Psalms 45 — Overview

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others · Public Domain

Psalms 45:1, The majesty and grace of Christ’s kingdom; Psalms 45:10, The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof. Or, rather, “To the chief musician upon the hexachords, a didactic ode for the sons of Korah, and a song of loves.

” Shoshannim: most probably denotes hexachords, or six-stringed instruments, from shesh: , “six:” hence the Persian shasta: , a six-stringed lute. This Psalm is supposed by some to be an epithalamium, or nuptial song, on the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh’s daughter; but with what propriety could Solomon be described as fairer than the children of men, a mighty warrior, a victorious conqueror, and a prince whose throne is for ever and ever?

A greater than Solomon is here; and the person described is no other than the Messiah, as is acknowledged by many Jewish writers. The Targum on Psalms 45:3 says, “Thy beauty, malka meshecha: , O King Messiah, is greater than the children of men;” and the Apostle expressly quotes it as such Hebrews 1:8, Hebrews 1:9.

It was probably written by David after Nathan’s prophetic address 1 Chronicles 17:27.

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