The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 339

EXPOSITION. the world, aud reign over e.11 the nations of PSALM XLV, the earth glorioDBly. Tms pse.lm is rege.rded by some as a simple The psalm consists of two main portions cpithe.lamium, or nuptial hymn, composed -e.u address to the bridegroom in eight to honour a royal wedding, and sung o.s verses (vers. 2-9), and e.n address to the pa.rt of the wedding ceremony, at the mar- bride in six (vers. 10-15); with e.n intro- riage of some king of Israel or Judah. The duction end a conclusion, the le.tier com- marriage of Abe.b with Jezebel, and that of prised in two verses, the former in one verse Jehoram of Judah with Athaliah, have been only. specially suggested; also Solomon'B mar- Tit"6 of the psalm. The psalm has an riage with au Egyptian princes3. But the unusually long and complicated title. imagery of lhll psalm is altogether too First, it is addressed, like so many others, exalted, and its phrases too peculiar (vers. to the precentor, or chief musician, the hee.ll 2, 6, 11, 16, 17), to suit any mere earthly of the tabernacle choir. Next, it is said to marriage-not to mention that a mere be " upon lilies," whioh is not very easy to epithe.lamium would never have beeu ad- understand. Lilies were, no doubt, viewed mitted into the Psalter. Hence most critics e.s sacred :dowers, and were largely used in are driven to allow, however unwillingly, the ornamentation of the temple (1 Kings tbe.t the psalm is in some sense Messie.nio. vii. 19, 22, 26). They are also mentioned It is certain that l!llch was the view of the in the titles of three other psalms (Paa. Ix., Hebrew Church, of the Septuagint inter- lxix., and lxxx.), but with what intention preters, and of the early Christians gene- is wholly uncertain. A questionable exe- rally. It is placed beyond a donbt, so far gesis connects the "lilies" of the present as believers in inspiration are concerned, by title with the "king's daughter'' and the the reference to the pee.Im i u the Epistle to " virgins" of vers. 13, 14 ; but there is no the Hebrews (i. 8, 9). Still, however, thero men lion of "virgins" in the other psnlms remains the question-Is it e.bsolutdy and so.id to be "upon lilies." Further, the wholly Jlfodsie.nie, or did the author take psalm is assigned " to the sons of Korab," some human event e.s the basis of his de- like Pss. xlii., xliv., and others, who may seription, o.ud give it a Jllessiunic colour- probably have been the writcrd. Fourthly, ing'/ On the whole, we incline to the former it is cnllcd "Jl,Ie.schil," i.e." an instruction." view, nnd regard the writer -e.a consciously FifLhly, it is anid to be "a song of loves," depicting, not e.n actual, but an ideal, scene, which seems to ho a reference to the subjcot- one which floats before his mind as a thing mo.ttcr. to ho reu.lized e.t some future time, when Ver. 1.-llty heart 11 inditing a good Messiah shall be wedded to his bride_ the matter; literally, b1ibblsth. witl, a goocJ Church, o.ucl establish 1,fo dominion over nil matter-is so full of it that tho mu.ltcr will re. XLV.1-17.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 351