I. INTRODUCTION (1). THE POET'S. ARDOUR. "Touching the King"-His Matters Penned. II. ADDRESS TO THE ROYAL BRIDEGROOM (2-9 ). The Poet's Admiration. I. His Personal Attractions (2 ). 2. His Victorious Advent (3-5 ). 3. His Righteous Administration (6-7). 4. His Fragrant Apparel (8). 5. His Regal Assemblage (9 ). III. ADDRESS TO THE ROYAL BRIDE (10-rr). The Poet's Admonition. IV. ADDRESS TO THE ROYAL BRIDEGROOM (12-16). The Poet's Admiration. 1. The Wealthy Aspirants (12). 2. The Bride's Adornment (13-14a). 3. The Virgin Attendants (14b-15). 4. The Princely Administrators (16). V. CONCLUSION (17). THE POET'S AIM. "Touching the King"-His Memory Perpetuated. SUPERSCRIPT.-For the Sons ofKorah. Maschil. A Song of (surpassing) Love. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musiciani for the Sons of Korah; relating to Alamoth,
PRIMARY AssocIATI0N.-.An inspired epithalamium generally thought to have as its historical basis the J.?arriage of Solomon with Pharoah's daughter, I Kings iii. I, but is more probably that of Hezekiah with Hephzibah, cf. 2 Kings xxi. 1 with Isa. lxii. 4. Solomon is named also Jedidiah (=Beloved ofJah), 2 Sam.Ĩ- 25, and the title here is rendered in the LXX, "A Song of the Beloved." The Messianic aspect of the psalm, however, quite overshadows the historic, and alone exhausts its true import, Pss. xiv. and lxxxvii. are the only two distinguished by having the title ''For the Sons of Korah" repeated in the subscript. The word "love" in the title is a Hebrew plural of amplitude or excellence and is always used in Scripture of high and noble affection, and especially of J ehovah's love to His people. "Alamoth" (see subscript) lit. maidens, indicates soprano, the treble choir; cf. 1 Chron. xv. 20. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATI0N.-Portrays Messiah's happy reunion with His people Israel. The figure of marriage is frequently used in the Old Testament to express God's relation to that nation. Here is the answer in person to the cry of xliv. "Maschil" links it with the last days. Owing to national unfaithfulness the relations between Jehovah and His ancient people have been suspended, Isa. 1. i.; Hosea ii. 2, but will be gloriously renewed in a coming day, Isa. lxii. 5. There is teaching for the Church to-day, but we must clearly distinguish between application and interpretation. The latter here belongs to Messiah and Israel. The earthly may be a figure of the heavenly, though both are distinct; see e.g. two Jerusalems (Gal. iv. 25-26); so Ezek. xlvii. 1-2; xlviii. 8-35, with Rev. xxi. and xxii. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Meditation upon the relationship between Christ and His New Testament Bride should stir in our hearts emotions not. inferior to those of the psalmist. This great theme generates glad thoughts. Christ is true Son of Man, but He far transcends all the sons of men (2). Note that Christ gains His kingdom not by invitation, as so many Christians think, but by conquest (3). Worldly "righteousness" is proud, trUe righteousness is meek (4). Righteousness, peace,joy-this is ever the true sequence (7); c£ Rom. xiv. 17. Contemplation rather than comment, meditation rather than ministry befit this psalm. The more we gaze upon the beauty of" the King" the more we gain in blessing to otir souls. "Words of men have never accomplished such miracles of grace in transforming the lives of their followers, bringing pardon
