Psalm 45: 1 – 17
The Messiah and His Bride
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.
1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore, God has blessed You forever. 3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. 4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; The peoples fall under You. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. 8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. 9 Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir. 10 Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; 11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him. 12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor. 13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. 14 She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. 15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace. 16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, whom You shall make princes in all the earth. 17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore, the people shall praise You forever and ever.
In today’s study we are going to learn about how we are considered the ‘Bride of Christ’. I have a treat for you. Have you ever thought ‘where did all the traditions in love and marriage come from?’ I want to share with you some facts that you might be surprised to hear.
. Why does the man getting down on one knee to ask woman to marry him?
Knights would get down on one knee in front of their lord as a display of respect, obedience, and loyalty. It was also a common occurrence in religious ceremonies, and in those days marriage and religion were intrinsically linked. "So, when a courteous gentlemen was proposing to his lady, pledging his allegiance to her and declaring his undying love for her, getting down on one knee was the natural thing to do."
. Why does the man go to parents of bride to ask for their permission to marry their daughter?
Genesis 29. Jacob asking Laban for Rachael
. What is the purpose of engagement and engagement ring?
Promise to fulfill vow of marrying woman. Holy Spirit Is given to us (as the bride of Christ) also as a promise that we will be with the Lord forever. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
. why is the Wedding dress (white)?
The white wedding dress has a twofold significance. It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, as well as her reverence to God. It's also a picture of the righteousness of Christ described in Revelation 19:7–8. Christ clothes his bride, the church, in his own righteousness as a garment of "fine linen, bright and clean."
. Why have a Maid of Honor and Best Man – Two witnesses – Deuteronomy 19: 15, “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”
. Why have bridesmaids and groomsmen?
. Women – Song of Solomon chapter 1 verse 4, “The Daughters of Jerusalem We will run after you.”
. Men – Judges 14, “10 So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so. 11 And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.”
. What is the point of flower girls and ring bearers
These mini grooms and brides have everything to do with fertility superstition actually. They represent the biological children the couple are expected to have. By incorporating them into the ceremony, they act as good luck charms so that the couple will have no problem conceiving (there’s no precedent on what it means when the ring bearer loses the ring or the flower girl takes a tantrum). The tradition originates from when old school wedding tradition believed the sole the point of marriage was to procreate. This also explains why flower girls throw flowers. Flowers are also fertility symbols and by throwing the petals around, it’s like blessing the wedding with even more fertility.
. What about bad weather on the wedding day?
Rain on your wedding day is considered good luck. Since prior to the Industrial Revolution the world is an agriculture society. If it rained, then all your invited guests will most likely show up not only to the reception but also to the wedding ceremony.
. Why even have a ceremony?
Christian marriage is more than a contract; it's a covenant relationship. For this reason, we see symbols of the covenant God made with Abraham in many of today's Christian wedding traditions. In Genesis 15:9–10, the ‘Blood Covenant’ began with the sacrifice of animals. After splitting them precisely in half, the animal halves were arranged opposite each other on the ground, leaving a pathway between them. The two parties making the covenant would walk from either end of the path, meeting in the middle.
. Why is the seating of Family on Opposite Sides of the Church?
Family and friends of the bride and groom are seated on opposite sides of the church to symbolize the cutting of the blood covenant. These witnesses—family, friends, and invited guests—are all participants in the wedding covenant. Many have made sacrifices to help prepare the couple for marriage and support them in their holy union.
. Is there any significance of the Center Aisle and White Runner?
The center aisle represents the meeting ground or pathway between the animal pieces where the blood covenant is established. The white runner symbolizes holy ground where two lives are joined as one by God (Exodus 3:5, Matthew 19:6).
. Why the ceremony of Seating of the Parents?
In biblical times, the parents of the bride and groom were ultimately responsible for discerning God's will concerning the choice of a spouse for their children. The wedding tradition of seating the parents in a place of prominence is meant to recognize their responsibility for the couple's union.
. Why does the Groom Enters First?
Ephesians 5:23–32 reveals that earthly marriages are a picture of the church's union with Christ. God initiated the relationship through Christ, who called and came for his bride, the church. Christ is the Groom, who established the blood covenant first initiated by God. For this reason, the groom enters the church auditorium first.
. Why does the Father escort and give away Bride?
In Jewish tradition, it was the father's duty to present his daughter in marriage as a pure virgin bride. As parents, the father and his wife also took responsibility for endorsing their daughter's choice in a husband. By escorting her down the aisle, a father says, "I have done my very best to present you, my daughter, as a pure bride. I approve of this man as your choice for a husband, and now I bring you to him." When the minister asks, "Who gives this woman?" the father responds, "Her mother and I." This giving away of the bride demonstrates the parents' blessing on the union and the transfer of care and responsibility to the husband.
