Establish the need: Is this Psalm Messianic? Many Bible scholars seems to think it is not, but what about you?
Purpose: In this session we will see three points concerning this Psalm’s Messianic character so that we would be at awe with God.
- Psalm 45 is Messianic because the New Testament uses it that way
- Psalm 45 is Messianic because of context of Book 2 of the Psalms
- Psalm 45 is Messianic because of details within Psalm 45
Psalm 45 is Messianic because the New Testament use that way
The author of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 45:6-7: “But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.”” (Hebrews 1:8-9)
- The writer of Hebrew introduced Psalm 45:6-7 with “But regarding the Son” with the understanding that this is talking about God’s Son, the Messiah.
- In the chapter context the author of Hebrew tells us the Son is greater than angels by virtue of the Son’s eternal reign.[1]
- The interpretation of Psalm 45 as Messianic was not made up by the author of Hebrews but rather it seems to reflect even pre-Christian interpretation of the Psalms since the Aramaic Targum translates Psalm 45:2 explicitly to refer to the Messiah: “Thy beauty, O King Messiah, is greater than that of the children of men.”[2]
Given the authority of the Word of God we must conclude that the New Testament infallibly interpreted Psalm 45 as pointing to the Messiah. The next question is how does Psalm 45 points us to the Messiah?
Psalm 45 is Messianic because of context of Book 2 of the Psalms
There are Messianic Psalms in Book 2
- Psalms have 5 books.
- Book 2 consists of thirty one Psalms from Psalm 41-72 which include Psalms by Sons of Korah in Psalm 42-49, a single Psalm of Asaph in Psalm 50 and a second collection of David’s Psalms in Psalms 51-71 followed by a single Psalm by Solomon in Psalm 72.[3]
- There are prominent Messianic Psalms in book 1: Psalm 69, 72.
- Since there are Messianic Psalms in Book 2 we are not surprise if there’s Messianic Psalms; that should be our expectation.
Context in the Psalter suggests it is Messianic
- Book Two opens up with seven Psalms attributed to the Sons of Korah including a Psalm without title which serves as a collection that opens book 2 of the Psalms.[4] We take this set of Psalms together for our interpretation.
- The Psalms (Psalm 42-44) before Psalms 45 describes the struggles and dilemmas of God’s people.[5]
- Two struggles mentioned in Psalm 42-44:
- With these challenges the Sons of Korah realizes that ultimately these problems cannot be solved by human might: “For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me.” (Psalm 44:6) [8] We should expect God and the Messiah to be the Savior for these challenges.
- The Psalms (Psalm 46-49) after Psalms 45 describes a reversal of the situation[9]: They record God’s people celebrating God’s kingdom over the nations.[10]
- While the last verse before Psalm 45 is a cry to God for help: “Rise up, be our help, And redeem us because of Your mercy” (Psalm 44:26) we see the first verse after Psalm 45 is an acknowledgement of God as Helper: “God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
- While the last Psalm before Psalm 45 asks God why is He not found: “Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and oppression?” (Psalm 44:24) we see the first Psalm after Psalm 45 is an acknowledgement that God is found since “A very ready help in trouble” is literally “Easily found help in need” (Psalm 46:1).[11]
- While the last Psalm before Psalm 45 states God has rejected the Psalmist’s armies: “Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies.” (Psalm 44:9) we see the first Psalm after Psalm 45 is an acknowledgement that God is the Lord of Armies: “The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold” (Psalm 46:7, 11).[12]
- Given the challenges in Psalm 42-44 and the resolution given in Psalms 46-49 we expect the Psalm in between, Psalm 45 to gives us the explanation of the solution and that solution involves the Divine Messiah.
Psalm 45 is Messianic because of details within Psalm 45
This is not an ordinary Royal Wedding Psalm since the King uses Messianic themes from Genesis 49 which shows this is about the Messiah.[13]
- Psalm 45:4 mentioned the King riding on an animal just as Genesis 49:11 mentioned the Messiah rising on a donkey.
- Psalm 45:5 mentioned the King’s victory over enemies just as Genesis 49:8 mentioned the same thing.
- Psalm 45:6 mentioned the scepter just as Genesis 49:10 mentioned the Scepter.
- Psalm 45:11,17 mentioned people bowing down and praising the King, just as Genesis 49:8 mentioned people will bow down and praising the Messiah.
This is not an ordinary Royal Wedding Psalm since the King is God
- Verse 6 states a vocative of address by the Psalmist, “O God,” showing the King addressed on the Throne is God.[14]
- Psalm 45:6 statement of the King as God should not be unusual but demanded by the context since the previous Psalm confesses God as King in Psalm 44:4: “You are my King, God; Command victories for Jacob.”[15]
- In addition the King will reign forever, reinforcing the conclusion that the King must be God.[16]
- Furthermore the phrase “splendor and majesty” in Psalm 45:3 is a phrase most often applied to God in the Hebrew Old Testament, see Psalms 96:6; 104:1; 111:3 [17]
This is not an ordinary Royal Wedding Psalm since the geographical scenes provides the location of where the Messiah solve the dilemmas of Psalm 42-44.
- Psalm 45:3-5 is a scene of the battlefield and it is important since it shows the King is victorious over military oppressors.[18]
- Psalm 45:6-16 is a scene of the Palace and it is important since it shows the King as God is now present.[19]
This is not an ordinary Royal Wedding Psalm since there’s a hope of the Messiah bringing together Jews and Gentiles.