to the penitent, hope to the disconsolate, guidance to the perplexed, peace and goodwill to the outcast and downtrodden (2)." How suitable that such a psalm should be set to an accompaniment of maidens' voices! VERSE NOTES. I. "overfloweth" ( or, bubbleth over) with goodly words"; "made," i.e. col,llposed. 2. "fairer far"; the beauty is not merely physical, but moral and spiritual; c£ Cant. v. 9-16; 2 Cor. iv. 6; "grace," word occurs twice only in Psalms; here grace displayed; lxxxiv. II, grace given; cf. Prov. xxii. II; Luke iv. 22. 3. Grace now exchanged for a sword of judgment, Rev. xix. I 5; (b) = " ( Gird on) Thy _majesty and Thy splendour." 4. "And in Thy splendour, úrosper, ride on; In the cause of truth and meekness of ( or, sufferinû) righteousness ' ; victorious progress depicted. 5. "arrows,' cf. Zech. ix. 14. (b) This clause should be in parenthesis. Messiah's weapons are not carnal, but the Word of Truth, Isa. xi. 4. 6-7. Fulfilling the promise· of eternal dominion to the house of David, 2 Sam. vii. 13, 16; qtd. Pleb. i. 8-9, to show the essential difference between the Son and the angels. Note (a) the Excellency of His Person; (b) the Eternity of His Throne; and (c) the Equity of His Rule; the character of the Kingdom is determined by the character of the King; "anointed," other kings were anointed with oil, Messiah with the Holy Spirit; the anointing mentioned is not that of consecration to office, but rather that accorded to an honoured guest; see also Isa. lxi. 3. Ctr. 2 Sam. xii. 20; xiv. 2. The rejoicing of the marriage festival is here indicated. "O God," indic. Messiah's deity; "thy fellows," indic. Messiah's humanity; "fellows" refers prophetically to the remnant. 8. The fragrance of Messiah's charaüter and conduct gladdens both God and man, Isa. xlii. 1; Matt. iii. 17. In Scripture "garments" symbolise _conduct before men; "spices" symbolise spiritual graces; (b) Music greets the bride groom as he enters the palace. Stringed instruments symbolise man's power over inanimate nature. In the divine purpose, his hand was to produce the harmony of praise on earth. Hitherto, alas, mostly discords have been heard, but redeemed man shall yet bring forth that which gladdens the heart of the King. 9. Psalmist here seems to anticipate (14-15); "king's daughters," prophetically points to representatives of the Gentile nations attendant upon the Lord of the whole earth; "queen," Heb. = shegal, a queen by marriage, a queen consort, not one who is queen in her own right; prophetically refers to Jerusalem as re presentative city of the nation; "gold of Ophir" = the choicest gold, symbolical of divine righteousness. 10. This and the next verse are addressed to the bride while still in her father's house. Him " "d Him h reverence , or o omage. 12. Tyre was the queen city of commerce; here she comes not with a price, but with a bridal offering. ( b) "Yea, the richest of the people. . . . " These entreat for the greater riches.
13-15. Description of the bridal procession in eastern lands, always an important part of the marriage ceremony. The bride, gorgeously arrayed in her wedding dress, waits in her father's house (13). At the appointed time.she is conducted in solemn and stately manner to the palace of her husband .. A train of attendants accompanies her with songs, music and dancing, and every mark of rejoicing. This bride is of royal birth as well as a king's bride; symbolises the new Israel as born of God. 14. "In raiment of embroidery," c£ Ezek. xvi. 10-14; Israel will be clothed with garments of His salvation, robed in His righteousness and adorned with the ornaments of His grace, Jer. ii. 2; Hosea ii. 14, 18, 21, 22; "broidery," s.H.w., Ps. cxxxix. 15 may suggest another line of thought. 14. (b) Typical of Gentile nations won for Messiah by Israel's testimony, Isa. xii. 4-5; x:xiii. 18; Ps. booi. 9-rr; Zech. xiv. 16; Micah iv. 2. 16. It seems better to refer this verse to the King; the Hebrew pronouns are all masculine. Fruit of Messiah's union with Israel; rulers established throughout the whole earth. Messiah's spiritual descendants will eclipse in greatness and glory His human progenitors. Men boast in their ancestry, Christ rejoices in His "seed." Isa. liii. 10-rr. 17. Unlike Solomon or Hezekiah there will be nothing to tarnish forever the fair name and spotless character of our Lord. Psalms xlvi.-xlviii. form a trilogy of praise celebrating the signal deliverances of Jerusalem from powerful enemies. The Seat of Jehovah, xlvi.; the Sovereignty of Jehovah, xlvii.; the Security of Jerusal_em, xlviii.
This book has 150 chapters