. Why does the father lift the Bridal Veil of his daughter?
Not only does the bridal veil show the modesty and purity of the bride and her reverence for God. Also, in Genesis 29 due to Laban’s deceit the father lifts the veil to show that the groom gets the right woman.
. What is the purpose in Exchanging of Rings?
While the wedding ring is an outward symbol of the couple's inward bond, illustrating with an unending circle the eternal quality of love, it signifies even more in light of the blood covenant. A ring was used as a seal of authority. When pressed into hot wax, the impression of the ring left an official seal on legal documents. Therefore, a couple wearing wedding rings is demonstrating their submission to God's authority over their marriage. The couple recognizes that God brought them together and that he is intricately involved in every part of their covenant relationship.
A ring also represents resources. When the couple exchanges wedding rings, this symbolizes the giving of all their resources—wealth, possessions, talents, emotions—to the other in marriage. Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the United States.
. What is the purpose of the Pronouncement of Husband and Wife?
The Pronouncement officially declares that the bride and groom are now husband and wife. This moment establishes the precise beginning of their covenant. The two are now one in the eyes of God.
. Is it important for a Presentation of the Couple?
When the minister introduces the couple to the wedding guests, he is drawing attention to their new identity and name change brought about by marriage. Similarly, in the blood covenant, the two parties exchanged some part of their names. In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a new name, Abraham, by adding letters from his own name, Yahweh.
. Whose responsibility is The Reception?
Father of the bride’s responsibility _ Genesis 29 – Laban hosts wedding. A ceremonial meal was often part of the blood covenant. At a wedding reception, guests share with the couple in the blessings of the covenant. The reception also illustrates the wedding supper of the Lamb described in Revelation 19.
. Why the big deal about the wedding cake?
The cutting of the cake is another picture of the cutting of the covenant. When the bride and groom take pieces of cake and feed it to each other, once again, they are showing they have given their all to the other and will care for each other as one flesh. At a Christian wedding, the cutting and feeding of cake can be done joyfully but should be done lovingly and reverently, in a way that honors the covenant relationship. The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head for fertility's sake. The custom of tiered cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over.
. Why did people throw rice?
The rice-throwing tradition at weddings originated with the throwing of seed. It was meant to remind couples of one of the primary purposes of marriage—to create a family that will serve and honor the Lord. Therefore, guests symbolically throw rice as a gesture of blessing for the spiritual and physical fruitfulness of the marriage.
. Why the honeymoon?
Seven days as also listed in Genesis 29 where Jacob had two wives each having a week’s honeymoon. The groom carries the bride across the threshold to bravely protect her from evil spirits lurking below.
The couple’s consummation on their honeymoon itself is a picture of the blood covenant (thus the importance of wife being a virgin).
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.
We have a psalm for the choirmaster set to the tune Shoshannim (‘lilies’). In the Song of Solomon 2.16; 6.2-3 the place of lilies was the place for love, and so the name of the tune fits the theme. As previously it is a Maschil and is ‘of the sons of Korah’. And it is a song of ‘loves’, a wedding song, for it deals with the marriage between the Davidic king and his bride. The word used here for ‘loves’ always indicates a high and holy love. In practice the king and his bride may well never have previously met, for this great occasion suggests a political marriage, as does the exhortation to the bride, so that the love is anticipated rather than real.
The splendor of the occasion fits well with Solomon, and initially this psalm may well be describing the time when he was united with his Egyptian bride, the daughter of Pharaoh. But the king is undoubtedly addressed in terms reminiscent of the promises to David of the coming King from his house Who would rule the world and be established on God’s throne (2 Samuel 7.12-16; Psalm 2). Thus the Psalm looks forward also to the Coming King, and we must also therefore find within it an indication of the coming of the Messiah.
1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
It is clear from these words that the writer was almost overwhelmed at the occasion as he considered his subject matter, the king dressed in all his finery and his jewels, the magnificence of the decorated palace, the array of queens and princesses and the glory of his queenly bride.
He recognizes that he has a goodly matter to write about, and his heart overflows at the thought. He is also conscious that he will be speaking about things which he has formulated which concern his sovereign, a thought which fills him with awe. And thus, his tongue flows smoothly like the pen of a capable and willing writer.
His description of the bridegroom’s glory follows a carefully constructed pattern.
1). he describes the king’s splendor (verse 2). He is fairer than the children of men, granted wisdom by God and blessed by God forever. This was no doubt the nation’s view of Solomon, and it is even more true of the even greater ‘Son of David’, our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose bride is His people. He is the fairest among ten thousand, has received directly the wisdom of the Father, and is truly from everlasting to everlasting.
2). he is a mighty warrior on behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness (verses 3-4). This was initially true of Solomon until he lapsed, and it is permanently and everlastingly true of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greater than Solomon (Matthew 12.42).
