¹ My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to 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.

This psalm is a love song, as the inscription in verse zero indicates, but it can also be called a Royal Psalm because of its obvious references to “the King” (see also Ps. 2, 19, 20, 110, etc.). Unlike another book of the Bible, the Song of Solomon, which some interpreters argue is an allegory picturing Christ and the church, this psalm’s authoritative application to Christ is inarguable. The Holy Spirit gives us the interpretation in the NT book of Hebrews when it quotes Psalm 45:6-7 as portraying the exalted Christ (Heb. 1:8-9).

The psalm presents a wedding theme. And rightly so, as the marriage relationship is a significant picture of Christ and the church. When teaching about the magnificent relationship between a husband and wife, the apostle Paul makes this astounding statement: “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (Eph 5:31–32). So while we see this beautiful love sonnet used in the marriage of Israel’s king, we cannot be remiss in noticing the application to us in glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.

This beautiful psalm begins with the writer (from among the musical guild called “the sons of Korah”) expressing his overflowing heart to “the King.” The king he has in mind is unclear, but the general epithet renders this suitable for any of the kingly descendants of David. Of course, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the ultimate “Son of David,” did not marry, but we believers as the church can project ourselves into this psalm as the bride. While this song praises the king of Israel in all his glory, we can worship Christ as the King of our lives.

The psalm has inspired many hymns, for example: “Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature … Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.” The marriage of Israel’s king is accompanied by praise for his being a mighty warrior; he is arrayed in splendor and majesty as he pursues truth, meekness, and righteousness. His teachings are “awesome” (vs. 3-4). David and his son Solomon fit these accolades significantly, but few others in their downline would measure up. Yet, we find perfect fulfillment in all of these attributes in Christ.

Many readers of Scripture are confused when this psalm refers to the king of Israel as God, though he is a mere human being: “Your throne, O God [Heb. elohim], is forever and ever” (vs. 6a). Nothing is more central to the Bible than monotheism, that is, that there is one and only one God (see Deut. 6:4) and that He commands us to worship no other gods (Ex. 20:3). David’s kingly dynasty was seen in the OT as being divinely appointed and enduring (“forever and ever,” vs. 6, see also 2 Sam. 7:12-13). So we can understand this verse as saying that David’s divine throne—his dynasty of kings over God’s people—would last forever. Notice that when the Lord Jesus returns, He self-identifies as “the root and descendant of David” (Rev. 22:16b). At the same time, to resist the authority of David’s throne, which represented God’s rule on earth, was considered rebellion against God Himself. That is why the psalm proclaims, “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed you” (vs. 7b).

We could say much about the bride coming for the king, but we must limit our comments because of space. Referred to as a “daughter,” she is beautiful and adores him. She leaves her past behind, like Ruth the Moabitess who left her kinfolk. The reflection is unmistakable for those who leave all behind to come to Christ for salvation.

God sees us as glorious in His sight, for Christ has made us more than presentable by saving us. Again, we see the apostle Paul teaching about a husband’s treatment of his wife using the truth of Christ’s relationship with believers:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (Eph 5:25–27)

The bride of Christ is made beautiful; that’s us, you and me! Psalm 45 presents this truth in poetic form, fit for a kingly marriage and as a picture of Christ and His bride: “The King’s daughter is all glorious.” The Hebrew term here for “daughter” can refer to a young woman or a female descendant. Here, the king’s bride has exchanged allegiance and is no longer a “daughter of Tyre” (vs. 12) but now a daughter of Israel through her marriage to the king, and therefore called the king’s daughter. But it is clear she is becoming his bride. Some see her as a former princess of Tyre, now a princess of Israel’s king.

When we consider this psalm an ode to our Lord Jesus Christ, is it any wonder Christians have composed songs of love to Him through the ages? One of the classics conveys the worship of our hearts in response to all He has done for us:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.