Psalms 45:14, commentary and pictures

Psalm 45 is a Messianic prophecy of Christ and His church and kingdom, in which the King is Christ Himself and the queen and bride brought to Him, with the virgins her companions, is the church, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. It pictures a royal wedding procession brought unto the King with gladness and rejoicing at His literal, personal return to earth before the millennium for the marriage festival of the Lamb, when He reigns triumphantly forever. Her raiment of needlework and clothing of wrought gold, all glorious within, is heavenly clothing and glorified beauty, namely the righteousness bestowed by her divine Lord which is the righteousness of saints. She is presented to Jesus Christ as King of kings at His second coming after her earthly suffering and servitude are past, pointing to the purified church's triumph in the earth made new, and only those dressed in the required clothing are presented, provided without expense as robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb without spot or wrinkle. Costly earthly fashions and royal apparel give no advantage in that day, for humble Christians like Lazarus in rags will be honored with near approach forever while the wicked rich like Dives will be excluded, while those who held otherwise teach the verse is part of a prophecy of the queen of Sheba's visit to Jerusalem.

Prophetic Setting and Persons

This verse belongs to a Messianic, prophetic psalm about Christ and His church and kingdom, a prophetic song and witness to the Messiah and His kingdom. It stands among Psalms 42-45 as helpful and encouraging songs of joy and cheer and help coming after strong, faithful denunciations by the prophets. Psalm 45 itself is a prophecy of Christ and His wonderful work and triumph. It is one of three psalms dwelling explicitly on the Saviour's work of redemption for the human race, picturing the king receiving his bride. Its prophecy is linked with Christ's gospel, in that Christ comes to save and to win the world to Himself. It prophesies that Messiah would be a righteous King and emphatically the Prince of peace, which Jesus Christ fulfills as one eminently distinguished as a righteous person and the great peacemaker both on earth and in heaven.

By a differing position held by fewer, the verse is part of a prophecy of the queen of Sheba's visit to Jerusalem. The weight of teaching holds that the King is Christ, Jesus Himself, the second person of the Trinity who is fairer than the children of men. The queen or bride brought to Him, pictured as the King's daughter, is the church, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, accompanied by her virgin companions. Her being led to the King in richly worked clothing pictures the purified church brought near after earthly suffering and servitude are past, presented with gladness and rejoicing as worthy of the Holy One's love, pointing to triumph and enduring redemption and joy in the earth made new.

The scene is Christ's triumphant reign and the marriage festival of the Lamb at His literal, personal return to earth before the millennium. Then He rides forth triumphantly while the people fall under Him, receives His Bride, and sits on His own throne for ever and ever. Then He is exalted among the heathen and in the earth, makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth, and is with His people as Jehovah of hosts. It is not an emblem of the Holy Spirit or of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Bridal Clothing and Presentation

The verse pictures a royal wedding procession in which the bride in richly worked clothing is brought unto the King, with the queen at His right hand led unto Him with gladness and rejoicing, together with the virgins her companions that follow her. It is the marriage festival of the King and the bringing of the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, to Him.

Her raiment of needlework, clothing of wrought gold, with all glorious within, is heavenly clothing and glorified beauty. It is the righteousness bestowed by her divine Lord, the fine linen which is the righteousness of saints. The presentation comes after her earthly suffering and servitude are past, when the saints are brought near and presented to Jesus Christ as King of kings at His second coming. It points to the purified church, pictured as the King's daughter, led to the King in her beautiful robes unto triumph in the earth made new, where its redemption and joy endure forever.

Only those dressed in the required clothing will be presented in that day. The garments are provided without expense to themselves as robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, so that they are presented without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Costly earthly fashions, jewelry, diamonds, and purple and royal apparel give no advantage then. Humble Christians like Lazarus in rags, including many shut out from earthly royalty and of lower rank, will be honored with near approach to gaze on His beauties and glories forever, while the wicked rich like Dives will be excluded.