Psalms 45:1-9

The lily psalm a psalm of loves. Oh! that our hearts might be full of love tonight, and, while we read, may our hearts be singing to the praise of the Well Beloved.

Psalms 45:1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Sometimes the heart could speak if it could move the tongue; but it is a blessed time with us when, first of all, the heart is fully warmed with love, and then the fire within burns the strings that tie the tongue, and the tongue begins to move right joyously in expressing the heart's love. May it be so with us tonight who have to preach. May it be so with all our brethren who have, in public, either to preach or to pray.

Psalms 45:2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

No sooner does he begin to write about Christ than he sees him. A warm heart soon kindles the imagination. The eye of faith is soon opened when once the heart is right. We feel the presence of Christ. We begin to speak of him and to him. «Thou art fairer than the children of men.» Oh! I would tonight that Christ would but lift the corner of his vail and show you but one of his eyes. Your hearts would be ravished with his infinite beauty. «Thou art fairer than the children of men.» Would God he would but speak half a word into our weary ear, and we should say, «Grace is poured into thy lips.» Oh! for some sense and sight of him! Do not our hearts hunger after this tonight?

Psalms 45:3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

The heart never glows with love to Christ unless, in consequence, there is a longing that his kingdom may be extended. It is an instinct of a loving heart, that it desires the honour of its object. We long for Christ to rule and reign, simply because we love him. Oh! that he would lay his right hand to his work in these slow times. How little is being done, comparatively! Oh! for an hour of the right arm of Jesus. If he would but come himself to the battle, and the shout of a king were heard in our camps, what victories would be won. Cry unto him, O you that love him. He will come to your call.

Psalms 45:5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies, whereby the people fall under thee.

Christ has not only power near at hand, with his right hand, but far off he darts the arrows of his bow and heathens are made to feel that the gospel is mighty. Would God it were so now. Cry for it.

Psalms 45:6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.

And this we know to be spoken concerning Jesus Christ for this was quoted by the apostle, «Thy throne, O God.» Let those who will, deny his Deity. It shall be the joy of our heart to worship him, and, in express terms, to address him who is our brother as «very God of very God.» «Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. The scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.»

Psalms 45:7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Fellow with us and yet equal with God. Man anointed, the Christ, yet still the reigning God. Glory be to his name.

Psalms 45:8. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Not only is Christ precious, but everything that touches him. There is not a garment that hangs upon his shoulder but becomes sweet by contact with him. «All thy garments smell of myrrh.» There is myrrh about the priestly robe that falls down to his feet, and about the golden girdle of his faithfulness that is girt about his waist. There are myrrh, and aloes, and cassia about his crown, though it be of thorns. About every garment that he puts on there is a sweet perfume.

Psalms 45:9. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Blessed queen of Christ, his church. Let us never think little of her. There are some that are always crying up «the church,» «the church,» «the church»; but that is not the true church that tries to take the place of Christ. It is anti-Christ. The true church has her place, however, and that is at her husband's own right hand, where she sitteth in the best of the best, in gold, and that the gold of Ophir, for he spares nothing for her beauty and her glory.