3). his arrows are sharp and effective (verse 5). No doubt Solomon like all great leaders would attend at the battlefield and fire his bow so that he could be lauded for having taken part in the fighting. But the greater than Solomon would Himself be a polished arrow in God’s quiver (Isaiah 49.2). The arrow of His word would be sharp and true.
4). His throne is the very throne of God (verses 6-7). In the case of Solomon, it was established by God, and Solomon was to be His righteous representative before His people, while in the case of the Coming One He Himself would share God’s throne and would indeed be God upon that throne.
2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore, God has blessed You forever.
David himself appears to have been a good-looking man, ‘You are fairer than the children of men’, a trait which he passed on to his children. And dressed in his royal finery he must well have seemed so, especially to his admirers.
The words ‘Grace is poured into your lips’ indicate that he was well known for the gracious way in which he spoke to people (Proverbs 22.11, “He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend), or it may have reference to the special gift of wisdom which God gave to him after his coronation (1 Kings 3.5-15, “5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” 6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 Then Solomon awoke; and indeed, it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.).
The God-given gifts mentioned stress that God has blessed him, and his wisdom became a legend that was never forgotten. And he was blessed because of them. We still speak of ‘the wisdom of Solomon’. But primarily in mind here is the promise of the everlastingness of his house. Kingship would belong to his house forever (2 Samuel 7.12 - 16, “12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”).
These words even more were descriptive of the Messiah when He came. He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2.52), and on the Mount of Transfiguration His full beauty was made known (Mark 9.2-8, “2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.). Men wondered at the gracious words that came from His lips (Luke 4.22, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”). And He was ‘over all, God, blessed forever’ (Romans 9.5).
3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. 4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
All kings were supposed to be mighty warriors, and certainly sought to depict themselves as such. Even when they did not lead their troops into action they would regularly appear on the battlefield and loose an arrow at the enemy to impress on men their war likeness. And they would dress for battle, sword on their thigh, and arrive on their splendid warhorse or in their war chariot. Solomon was not famed for his warlike activity, but we have no need to doubt that he was present at times in the defense, and even extension, of his realm.
Here he is seen in the wedding procession both as bridegroom and warrior, sword girded on his thigh as a ‘mighty one’, glorious in majesty, riding majestically either on his war horse or in his chariot with a glorious future before him because he sought truth, meekness and righteousness. The future looked rosy, until he wasted it away.
For the king of Israel truth was to be the central pillar of his life (Isaiah 11.1-5, “1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears. 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.”). Meekness was expected of a king as he considered the needs and petitions of the poor of the land. Righteousness was a prerequisite for a king of Israel.
From the activities of his right arm he would achieve greatness and glory, and prove his appointment by God, and learn much about himself. And he would learn too the perils and dangers of greatness, as with his right hand he administered justice, and made his mistakes.
The Messiah would also go forward with His sword of truth (Isaiah 49.2, “And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.”), and was called ‘the Mighty God’ (Isaiah 9.6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”). And he too would enter Jerusalem gloriously, even though on an donkey’s colt (Zechariah 9.9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This was the normal mount for a king of Israel in times of peace). And truth and meekness and righteousness would prosper at His hand. While His right hand would achieve the greatest things of all as He healed all who came to Him and healed the souls of men. The final picture of the Messiah in the New Testament is a glorious one of Him riding to victory with His sharp two edged sword at the consummation of the age, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19.11-16, “11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.). It was a description indicating His supreme Kingship and power. His victory was won by His word of mouth. The enemies just crumbled before Him as they fought each other.
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; The peoples fall under You.
The idea here is that Solomon and his armies are regularly victorious, and that his bowmen especially are always effective, so that his enemies cannot stand against him. It is an indication of the power and effectiveness of the hosts of Solomon.
The Messiah Is Himself like a polished arrow (Isaiah 49.2). And His shafts too are directed accurately into men’s hearts so that as a result men fall at His feet and cry mercy. And they reach into the very hearts of His enemies, bringing them into subjection to Him, by His word.
The prestigious position of the king in God’s eyes is now made clear. His rule will be everlasting, he will rule with equity, he will be elevated by God above all his fellow kings.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
The essential divine nature of his kingship is now expressed. He has been adopted by God as His son, and God has promised to be his Father. Thus, his throne is the one on earth appointed and established by God to have overall lordship, and its everlasting nature is guaranteed.
But having said that the king must rule as befits God’s appointee, in righteousness. His rule must demonstrate that he loves righteousness and hates all that is morally wrong. Thus, his scepter as king must be a scepter of equity. He must rule justly and fairly, showing special favor to none. And it is for that reason that Elohim, his God (Elohim), has anointed him with joyous gladness above all others. He is to rejoice in being king of kings as the anointed of God.
