John Calvin Commentary Psalms 45

My heart is boiling over with a good matter. This preface shows sufficiently that the subject of the psalm is no common one; for whoever its author may have been, he here intimates, at the very outset, that he will treat of great and glorious things.

The Holy Spirit is not accustomed to inspire the servants of God to utter great swelling words and to pour forth empty sounds into the air; and, therefore, we may naturally conclude that the subject treated here is not merely a transitory and earthly kingdom, but something more excellent.

If this were not the case, what purpose would it serve to announce, as the prophet does in such a magnificent style, that his heart was boiling over, from his ardent desire to be employed in rehearsing the praises of the king? Some prefer to translate the word to utter; but the other meaning of the word seems more appropriate to me; and it is confirmed by this, that from this verb is derived the noun מרהשת, marchesheth, a word found once or twice in Moses, and means a frying-pan, in which sweetmeats are baked.

It then has the same meaning as if the inspired writer had said, My heart is ready to breathe forth something excellent and worthy of being remembered. He afterwards expresses the harmony between the tongue and the heart, when he compares his tongue to the pen of a swift and ready writer.

Thou art fairer than the sons of men. The Psalmist begins his subject with the commendation of the king's beauty, and then he also proceeds to praise his eloquence. Personal excellence is ascribed to the king, not because the beauty of his appearance, which in itself is not counted among the virtues, should be very highly valued, but because a noble disposition of mind often shines forth in a man's very appearance.

This may have been the case with Solomon, so that from his very appearance it might have been evident that he was endowed with superior gifts. Nor is eloquence undeservedly praised in a king, whose office requires him not only to rule the people by authority but also to persuade them to obedience by argument and eloquence. This is just as the ancients imagined that Hercules had golden chains in his mouth, by which he captivated the ears of the common people and drew them after him.

How clearly this rebukes the mean-spiritedness of kings in our day, who regard it as beneath their dignity to converse with their subjects and to use reasoned argument to secure their submission. Indeed, they display a spirit of barbarous tyranny in seeking to compel rather than persuade them, and in choosing to abuse them as slaves rather than to govern them by laws and with justice as a manageable and obedient people.

But just as this excellence was displayed in Solomon, so also did it shine forth more fully later in Christ, for whom His truth serves as a scepter, as we will have occasion to notice in more detail later.

The term על-כן , al-ken, which we have translated because, is sometimes rendered therefore; but it is not necessary for us to interpret it here in the latter sense, as if Solomon had been blessed on account of his beauty and excellence, for both of these are blessings of God. Instead, it should be understood as the reason why Solomon was distinguished for these gifts: namely, because God had blessed him. As for the interpretation that others give, God shall bless you for your excellence, it is both cold and forced.

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh. Here Solomon is praised both for his warlike valor, which strikes terror into his enemies, and for his virtues, which give him authority among his subjects and secure him their reverence. On the one hand, no king will be able to preserve and defend his subjects unless he is formidable to his enemies. On the other hand, it will be of little purpose to make war boldly upon foreign realms if the internal state of his own kingdom is not established and regulated in uprightness and justice.

Accordingly, the inspired writer says that the sword with which he will be girded will be, first, a token of warlike prowess to repel and rout his enemies; and, secondly, of authority also, so that he might not be held in contempt among his own subjects. He adds, at the same time, that the glory which he will obtain will not be merely a transient thing, like the pomp and vainglory of kings, which soon decay, but will be of lasting duration and will greatly increase.

He then speaks of the virtues that flourish most in a time of peace, and which, by an appropriate simile, he shows are the true means of adding strength and prosperity to a kingdom. At first sight, indeed, it seems to be a strange and inelegant mode of expression to speak of riding upon truth, meekness, and righteousness (Psalms 45:4); but, as I have said, he very suitably compares these virtues to chariots, in which the king is conspicuously carried aloft with great majesty. He opposes these virtues not only to the vain pomp and parade in which earthly kings proudly boast but also to the vices and corruptions by which they most commonly endeavor to acquire authority and renown. Solomon himself

“Mercy and truth preserve the king;
and his throne is upholden by mercy.” (Proverbs 20:28)

But, on the contrary, when worldly kings desire to enlarge their dominions and to increase their power, ambition, pride, fierceness, cruelty, exactions, plunder, and violence are the horses and chariots they employ to accomplish their ends. And therefore, it is no wonder if God should very often cast them down, when thus elated with pride and vainglory, from their tottering and decayed thrones.

For kings, then, to cultivate faithfulness and justice, and to temper their government with mercy and kindness, is the true and solid foundation of kingdoms. The latter clause of the verse intimates that everything Solomon undertakes shall prosper, provided he combines warlike courage with the qualities of justice and mercy.

Kings who are carried headlong by a blind and violent impulse may for a time spread terror and consternation around them; but they soon fall by the force of their own efforts. Due moderation, therefore, and uniform self-restraint are the best means for making the hands of the valiant feared and dreaded.

