The origins of this psalm are unknown. What is known is that it was written for a royal wedding. The inscription informs us it is a love song, or a Wedding Song, set to the tune “Lilies.” This tune is mentioned in Psalm 69 (see our study) and Psalm 80. Again it is written by a Korahite (as mentioned in Psalm 44).
Two verses (6-7) are ascribed to Christ by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 1.8-9). Because of this, some have suggested, this psalm was written for the sole purpose of presenting a bride to Christ. This goes beyond the scope of Scripture and is afforded no other passage in Scripture. However, we can see this is a royal psalm and, thus, can be applied to Christ as well as the king it is addressed to in the inscription.
It is broken into four parts:
Verse 1-The call to write a poem. This is inspiration. God gives this to each of us. It may not be a poem; it could be a design, a future, or even a character. God gifts us, impassions us, and has created for us a purpose that is beyond us (Ephesians 2.10).
Verses 2-9-The call to the king emphasizing his majesty. The Targumim, an ancient Aramaic translation of the Hebrew, translates verse two: “Thy beauty, O King Messiah, is greater than that of the children of men.” The messianic verses (verses 6-7), address the King as God while the one who speaks is “God, Your God.” This is a conversation being carried on by God the Father and God the Son. God has anointed the Son for a particular purpose and this is salvation. Historically, the verse could also be translated as “Your throne is a throne of God.” This would mean it was established in righteousness.
Verses 10-15-The call to the bride to marry the king. She is told to forget her past and her heritage. This would imply that she is a foreigner. It holds true for us today as seen in Luke 14.26.
Going along with the messianic interpretation, she would represent the Gentiles or the Church (Ephesians 5.22-33). The Church or the Bride will be given the beauty of the King and is commanded to worship or pay homage to Him. This is presented in Revelation 19.1-10 as the Wedding of the Lamb.
Verses 16-17-The call to establish a lasting dynasty is given to the children of the King (Christians). We are to make His name known by the way we reflect His life and mission (Matthew 5.13-16).
What are we doing to make His name known throughout the world? It begins with us living our lives at home in such a way that our neighbors ask us about God. From there, His fame is spread through their testimony and ours.
Take a moment to listen to “Shout Your Fame” by Hillsong.