Such a hope lay at the root of ideas about the Messiah, and it is the ideal kingship of the Messiah that is really in the prophet’s mind. There was only One Who was really fitted for these words. It is our Lord Jesus Christ, and He alone, Who is worthy to be addressed as the Mighty El, Whose reign is from everlasting (Micah 5.2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”), Who will be exalted above all (Philippians 2.9-11, “9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ Is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”), and of whose kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1.33, “and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”). He above all was worthy to be anointed above His fellows as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And in His case, we may therefore translate as, ‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever’, for He not only sits on a divine throne, but is Himself the Almighty God.
Having established the glory of the king’s person attention now turns to the Royal Wedding. He is covered in delightful ointments and perfumes, he is welcomed by stringed instruments playing from ivory palaces, he is attended by the daughters of kings, and at his right hand is his noble queen arrayed in the finest of gold, the gold of Ophir. All is ready for he and his bride being united.
In the New Testament the bride of Christ is revealed to be the church (Ephesians 5.25-27, “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”), composed of all true believers in Christ, and her covering is to be ‘the righteousness’s’ of God’s people.
8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. 9 Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
The king is rigged out in his finery, and covered in delightful ointments and perfumes, and the procession passes by his ivory palace. Ivory palaces were a sign of show and wealth and indicated powerful and successful kings. They were not of course made of ivory but decorated with inlaid ivory. That there are several suggests the glory of this king, and as he passes by them in his royal procession the musicians are out on the balconies playing loudly and skillfully in order to add to the joy of the occasion. Or the idea may be that it was in such a palace that he was greeted by his prospective queen.
He is so noble and powerful that his honorable women, attending at the wedding, were nothing less than the daughters of kings. The king’s daughters may have been other wives, or they may simply have come from their fathers’ kingdoms to play their part in the wedding in honor of the King.
But most conspicuous of all is his wife, standing there in her beauty, dressed in gold of Ophir, the finest of imported gold. Here then is splendor indeed, and it demonstrates the magnificence of the occasion, and adequately depicts the even greater glory of the coming Messiah, of whom this king is a type and forerunner.
The identity of his queen is unknown. That it is not Pharaoh’s daughter is probable in that there is no mention of Egypt. To marry the daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh was such an honour, and would have added such prestige to the wedding, that it would hardly have been allowed to pass without mention.
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; 11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him. 12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.
The bride is advised to forget her past life and to look forward to her glorious future. She may well never have met her husband-to-be, and was probably feeling a little lost and homesick. But she is advised to accept advice and be responsive, and to forget her own people and her father’s house and give proper reverence to her new husband. Then will the king desire her, and all will treat her with honour. This was a duty that every king’s daughter was expected to follow. They were brought up to recognize that they would go to some foreign king as a treaty wife, and from then on should forget their old home.
It is a beautiful picture of the bride of Christ who on coming to Christ is called on to turn her back on the past and live only for Him. Her sole desire is to be to please Him.
As far as the Messianic aspect is concerned it is an indication that His ‘bride’ should leave behind their old lives and be completely committed to Him. Old things are to pass away. All things are to become new. He is to be their ‘all’.
The glory of the bride, who is a king’s daughter, is now described, and her entrance in splendour into the king’s palace.
13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. 14 She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. 15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace.
Having responded to the advice given to her the bride now leaves her palace and goes bravely to the king’s palace amidst all the festivities. She is splendidly dressed in a gold interlaced, heavily embroidered outfit, and is led forth to her bridegroom. Her virgin companions accompany her in solemn and stately procession, and they are brought with gladness and rejoicing into the king’s own palace.
We can see in this splendor of the bride a picture of the even greater splendor given to Christ’s church, when she is to be ‘glorious, without spot and blemish and any such thing’ (Ephesians 5.26). She too will enter Heaven with rejoicing.
16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
The final urging to the king is that he should concentrate his thoughts on his prospective children. These will replace his ancestors, and in contrast will be made princes in all the earth.
This will then enable the king’s name to be remembered to all generations, although note the possible gentle transition into God’s final promise made to him (Who else could promise this?). God will ensure that his name is remembered forever, and that people will thank him for ever and ever. This last could only really be true of the Coming king who would rule over the everlasting kingdom.
It is often said that it is difficult to apply this last verse to the Messianic concept of the Psalm, but that is only so if the application is interpreted too strictly. However, if we remember that Isaiah said of the future Messiah that ‘He would see His seed’ (Isaiah 53.10), it fits in admirably. The bride will produce princely sons for her bridegroom (who will in fact then become part of the bride). We can compare how the woman arrayed with the sun in Revelation 12.1, who was symbolic of Israel, also had children who were themselves Israel.