- Four times “daughters” are mentioned: 9, 10, 12, 13.
- One can take these daughters to be figurative for entire people, with this being Israel when the King said “My daughter” and Gentiles when it says “daughter of Tyre.”[20]
- This interpretation of the Messianic King now having a People from Jews and Gentiles also explains why Psalm 47 (for example see 1-3, 6-7) has Gentiles joining in praising God.[21]
[1] George Guthrie, “Hebrews” in Commentary on the New Testament of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 936.
[2] Source: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_045.pdf
[3] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1431 of 4699.
[4] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1447-52 of 4699.
[5] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1488 of 4699.
[6] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 580.
[7] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 580.
[8] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 581.
[9] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 581.
[10] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1488 of 4699.
[11] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 581.
[12] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 582.
[13] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 584.
[14] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1512 of 4699.
[15] Source: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_045.pdf
[16] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1514 of 4699.
[17] Source: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_045.pdf
[18] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 574.
[19] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 574.
[20] Seth Postell, “Psalm 45: The Messiah as Bridegroom” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 578.
[21] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1526-30 of 4699.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for this breaking down of the Psalm. I have previously read it as a song of praise and protection; however, I missed the facet of Israel and the world as daughters and the Messiah Bridegroom.
Thanks for sharing that! Many commentaries seems to not see the Messianic thrust also. Seeing the New Testament and Aramaic Targum mentioned this as Messianic really made me ponder what is it that is there that I’m not seeing. I’m grateful for books by good Bible teachers that handle this passage well as I wondered for years why is it for sure Messianic! Man don’t you love how God’s Word always have things to teach us?
Amen! Well said. I’ve been really blessed by Psalm 22. How we read things is really important. The context is Jesus, and NOT that we have been forsaken or God has abandoned us. The last sentence in that Psalm is, “He has done it,” which is actually the good news, the gospel, and not a lamentation at all.
I love Psalms 22! It is probably one of my favorite one of the Messianic Psalms! And the conclusion of Psalm 22 is powerful and makes us think of Christ’s last Words on the Cross (“it is finished!”) and even the first verse of Psalm 22:1 of “My God, My God” also makes us think of Christ’s last Words on the Cross! I think these things you might know, but I never grow old pondering and being at awe with them!
I’ve wrote about Psalms 22 in the past when I had a miniseries looking at Psalm 22-24 as Messianic hence I skipped it this time around with my present series and went from Psalm 16 to Psalm 40 (which I never covered before) to Psalm 45. Thank you sister for reading this!
Indeed it is Messianic.
We can also appropriate the blessings in our own lives like the anointing of joy
Thanks for reading this! May our joy be in the Messiah who loves us amen??
Great post! So much richness in Psalm 45! I know this took a lot out of you! Thanks for sharing this with us!!!!
Thanks for reading this Mandy! Yes I stayed up late and worked on tightening the case for this being Messianic and was up Til 5 AM. Your book you got me as a gift is very helpful as you can tell from the endnotes!!! How is the time with your dad? I’m excited for Saturday.
I am glad that book is useful for you!!!! It’s been a really nice time. Is your mom still asking questions?! I’m also looking forward to Saturday!!!! I am thankful for you and your family’s friendship!!!
Thanks for showing the Messianic nature of Psalm 45. It’s always thrilling to see Jesus foretold in OT Scripture.
Yeah it is thrilling and immense pleasure to see it from the OT! It was like coffee and kept me up till 5 AM!! The Word is so amazing!!! Super amazing!!! Is Psalm45 a psalm you knew before as being Messianic???
Yes, I did think of it as Messianic because of the reference in Hebrews and vv. 6-7 seemed to be referring specifically to the Messiah as God in relationship to God the Father. This reminds me a lot of Jesus’ quote of Psalm 110:1 in Matthew 22:45.
I have never seen the context of the Psalms in that way before
Yeah it’s amazing how this comes alive when one consider the placement of the psalms! Context context context!
Context makes the case very persuasive
Good reason to consider this psalm Messianic: “Given the authority of the Word of God we must conclude that the New Testament infallibly interpreted Psalm 45 as pointing to the Messiah. “
Amen! Thanks for reading this!
Great post, brother. Scepter being a symbol of power and right of rule, it’s so interesting it’s one of righteousness. Makes me think again of the holiness of God constituting all of His qualities.
I’ve found the Scepter motif to be fascinating and one that “connects the dot” with Messianic prophecies throughout the Old Testament! Great points you made in the comment! Blessings to you this Thursday!
[…] Psalm 45 is Messianic — The Domain for Truth […]
Thank you for clarifying. Well done.
YOu are welcome sister!
🙂
An extraordinary prophecy that I have missed in the Scriptures
Thanks I learned a lot with preparation for this post too!
The preacher must always learn the Word even if others listening doesn’t
[…] 4.) Psalm 45 is Messianic […]
I learn from this that the New Testament authors aren’t wrong to say Psalm 45 is Messianic
Praise God for what you learned here
The Holy Spirit instructs through others with the Word
Psalm 45 is probably Messianic; nevertheless, when my wife and I were “courting” many years ago, she quoted verse 2 in one of her letters: “You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.” I would like to hold on to that if I may. 😀
Aww how precious! How long have you been married?
Just over 34 years.