Psalm 45:1 (ESV) … “My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”
This is a song for the heart from the heart of an inspired and excited writer. His heart was “bubbling over” with his theme, for it is the greatest theme in the universe: the glories of the Son of God. Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Heb. 12:2), which was the joy of presenting His bride to the Father in glory (Judg. 14; John 17:24). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ in this world (John 16:14), and He inspired this writer to do just that. The King described in this psalm is both God (v. 6) and man (v. 2), and that can only be Jesus.
The writer began with the beauty of the King (v. 2), “fairer than the children of men,” literally, “beautified with beauty.” King Saul was known as a handsome man (1 Sam. 9:2; 10:23) and so was David (1 Sam. 16:12), but none surpasses Jesus. When He ministered on earth, our Lord had no special physical beauty (Isa. 53:2), and when His persecutors were through with Him, He didn’t even look human (Isa. 52:14). But today, Jesus Christ is the center of heaven’s glory and the focus of heaven’s worship (Rev. 4–5). We love Jesus even though we have never seen Him, but one day we shall behold the King in His beauty (Isa. 33:17), and we shall be like Him (1 John 3:1–3). The writer also marveled at His gracious speech, but so did the people who heard Him preach and teach on earth (Luke 4:18, 22, 32; John 7:46; see Mark 1:22; 6:2; 11:18). Visitors from distant lands came to hear Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kings 4:29–34), but the Father has hidden all the treasures of divine wisdom in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:3). Solomon died, and except for what he wrote in Scripture, his wisdom died with him, but Jesus is blessed forever (v. 2), has a throne forever (v. 6), and His name will be praised forever (v. 17). In the Bible, “forever” can mean “as long as you live” (Ex. 21:6), but here it means “for eternity.” He is “King forever” (29:10).[1]
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 168–169). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.
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