In the last number of years there have been several royal weddings, some of them having been televised for the world to see. The royal groom dressed in his military dress uniform adorned with plenty of gold braid and military medals. The future royal princess in her gorgeous wedding dress and veil, designed by the top fashion designers of the day. The day of a royal wedding is a special one, especially if one is lucky enough to be invited, or even just to be in town that day. Today’s psalm is about another royal wedding, one back in the days of ancient Israel. Let’s take a look at it, see why it was included in the Scriptures, and what God can teach us through it.
Psalm 45 was written for the King of Israel on the occasion of his wedding. The king was quite possibly King Solomon, and the occasion his wedding to the daughter of Pharaoh (I Kings 3:1). This psalm is also seen as a prophecy about Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church, which is the body of all true believers. We read of Christ’s royal wedding in the Book of Revelation 19:7-9.
As the psalm begins, the psalmist is overwhelmed with emotions over this royal wedding (vs. 1). He wants what he writes to paint a beautiful picture. The apostle John felt the same way when he witnessed the vision of the future wedding of Christ and the church. As glorious as any royal wedding here on earth may be, the one with Jesus and His bride is even more so. All of the angels and creatures in heaven will be rejoicing and praising God at the occasion of this great event.
In verses 2 - 5 the psalmist describes the royal groom. The king is described as handsome, and a great military man, girded with a sword and arrows, and riding astride a horse with majesty. When the Lord Jesus returns to claim His bride He will come as the King in great glory. When Jesus came to earth the first time, it was in humility. However, when He returns, it will be as the mighty King in glory. God has blessed Him forever (vs. 2).
The psalmist describes both the throne of the King of Israel, whose wedding is occurring, and also the throne of God. The king will reign until his death, and the people hope that his royal line will continue for a long time, but God’s throne and rule will go on forever. Verses 6 - 7 are fulfilled in Christ, and are quoted in the Book of Hebrews 1:8-9. When we willingly obey God, He rewards our obedience with the “oil of gladness”.
In the weddings of Western cultures, people usually focus on what the bride is wearing, not so much on the groom. However in the Eastern culture in Biblical times, the garments of the groom were also special. Our royal groom not only was dressed magnificently, but was scented with the most expensive odors of the East (vs. 8). His bride was a daughter of another king, possibly the daughter of Pharaoh who became Solomon’s bride. She is dressed as a royal bride, a queen should be, in gold and robes of many colors (vs. 9, 13-14). The psalmist gives some words to the royal bride. Now that she is becoming a member of the king’s family, she should forget her past and the family she left behind (vs. 10). The king loves her and thinks she is beautiful. She will be brought into the royal palace, and hopefully bear sons, who will be heirs to the throne (vs. 15-16).
All believers who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior are the Bride of Christ. Jesus will return to claim His bride, bringing her to heaven, where the marriage ceremony of the Lamb will occur, as described in the Book of Revelation. The king provided his bride with royal garments. The Lord Jesus will clothe us with His righteousness, and we will be fit to become His Bride. We couldn’t on our own merit, but our Divine Bridegroom makes it possible when we take His righteousness at salvation. Our psalm, though initially written to describe the wedding of the king, prophetically describes the marriage of Jesus and the Church. Will you be present at this Royal wedding?
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