STUDIO ALBUMS

Shoshannim

Literally, "lilies," probably the title or key word of the melody. The superscription of Ps. 60 includes the phrase "Shushaneduth," literally, "lily of witness," and the superscription of Ps. 80 "ShoshannimEduth," literally, "lilies, the witness." Perhaps these phrases all suggested the same well-known love tunes. The lily is the anemone of Palestine. Or, Eduth may be a place name.⁵
 

Division

The psalm speaks,
I. Of the royal bridegroom, who is Christ.
1. The transcendent excellency of his person (v. 2).
2. The glory of his victories (v. 3-5).
3. The righteousness of his government (v. 6, 7).
4. The splendour of his court (v. 8, 9).
II. Of the royal bride, which is the church.
1. Her consent gained (v. 10, 11).
2. The nuptials solemnized (v. 12-15).
3. The issue of this marriage (v. 16, 17).³
 

Marriage Hymn

Psalm 45 is a marriage hymn, celebrating the marriage of a king to a princess. Some commentators incline to the view that the psalm is entirely Messianic. That portions of it are, there can be no doubt. Verses 6 and 7 are quoted in Heb. 1:8,9 as the words God the Father addressed to the Son. Verse 2 has also been declared to be Messianic: "The divine beauty of the character of Christ, ... of whom David, seeing Him in prophetic vision, said, 'Thou art fairer than the children of men'". This statement also sets forth the fact that David was the author of the psalm. Since Messianic prediction is so frequently blended with delineations of local nature, it is frequently impossible to define the boundaries between a future and a local application of a given passage. After the introduction of one verse the inspired poet addresses the bridegroom (vs. 2-9), and then the bride (vs. 10-17); the last two verses constitute a benediction upon the union.⁴