Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 45:4

"And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." — Psalms 45:4 (ASV)

And in thy majesty ride prosperously - Margin, “Prosper you, ride you.” The majesty referred to here is the glory or magnificence that befitted a prince of such rank, going forth to such deeds. The prayer is that he would go forth with the pomp and glory fitting for one in that station.

The word used here, rendered in the margin as “prosper you,” properly means to go over or through, to pass over, and may be correctly rendered here as “pass on”; that is, move forward to conquest.

The word “ride” refers to the way in which warriors usually went forth to conquest in a chariot of war. The idea is that of one equipped for war, and with the glory appropriate to his rank as king, going forth to victory.

This language is often employed in the Scriptures to describe the Messiah as a conquering king.

Because of truth - On account of truth, or in the cause of truth. This means that the great purpose of his conquests would be to establish a kingdom based on truth, in contradistinction to the existing kingdom of darkness, which is based on error and falsehood. The object of his conquests was to secure the reign of truth over the minds of people .

And meekness and righteousness - Literally, “humility-righteousness,” or, “humble right.” It would be a kingdom or a conquest of righteousness, not established, as most kingdoms are, by pride, arrogance, and mere power. Instead, it would be a dominion where humility, meekness, and gentleness would be at the foundation—that on which the whole superstructure would be reared.

Its characteristic would be righteousness or justice. This righteousness and justice, however, would not be asserted and established by mere power or by the pride of conquest, but would be established and maintained by meekness or gentleness. It would be a kingdom not of outward pomp and power, but the reign of the gentle virtues in the heart.

And thy right hand - This refers to the instrument of martial power and success, that which, in war, wields the sword and the spear. Shall teach thee. This means it shall guide you, or lead you to the performance of terrible things.

Terrible things - Fearful deeds; things that are suited to excite astonishment or wonder. They were such things as would be regarded as distinguished achievements in war, indicating extraordinary valor; such conquests as would strike the world with amazement.

We have here, therefore, a description of the Messiah as going forth to the great conquest of the world. At the same time, we have this intimation of the nature of his kingdom: however great the power that would be exerted in securing its conquests, it would be founded on truth: it would be a kingdom where righteousness would prevail, and whose essential characteristic would be gentleness and peace.