Psalms 45-47

Thoughts

Psalm 45

 Your Throne, O God, Is Forever. To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!
In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.

• This is a royal wedding psalm addressed to the king
• The language blends earthly king + Messianic king.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

• Hebrews 1:8–9 quotes this and applies it to Jesus, the true eternal King.
• Shows a king ruling with perfect righteousness and upheld by God

Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

• Rich descriptives
• “Queen in gold of Ophir” = extremely rare and costly gold.

Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,
and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people.

• Bride leaves her old identity to join the king’s household
• Nations (like Tyre) bring gifts

All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.

• A beautiful and joyful union

In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

• The King’s name being praised forever and ever

Psalm 46

 God Is Our Fortress. To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

• “Very present help” = God is findable!
• The psalm imagines total collapse with earthquakes, floods, mountains crumbling.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

• Jerusalem has no literal river  so this river is symbolic of God, like Eden and Revelation.
• Nations rage, but God does not need armies.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.

• God’s power to end all wars and is unstoppable. 

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

• “Be still”  stop trying to be in control.

Psalm 47

Psalm 47 — God Is King Over All the Earth. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

• ALL people invited to praise.
• “Most High” = Elyonעֶלְיוֹן

He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

• God’s people are precious

God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!

• Four commands in a row: sing, sing, sing, sing.

God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!

• One day the nations’ leaders (“princes”) will join God’s people 
• God isn’t just Israel’s king  He is King of all kings.

Questions

Application

Psalm 45 reminds us that the ultimate King loves His bride (us!) We are cherished and welcomed with joy. Psalm 46 is when everything feels out of control. His presence is like a river and is our ultimate fortress. Psalm 47 reminds us God is the King of all of the earth. We are part of His perfect kingdom and one day every knee shall bow.