Thy arrows are sharp, etc. Here the Psalmist again refers to warlike power, when he says that the king's arrows shall be sharp, so that they shall pierce the hearts of his enemies; by which the Psalmist intimates that the king has weapons in his hand with which to strike, even at a distance, all his enemies, whoever they may be, who resist his authority. In the same sense, he also says that the people shall fall under him; as if to say, whoever attempts to shake the stability of his kingdom shall miserably perish, for the king has sufficient power in his hand to break the stubbornness of all such persons.

Thy throne, O God! is for ever and ever. In this verse the Psalmist commends other princely virtues in Solomon, namely, the eternal duration of his throne, and then the justice and rectitude of his mode of government. The Jews, indeed, explain this passage as if the discourse were addressed to God, but such an interpretation is frivolous and impertinent.

Others of them read the word אלהים, Elohim, in the genitive case, and translate it of God, thus: The throne of thy God. But for this there is no foundation, and it only betrays their presumption in not hesitating to wrest the Scriptures so shamefully, that they may not be constrained to acknowledge the divinity of the Messiah.

The simple and natural sense is, that Solomon reigns not tyrannically, as most kings do, but by just and equal laws, and that, therefore, his throne shall be established forever. Although he is called God, because God has imprinted some mark of His glory in the person of kings, yet this title cannot properly be applied to a mortal man; for we do not read anywhere in Scripture that man or angel has been distinguished by this title without some qualification.

It is true, indeed, that angels as well as judges are called collectively אלהים, Elohim, gods; but not individually, and no one man is called by this name without some word added by way of restriction, as when Moses was appointed to be a god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1). From this we may naturally infer that this psalm relates, as we shall soon see, to a higher than any earthly kingdom.

In the next verse there is set before us a fuller statement of the righteousness for which this monarch is distinguished; for we are told that he is no less strict in the punishment of iniquity than in maintaining justice. We know how many and great evils are engendered by impunity and license in doing evil, when kings are negligent and slack in punishing crimes. Hence the old proverb, that it is better to live under a prince who gives no allowance, than under one who imposes no restraint. To the same purpose also is the well-known sentiment of Solomon,

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 17:15).

Just and rightful government, therefore, consists of these two parts:

1. that those who rule should carefully restrain wickedness;
2. that they should vigorously maintain righteousness.

This is even as Plato has well and wisely said, that civil government consists of two parts—rewards and punishments. When the Psalmist adds that the king was anointed above His fellows, this is not to be understood as the effect or fruit of his righteousness, but rather as the cause of it. For the love of uprightness and equity by which Solomon was actuated arose from the fact that he was divinely appointed to the kingdom.

In ordaining him to the honor of authority and empire, Jehovah, at the same time, furnished him with the necessary endowments. The particle על-כם al-ken, therefore, as in the former instance, is to be understood here in the sense of because; as if it had been said, It is no wonder that Solomon is so illustrious for his love of justice, since, from the number of all his brethren, he was chosen to be consecrated king by holy anointing. Even before he was born, he was solemnly named by a divine oracle as successor to the kingdom, and when he was elevated to the throne, he was also adorned with princely virtues.

From this it follows that anointing in respect of order preceded righteousness, and therefore, righteousness cannot be accounted the cause of the anointing. The royal dignity is called the oil of gladness, because of its effect; for the felicity and welfare of the Church depended upon the kingdom promised to the house of David.

Up to this point, I have explained the text in the literal sense. But it is necessary that I should now proceed to illustrate more extensively the comparison of Solomon with Christ, which I have only cursorily noticed.

It would be quite sufficient for the pious and humble simply to state what is obvious from the usual tenor of Scripture: that the posterity of David typically represented Christ to the ancient people of God. But as the Jews and other ungodly men refuse to submit cordially to the force of truth, it is important to show briefly from the context itself the principal reasons from which it appears that some of the things spoken here are not applicable fully and perfectly to Solomon.

As I intimated at the outset, the design of the prophet who composed this psalm was to confirm the hearts of the faithful and to guard them against the terror and alarm with which the melancholy change that happened soon after might fill their minds. An everlasting duration, it might be said, had been promised to this kingdom, and it fell into decay after the death of one man.

To this objection, therefore, the prophet replies that although Rehoboam, who was the first successor of that glorious and powerful king, had his sovereignty reduced within narrow limits, so that a great part of the people were cut off and placed beyond the bounds of his dominion, yet that was no reason why the faith of the Church should fail. For in the kingdom of Solomon, God had exhibited a type or figure of that everlasting kingdom which was still to be looked for and expected.

In the first place, the name of king is ascribed to Solomon simply by way of eminence, to teach us that what is said here is not spoken of any common or ordinary king, but of that illustrious sovereign whose throne God had promised should endure as long as the sun and moon continued to shine in the heavens (Psalms 72:5). David certainly was king, and so were those who succeeded Solomon.

