John Calvin Commentary Psalms 45:3

"Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty." — Psalms 45:3 (ASV)

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.