Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the last century in London, gives us an image to help us understand the theme of this particular psalm. The image is a photographic one, more common to the last century than our own. You see, the lens had to be held open much much longer for the primitive pictures of that time. And those who were being photographed had to hold a rigid position for almost a minute. In such a situation it was possible for a person to walk into and through a picture and thus be seen only dimly. My uncle took advantage of one of these early cameras when he took a picture of my mother when she was little. She appears in the picture twice, once sitting on a toy wagon and second standing up to pull the wagon. Since my uncle covered the lens when she moved, you do not catch that action on the negative.Spurgeon would have us realize that if this psalm were written for the wedding of Solomon and the daughter of Egypt, they are the dim characters in the picture. The real picture is prophetic and messianic. The king in mind here is none other than Jesus Christ and the bride is the Church. This image is reinforced by Paul's words to the Ephesians (5:32):
"This is a profound mystery _ but I am talking about Christ and the church."
That reference, as well as this psalm, the book of Solomon and other passages celebrate the heavenly mystery of the union between Christ and His very own bride: the Church.
Our psalmist announces his intention for this song in verse one. Verses two through nine give praises to the Messiah. Verses ten through twelve are spoken to the bride of Solomon. Verses thirteen through fifteen address the Church and the psalm closes prophetically in its description of the eternal fame of the King.
The introduction in verse one comes from the hand of one of the singers identified with the choir known as the Sons of Korah. These choirs were founded during the time of David and served in the Temple of Solomon. We must appreciate that the era of Solomon was a gilded age much like that of Victoria at the end of the last century. There was a mixture of high moral calling and a blessing of godly singers.
But there was unfortunately an underlying moral swamp in the harems of the rich and powerful. Spurgeon, MacLaren and several other London preachers filled the papers of the British Empire with gifted words of eloquence. And yet, we know from biographies of the time that the promiscuous life of Solomon was more imitated than his wisdom. The words addressed in verse one to the reigning King actually point beyond Solomon to one more excellent and forever blest. The action of the Spirit revealing these words is hinted at in the third line of verse one where his tongue was the pen of another skillful writer. His heart has indeed been stirred to speak of the King of Kings.
The first line of verse two is surprisingly contemporary! The words "most excellent" are the current slang for the adoration hinted at by our psalmist in his adoration of the Lord's anointed Messiah. We see in the refrain to His excellence the gift of grace coming from His lips and the eternal blessing of the Father upon His head. Most Excellent indeed is the groom being described in this wedding psalm. As the groom prepares for the wedding ceremony at the end of the age, our psalmist encourages His coming.
"Gird your sword upon your side, ... clothe yourself with splendor and majesty."
And in that majesty He is to "ride forth victoriously". Thus will be the coming of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings when the wedding supper of the Lamb of God is finally prepared. Our psalmist indeed sees clear through to the end of the age and describes for us His coming in majesty and in power. He comes, our psalmist tells us, on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness. In His comings, both first and last, His bride, the Church, will witness awesome deeds. These are the miracles reported by the Apostles, which are but shadows of His coming in power and glory at the end of the age.
In verse five, the psalmist understands that all nations, all peoples will be pierced and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In verse six there is a vision of the heavenly throne that will last forever. The fact of a final judgment is hinted at in the scepter of justice, as well as the fact of God's loving righteousness and hating wickedness in verse seven. To that end the Bridegroom is set above all others being anointed with the oil of joy. heavenly music swells to bring happiness to the King.
The image here is similar to the manner in which we arrange the coming of the bride into the wedding. Maids of honor precede her and the bride is adorned with rich clothes and jewelry. To that bride coming into the presence of the King of Kings, we now turn our attention. As the bride of Christ, the Church is charged in these verses to consider her loving duty. Listen and give your whole attention to what our psalmist tells us.
First, we are instructed to forget our people and our father's house. In the sense of Jesus' observation to the Jews of His time in John 8, it is the worldly house of Satan that the Church is to leave and Satan's people we are to forget.
Second, we are instructed that the King is enthralled by the beauty of His own Church, therefore we are to honor Him, for he is our Lord. Leaving all others behind, the Church is to cleave only to Christ. It is Him we honor with our praise and our devotion.
Third, we are instructed that the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, and others of wealth will seek the favor of Christ's Church. In the ancient world, Tyre was a byword for wealth and power. To the Church all this will be laid at her feet. The Church will eventually be honored with the honor given to the Bridegroom. However, the fact of outward appearances, the relationship of Empire and Church is not to be considered the final arrival. The glory that was Solomon, and that was also Victorian, were surface glories at best. Even though the greatest singers and preachers served in their respective times, the Church must look within itself. The private chambers of our hearts must be considered even as we see the private heart of our psalmist being stirred in this particular psalm.
"All glorious is the princess within her chamber".
Ever before the watching world is the Church responsible to love Her Lord. Even more so within the chambers of worship are we to focus our love on Christ as well. In the Victorian and Solomon eras, very many were the marriages of the wealthy that were mere public facades. The private rooms and spacious bedrooms of countless mansions told a very different story of the real hold of marriage vows.
This is not to be the way of Christ's own Church. Our solemn devotion must be completely to our own King. The real calling of this psalm is that the richness of our rainment is not the final judgment of value. It is hearts that are touched with a noble theme and which are fully devoted to the King which have eternal value. In verse fourteen the tawdry practice of Solomon's time is raised to a higher plane. The plurality of the saints may be seen in the numbers within the Church brought before the King.
Verse fifteen echoes the joy of the marriage supper of the Lamb when the heavenly Kingdom comes and the Church enters in with joy and gladness. What more can be celebrated in the narrative of that grand and glorious wedding supper yet to come? Listen to this final rapture of revelation in the last verses of our psalm. The King is again addressed. And what first appears as a normal courtly blessing "Long live the King" becomes messianic in context. In the promise of Hebrews Chapter 2, verses ten and eleven we find this affirmation:
"In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
Here we see the long preparation of the Bride of Christ, His own Church, through the long ages of witness and service in preparation for the grandest wedding ever to be planned. The memory of that preparation and our service will last forever in eternity. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly and bring your Church to your heavenly home. Amen.
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