Thus far in Psalm 45, our knees have gone weak with the handsome splendor of the king, standing heroic in righteousness at the head of the wedding hall. A wedding, though, involves many others besides the groom. Who else occupies this grand ballroom? Well, lining the aisle, sitting in the best seats, are the daughters of kings. Royal princesses from all around have come to the wedding. These are the best and brightest of the noble maidens, the finalists in all the beauty pageants. The more honorable your guests, the more respect and praise it gives to the couple.

Yet there is likely another element to all these beauty queens standing in the audience. If regal models come to your wedding, this implies that the king could have his choice among them. These gals are sad that the king did not pick them, which in turn magnifies his exclusive love for his bride. His wife-to-be is more beautiful, more honorable, and better than the best of women.

Next, the queen sits at the right hand of the king, yet queen here is the queen mother. This is not the bride—she has not even started down the aisle yet; it is the royal mom. And the queen mother was one of the highest positions in Judah, next to the king himself. Besides, when a son is getting married, mom’s opinion matters. You need her approval and blessing. Just as dads give away daughters, so moms give away their sons. As the bride, you want your mother-in-law to like you, to fully release her son to you. So, gilded in the finest gold of Ophir, the queen mother sits by the king at the head of the wedding hall, beaming with endorsement and joy.

It is also possible that we hear the queen mother speak. In verses 10–12, there is a direct address to the bride. Marriage advice is imparted to her, and the poet likely puts this in the voice of the queen mother. This is what the mother-in-law says to the bride right before she starts down the aisle. And her counseling is to the point: “Listen up, O daughter. Pay attention closely. Only one thing is paramount, forget your kin and father’s house,” which is just another way to say, “Be completely devoted to your hubby.” Embrace your identity as a new family unit, just you and your husband. It does say in Genesis that the new couple is to forsake their parents and become one flesh. This, of course, does not mean you repudiate your folks or cut them off completely, but it does mean your priority is your spouse. Her exclusive devotion is for him and his for her.

And after this nugget, there is a second counsel in verse 11: “Let the king desire your beauty, and since he is your lord, bow to him.” To desire her beauty is for the king to delight, enjoy, and love his wife, so let this flourish. Yet this piece about lordship and bowing is unique to the royal couple. Sure, headship belongs to the husband, but bowing was not the normative standard for your average Hebrew couple. Instead, when you marry the king, then he is not just your husband but also your king. Bowing to your king was the proper respect for everyone: David bowed before Saul; Joab bowed to David. And since the kingship comes from God, to bow before the king is to honor God himself. This is the wife acknowledging the lordship of Yahweh first and foremost.

Besides, for the queen to be this honoring of the king comes with rich benefits, with lavish tribute from the wealthiest people, from the billionaires of Tyre. As the king in Jerusalem, international tribute and gifts will flow in to him and to his amazing queen. By bowing to her king, the bride does not become some lowly servant to be walked over, but she gains authority, power, and vast tribute. She obtains her rightful position as queen of the kingdom.

Now that the queen mother has advised the bride, the ceremony begins. The poet now describes the beauty of the bride. The king is the gorgeous groom. The bride is the exquisite princess. In her chamber, she is dolled up with every precious thing. Her wedding gown puts our modern ones to shame. Woven into her dress is gold and priceless gems. Back in the day, white was not the color for the bridal gown, but her virtue and beauty were adorned with many colors. Red, purples, and blues danced on her fine robe. Like wildflowers studded with gems swaying in the breeze, so is the bride’s gown as she glides down the aisle.

And as everyone knows, the bride needs her friends, her ladies-in-waiting. The friendship of women is a priceless treasure, especially on your wedding day. Thus, a host of her friends follow behind the bride, holding her train, tossing rose petals, spraying perfumes. And as they enter the palace to march toward the king, these ladies become a choir. With the most beautiful feminine voices you have ever heard, they sing. They fill the palace with joyful song, with happy tunes of love.

The poet has placed us within the most gorgeous and extravagant wedding ever. Even Jeff Bezos would be jealous! And by verse 15, we behold the first eye contact between man and woman, between king and bride. The princess gazes at her dashing man, and the king is twitterpated for his exquisite queen. But before any more celebration unfolds, the poet cuts to the after party. He jumps to one of the magnificent fruits of marriage, children—and for a king, particularly sons to carry on his dynasty. The royal couple’s quiver will be filled with princes who will govern as officials throughout the land.

