Psalm 45--Your Throne, O God, Is Forever

Psalm 45
English Standard Version

Your Throne, O God, Is Forever
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.
45 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
    I address my verses to the king;
    my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
    grace is poured upon your lips;
    therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
    in your splendor and majesty!

4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
    let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
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.
    The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
    forget your people and your father's house,
11     and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12     The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
    the richest of the people.

13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
    with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the palace of the king.

​16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
    you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
    therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

---

This psalm starts off as a love-song that was written for the king (it sounds to me like it was written for Solomon, but it could have been for David).  However, the love that this woman has for her king quickly turns to the love she has for the LORD who has established the king's throne and gives him victory and success.  It is God's throne that is eternal.  For the sake of His Name, and for His good pleasure, He has established the throne of David and made a covenant with him that his sons (his male descendants) that they would continue as stewards of the Land and the people of the LORD until Messiah would come--the Son of David who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (notice how the kings of Israel are only called "princes" here because there is one who is greater who is the true King).  Even the pagan nations will see how God richly blesses the king and seek good relations with him and the women of other countries will desire him.

It's quite an interesting Psalm to be added to the nation's hymn book, but it's not just a love-letter to the "prince" of Israel but to the King of Israel.  While it seems odd to us, I don't think it was necessarily odd to the people who sang this song (though it probably wasn't the intent of the author for the whole nation to sing her song in corporate worship).  We should not be embarrassed to sing love songs to God, but I think it is wise to not take it too far.  The Spirit is there to lead us in our response and to help us discern truth from error, especially when it comes to our feelings, passions, and emotions.  May we even bring our feelings into alignment with the truth of God's Word as I believe the author of this Psalm did.