It is necessary then to observe that there is in this term some special significance, as if the Holy Spirit had selected this one man from all others to distinguish him by the highest mark of sovereignty. Besides, how inconsistent would it be to commend very highly warlike valor in Solomon, who was a man of a meek and quiet disposition, and who, having ascended the throne when the kingdom enjoyed tranquility and peace, devoted himself only to the cultivation of those things that are suitable to a time of peace, and never distinguished himself by any action in battle?

But, above all, no clearer testimony could be adduced of the application of this psalm to Christ than what is said here of the eternal duration of the kingdom. There can be no doubt that allusion is made here to the holy oracle of which I have already made mention: that as long as the sun and moon shall endure in the heavens, the throne of David shall endure. Even the Jews themselves are constrained to refer this to the Messiah.

Accordingly, although the prophet commenced his discourse concerning the son of David, there can be no doubt that, guided by the Holy Spirit to a higher strain, he comprehended the kingdom of the true and everlasting Messiah.

Besides, there is the name אלהים, Elohim, which it is proper to notice. It is no doubt also applied both to angels and men, but it cannot be applied to a mere man without qualification. Therefore, the divine majesty of Christ, beyond all question, is expressly denoted here.

I now proceed to notice the several parts, which however I shall only refer to briefly in passing. We have said that while this song is called a love song, or wedding song, still divine instruction is made to hold the most prominent place in it, lest our imaginations should lead us to regard it as referring to some lascivious and carnal amours.

We know also that, in the same sense, Christ is called “the perfection of beauty”—not that there was any striking display of it in His countenance, as some men grossly imagine, but because He was distinguished by the possession of singular gifts and graces, in which He far excelled all others.

Nor is it an unusual style of speaking that what is spiritual in Christ should be described under the form of earthly figures. The kingdom of Christ, it is said, shall be opulent; and in addition to this, it is said that it shall attain to a state of great glory, such as we see where there is great prosperity and vast power.

In this description, there is also included an abundance of pleasures. Now, there is nothing of all this that applies literally to the kingdom of Christ, which is separated from the pomps of this world. But as it was the design of the prophets to adapt their instruction to the capacity of God’s ancient people, so in describing the kingdom of Christ, and the worship of God which ought to be observed in it, they employ figures taken from the ceremonies of the Law.

If we bear in mind this mode of statement, in accordance with which such descriptions are made, there will no longer be any obscurity in this passage. It is also deserving of our notice that, after the Psalmist has commended this heavenly king for his eloquence, he also describes Him as armed with His sword.

As, on the one hand, He governs by the influence of persuasion those who willingly submit to His authority and manifest docility of disposition; so, on the other hand, as there have been in all ages and will continue to be many who are rebellious and disobedient, it is necessary that the unbelieving should be made to feel in their own destruction that Christ has not come unarmed.

While, therefore, He is alluring us with meekness and kindness to Himself, let us promptly and submissively yield to His authority, lest He should fall upon us, armed as He is with His sword and with deadly arrows. It is said, indeed, with much propriety, that grace is poured into His lips; for the Gospel, in its very nature, breathes the odour of life. But if we are stubborn and rebellious, this grace will become a ground of terror, and Christ Himself will convert the very doctrine of His salvation into a sword and arrows against us.

From this also there arises no small consolation to us: that the multitude and insolence of the adversaries of Christ may not discourage us. We know well with what arrogance the Papists reject Jesus Christ, whom, nevertheless, they boast to be their King. We know also with what profane contempt the greater part of the world derides Him, and how perversely the Turks and Jews reproach Him. In the midst of such disorder, let us remember this prophecy: that Christ has no lack of a sword and arrows to overthrow and destroy His enemies.

Here I will again briefly repeat what I have noticed above, namely, that however much the Jews endeavor by their cavillings to pervert the sense of this verse, Thy throne, O God! is for ever and ever, yet it is sufficient of itself to establish the eternal divinity of Christ. For when the name אלהים, Elohim, is ascribed either to angels or men, some other mark is at the same time usually added to distinguish between them and the only true God; but here it is applied to Christ simply and without any qualification.

It is important, however, to notice that Christ is spoken of here as He is God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).

He is also called God, as He is the Word, begotten of the Father before all worlds. But He is set forth here in the character of Mediator, and on this account also, mention is made of Him a little after as being subject to God.

And indeed, if you limit to His divine nature what is said here of the everlasting duration of His kingdom, we shall be deprived of the inestimable benefit which redounds to us from this doctrine, when we learn that, as He is the head of the Church, the author and protector of our welfare, He reigns not merely for a time but possesses an endless sovereignty. For from this we derive our greatest confidence both in life and in death.

From the following verse also it clearly appears that Christ is exhibited here to us in the character of Mediator; for He is said to have been anointed of God, yea, even above His fellows (Isaiah 42:1; Hebrews 2:17). This, however, cannot apply to the eternal Word of God, but to Christ in the flesh, and in this character, He is both the servant of God and our brother.