In a world where death comes to all, the only way to extend a throne to forever is through an enduring dynasty, by sons who image the righteousness of the father. And here, God’s promises make this come to pass. With many noble sons, the name of this queen and king will endure unceasingly on the earth, which is how the poet closes his love song. He will make the name of the king to be remembered for all generations. By his love song, the nations will praise the king forever and ever, without end. The king’s everlasting throne and his one permanent wife and queen will never be forgotten but will be praised and honored for all time.

As wonderful as this is, though, this closing does make us feel a tad uncomfortable. Forever praise for the king and queen, everlasting remembrance and veneration? But does not such high and enduring adoration belong properly only to God? This love song dedicated to the king seems to elevate the king closer to the glory of the Lord. At points, we feel like the king is divine, or at least has divine attributes. Thus, the ambiguity of verse 6, which can be read as “Your throne is from God” or as “Your throne, O God” as if the king is called God. There are superhuman qualities to this king.

Most likely, the poet wrote this song for a specific king. As time went by, it was applied to the Davidic kingship itself. Then, in the fullness of time, the divine features found a literal application in the true son of David, Jesus the Anointed One. Hebrews quotes verse 6 as being fulfilled in Christ, as the one higher than angels, as the human king who was also God. What king shared the same throne as God? Whose kingship endures forever in righteousness and meekness? Jesus Christ’s.

For sure, you can have an unending dynasty with an unbroken line of sons, but children are a very unstable way to continue forever. Sure, the dad may be righteous, but this does not guarantee the son will be. Not that any exist, but the most perfect parents cannot ensure their kids will not fall away. We cannot control our kids with such predictability, for children are not robots to be programmed but humans with their own personalities and desires. Thus, in every godly family, a wicked son will come along sooner or later. And for the Davidic family, evil sons came frequently.

Therefore, the only way to ensure an everlasting righteous throne is for the holy son to live forever. And Jesus alone fits this bill. Why do we find this love song for a Davidic king within the book of praises to God? Because this human is God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. Why is the beauty of the king marveled at? Because this is the handsomeness of your Savior. But when did Jesus don such gorgeous features? It was not during his life. As Isaiah 53 says, Christ was not attractive. Jesus had no pretty royal features to allure the people. Instead, he was your average-looking bloke that your eyes pass over without a second thought.

Indeed, Jesus deliberately became ugly before he showed his beauty. His clothes were tattered and ripped from him to shame him. He smelled not of love and luxury but of death and curse. Before his grisly corpse was laid in the grave, Jesus became ugly so that you could be pretty in him. He bore the shame of your sin to win the honor of righteousness for you. This is how your king conquered a redemption for you.

More so, this is how Jesus betrothed you to himself. If Jesus fulfills the handsome king, then the church is the elegant bride. The problem is, we are nothing like this bride. External beauties are emblems of stunning virtues, of which we are bankrupt. We are sinners, and our sin makes us ugly, which no king in their right mind would choose. But Jesus chose you. He put his love on you first. We are the ugly girl that the hot guy picked and married. Additionally, by his sanctifying grace, Christ is the one who makes you beautiful in holiness as he conforms you to his dashing image.

Yet when will we see our dashing king, having been made pretty? What date on the calendar is Psalm 45 truly scheduled for? This is the wedding supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19 is the yes and amen to Psalm 45. Sure, we are presently betrothed to Christ, and the new covenant engagement is unbreakable. But our perfection in beauty, our meeting our Lord at the wedding aisle does not happen until glory, when Christ comes again and we meet him in the New Jerusalem.

Therefore, we sing Psalm 45 as our love song to our king and groom, Jesus Christ. And we sing this love sonnet in the bridal chamber of life, where the Spirit beautifies us. So then, like the poet, may we remember the name of Christ forever. Let us praise him as our Lord, our king, and our heavenly groom. For he first loved us, chose us, and has provided everything for us to ensure our resurrection all of grace. What a dashing Savior to whom we belong! All glory be to the King! Amen.

©Zach Keele. All Rights Reserved.

You can find the whole series here.

RESOURCES

• Subscribe To The Heidelblog!
• Saturday Psalm Series
• Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play
• Browse the Heidelshop!
• The Heidelblog Resource Page
• Heidelmedia Resources
• The Ecumenical Creeds
• The Reformed Confessions
• The Heidelberg Catechism
• The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2025)
• Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
• Why I Am A Christian
• What Must A Christian Believe?
• Heidelblog Contributors
• Saturday Psalm Series
• Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to

Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Post authored by:

• Zach Keele

  

  Rev. Zachary Keele grew up on a ranch in a small town named Crawford, Colorado. He attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and received his Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary California. He has served as the pastor of Escondido OPC since 2006.

  More by Zach Keele ›