THE KING, THE MESSIAH
PSALM 45:1-17
Key verse: v. 2, “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”
Introduction:
“Some here see Solomon and Pharaoh’s daughter only— they are short sighted; others see both Solomon and Christ—they are cross eyed; well focused spiritual eyes see here Jesus only. ‘THE KING,’ the GOD whose throne is forever and ever, IS NO MERE MORTAL and his everlasting dominion is not bounded by Lebanon and Egypt’s river.
This is NO wedding song of earthly nuptials, but an Epithal?mium [a nuptial song or poem in praise of a bride or bridegroom, or of both – Webster.] for the Heavenly Bridegroom and his elect spouse.” —Spurgeon.
I. DAVID’S CHARACTER IS READ BY HIS HEART WRITING v. 1
A. The TRUE LOVER of Christ is SINCERE, Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
B. He is a man of EMOTION, Psalm 84:1-2, “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2- My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.”
C. He is a man of HOLY MEDITATION, Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
D. He is a man of EXPERIENCE, Psalm 61:1-4, “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2-From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3- For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4- I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”
E. He is a man who BEARS WITNESS for his Lord, Acts 23:11, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
II. THE MATCHLESS BEAUTY OF THE MESSIAH vv. 2-9
A. Solomon saw Jesus as a beautiful flower, Song of Solomon 2:1, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”
1. The Rose is known for its beauty, Isaiah 35:1, “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”
2. The Lily has far more glory than Solomon, as does our Savior, Luke 12:27, “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
B. He is compared to the Apple tree for beauty, Song of Solomon 2:3, “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”
1. His shadow [PROTECTION] gives great delight, Isaiah 25:4, “For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.”
2. His fruit is sweet, Ezekiel 47:12, “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”
C. The King is a mighty man of valor, Isaiah 63:1, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
1. He champions truth, John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
2. He champions humility, Philippians 2:8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
3. He champions justice, Romans 3:25-26, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
III. ADMIRING TRIBUTES OF PRAISE ARE SPOKEN TO THE BRIDE vv. 10-15
A. As the lily among thorns, Song of Solomon 2:2, “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
B. The Bride is referred to as the “daughter,” of the King, vv. 10-12;
1. Forget natural relations, Christ is preferred over them, Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
2. He is you Lord, 1 Peter 3:5,6 “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6- Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”
C. The Kings daughter is glorious; this is the Lamb’s wife, Revelation 21:9, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
IV. THE KING ETERNAL vv. 16-17
A. Though rejected by the Jews still he has some among them that are converted In every generation, Psalms 22:30, “A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.”
B. Some chose the KNOWLEDGE of Christ MORE EXCELLENT, Philippians 3:7-8, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
C. All nations shall call him blessed, Psalms 72:17, “His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.”
CONCLUSION