Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Psalms 45

This psalm is an illustrious prophecy of Messiah the Prince: it is all over gospel, and points at him only, as a bridegroom espousing the church to himself and as a king ruling in it and ruling for it. It is probable that our Saviour has reference to this psalm when he compares the kingdom of heaven, more than once, to a nuptial solemnity, the solemnity of a royal nuptial, Matthew 22:2, 25:1. We have no reason to think it has any reference to Solomon’s marriage with Pharaoh’s daughter; if I thought that it had reference to any other than the mystical marriage between Christ and his church, I would rather apply it to some of David’s marriages, because he was a man of war, such a one as the bridegroom here is described to be, which Solomon was not. But I take it to be purely and only meant of Jesus Christ; of him speaks the prophet this, of him and of no other man; and to him (Psalms 45:6, 45:7) it is applied in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:8), nor can it be understood of any other. The preface speaks the excellency of the song, Psalms 45:1. The psalm speaks, I. Of the royal bridegroom, who is Christ. 1. The transcendent excellency of his person, Psalms 45:2. 2. The glory of his victories, Psalms 45:3-45:5. 3. The righteousness of his government, Psalms 45:6, 45:7. 4. The splendour of his court, Psalms 45:8, 45:9. II. Of the royal bride, which is the church. 1. Her consent gained, Psalms 45:10, 45:11. 2. The nuptials solemnized, Psalms 45:12-45:15. 3. The issue of this marriage, Psalms 45:16, 45:17. In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled with high thoughts of Christ, with an entire submission to and satisfaction in his government, and with an earnest desire of the enlarging and perpetuating of his church in the world. MHBCC 524.1