Psalms

To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.

This Psalm was a contemplation by the priests regarding the wedding of king.  The NASB & KJV say "according to the Shoshannim."  The shoshannim are lilies of some sort.  The NKJV translates this "set to The Lillies."  It may be the Psalm was to be sung to that well known tune of the time.  The other designation of this Psalm was that it it was a song of love.  Since this is a 'song of love' it is considered a wedding song.

 ¹ My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
         I recite my composition concerning the King;
         My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

We see a very poetic language, more so than many of the previous Psalms.  The Psalmist is enthusiastic and his emotions are stirred up regarding the wedding.  He will sing his song to mark this event.

         
 ² You are fairer than the sons of men;
         Grace is poured upon Your lips;
         Therefore God has blessed You forever.
To be a king at that time you had to be special.  Not just any man could become king.  He had to be handsome or more beautiful than the sons of men.  God's grace poured upon the Kings lips would indicate that his words were ordained by God.

 ³ Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
         With Your glory and Your majesty.
 ⁴ And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
         And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
 ⁵ Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies;
         The peoples fall under You.

The Psalmist wishes the King many great victories in his future.  The king rides in truth, humility and righteousness rather than pride and seeking prosperity through conquest.  His sword is on his thigh …….put there with glory and majesty.  And the hand that would wield the sword would also teach him awesome things.  The arrows of the king are sharp in the heart of his enemies.  By his arrows the people fall subject to the king.

 ⁶ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
         A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
 ⁷ You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
         Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
         With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
 ⁸ All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,
         Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
 ⁹ Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women;
         At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
The throne in reference is the Davidic throne.  That throne was, and is, and everlasting throne.  This king was a scepter of righteousness and in that way he was also a scepter of God's kingdom and of the line of David.  This king became a king at the anointing of God.  He was characterized by his love of righteousness and hate for wickedness.  Because of this, God anointed him with the oil of gladness.  That anointing came to him with the scent of these oils and fine fragrances that left no mistake who he was and what was happening.  The king is at his finest and joining the court are the kings' daughters and other honorable women.  The kings had other wives and concubines.  Though this was forbidden by God it was still done by the kings of Israel.  The queen wore the gold of Ophir.  It isn't known where Ophir is but that was the place where the finest gold came from.

         
 ¹⁰ Listen, O daughter,
         Consider and incline your ear;
         Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
 ¹¹ So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
         Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
 ¹² And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
         The rich among the people will seek your favor.
There is an aspect of leaving and cleaving which we see as a principal of marriage.  She was advised to forget her own people and her father's house.  Those people no longer held sway over her.  She was to name the king as her Lord and worship him.  When that happened the king would find her beautiful and desire her.  As she becomes the queen other will seek after her and bring her gifts.

         
 ¹³ The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;
         Her clothing is woven with gold.
 ¹⁴ She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;
         The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
 ¹⁵ With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought;
         They shall enter the King's palace.
The two shall be brought together.  The bride is glorious and dressed in robes of many colors and woven with gold.  She has here attendants with her who will accompany her to the kings palace.

         
 ¹⁶ Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons,
         Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
 ¹⁷ I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
         Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

In place of their fathers……….. they anticipate the birth of sons who will be the princes in all the earth.  These princes shall be remembered and praised eternally. 

Read the Psalm again with a messianic mind set.  Think of it in terms of the King of kings and the Bride as the church.