she will be respected by the great people of other countries, will have glorious wealth at home, have many happy companions, and be close to the king. These promises to the ancient bride are so extravagant that they need careful handling for modern application.

Sometimes people can overstate the blessings of the Christian life, as if God always gives to His faithful children freedom from illness, abundance of wealth, and everyone's good opinion. Such teaching is rightfully dismissed as untrue, though these particular blessings do indeed await us in heaven, so pointing to heaven may be the best way to interpret Psalm 45:12-15.

Nevertheless, being a Christian brings blessings in this life too, as passages like Psalm 103 point out. It is important to confess that life is not to be lived in dread, as if it were a constant plague. We don’t want to echo Hamlet's nihilism: “one woe doth tread upon another’s heel.” We must live a life of gratitude for God’s constant outpouring of kindness to us. Otherwise, we imply that God doesn't give good gifts to His children, something that Christ explicitly denied was true (Matt. 7:11).

God is generous and kind, and we do Him a disservice to imply otherwise. In fact, it is crucial to a life of joy to always be rejoicing in His goodness to us, which will increase exponentially in heaven. Knowing God brings untold blessings, and when the world grows dark with peril, it is all the more important to rejoice in the Lord and not forget His benefits. 

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