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Wednesday 9/11/24
Title: Psalms of the sons of Korah Pt.2
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Of Weddings & Kingdoms
Psalm 45:1-17,
“(1) For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song.
My heart is stirred by a beautiful song.
I say, “I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”
(2) You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.
(3) Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior! Appear in your majestic splendor! (4) Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!
(5) Your arrows are sharp and penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies. Nations fall at your feet.
(6) Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice. (7) You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.
(8) All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.
(9) Princesses are among your honored women, your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.
(10) Listen, O princess! Observe and pay attention! Forget your homeland and your family! (11) Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, he is your master! Submit to him!
(12) Rich people from Tyre will seek your favor by bringing a gift.
(13) The princess looks absolutely magnificent, decked out in pearls and clothed in a brocade trimmed with gold. (14) In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king. Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her, are led before you. (15) They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.
(16) Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.
(17) I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years, then the nations will praise you forever.”
This Psalm, more strikingly than most I think, dances back and forth between the natural and the spiritual, the immediate and the prophetic.
There is little doubt that this song was a love song and was written in the style of or perhaps even to the tune of a pre-existing song called “Lilies”.
The king in question “could be” an idealistic king and therefore metaphorical or it could be literal. It would not be hard to imagine this belong literal since the time period would have this song about either Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah all of which were either godly or had good stretches in their reign where they were.
However, given the description of skilled speech I think this leans very much towards King Solomon.
After the initial introduction, Korah’s sons begin to speak prophetically still of a king, but now of The King – our Lord and Christ Jesus Himself. We know this not because such words could not have befit any one of the Kings of Judah in this time period at certain points of their reign, but because this portion of the Psalm is quoted in the New Testament book of Hebrews as relating to Jesus and too has the setting of victorious deeds.
Let’s turn there, it is in Hebrews 1:1-14. The specific portion being referenced is found in verses 8-9.
“(1) After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, (2) in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He created the world.
(3) The Son is the radiance of His glory and the representation of His essence, and He sustains all things by His powerful word, and so when He had accomplished cleansing for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
(4) Thus He became so far better than the angels as He has inherited a name superior to theirs.
(5) For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my son! Today I have fathered you”?
And in another place He says, “I will be His Father and He will be My Son.”
(6) But when He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says,
“Let all the angels of God worship Him!”
(7) And He says of the angels,
“He makes His angels winds and His ministers a flame of fire,”
(8) but of the Son He says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of Your kingdom. (9) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, Your God, has anointed You over Your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”
(10) And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. (11) They will perish, but You continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, (12) and like a robe You will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but You are the same and Your years will never run out.”
(13) But to which of the angels has He ever said,
“Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? (14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
So without question this Psalm is prophetically foreshadowing Jesus and the bride His church. As such we find some instruction in verses 9-11
“Your bride stands at Your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.
(10) Listen, O princess! Observe and pay attention! Forget your homeland and your family! (11) Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, He is your master! Submit to Him!”
This call to forget where we came from and invest all our interests and devotion to our husband and king sounds very much like Hebrews2 Corinthians 6:16-18 & Hebrews 11:13-16,
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
“(16) And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (17) Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, (18) and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.”
Hebrews 11:13-16,
“(13) These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. (14) For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. (15) In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
The Psalm ends in a procession that sounds as if it is describing our homecoming, escorted by the angels.
“(13) The princess looks absolutely magnificent, decked out in pearls and clothed in a brocade trimmed with gold. (14) In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king.”
Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her, are led before you. (15) They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.
(16) Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.
(17) I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years, then the nations will praise you forever.”
So whether by intention or by mysterious inspiration the sons of Korah here composed a song of Jesus and His bride.
Psalm 46:1-11,
“(1) For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
God is our refuge and strength, a Helper Who is always found in times of trouble.
(2) Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, (3) though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
(4) There is a river–its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
(5) God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.
(6) Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
(7) The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
(8) Come, see the works of the LORD, Who brings devastation on the earth.
(9) He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.
(10) “Stop your fighting–and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
(11) The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah”
I am not qualified to question the dating of this Psalm, but portions of it seem to lend itself to no better fit than the description of Ezekiel’s temple which itself was largely a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of God during the millennial age – whether literal or metaphorical.
If you remember, it was during the Babylonian exile when Solomon’s temple in Judah had been plundered and destroyed that God spoke through Ezekiel giving him the plans for a future temple which would have held the attention of these exiled Jews offering them hope.
The temple described however was one that could not exist, at least not in the world at that time – national boundaries and topography being what it was and even is today.
Nevertheless, it is not impossible in the future.
It is, however, my opinion that the temple described in such detail to Ezekiel was not completely literal and would very likely have made a type of spiritual sense to Ezekiel who alone had seens comparative wonders at God’s actual throne in his visions.
Remember that the inner court (also known as the tabernacle of meeting) was for priests only, of which Ezekiel was one.
In all of the real and functional temples of the Old Covenant this area contained the Showbread table, the Menorah and the Altar of Incense.
Yet in the temple describe to Ezekiel, while there was a description of the altar of sacrifice just outside the tabernacle and the Altar of Incense (referred to as the table that stands before the Lord – Ezekiel 41:22) the there was no description of these Showbread table nor the Menorah within the tabernacle of meeting.
More significant that this is that there is absolutely no description of any curtain separating the inner court from the Holy of holies and NO description of the Ark of the Covenant itself.
This is almost certainly a proof of this temple being illustrative of the relationship Israel will have with God after the New Covenant – whether during or after the church age – though most likely the later.
In this temple there was a river which began at the threshold of the temple facing east which ran down from under the south side of altar. It continued out of the temple complex heading east, each third of a mile the river getting deeper and deeper. Finally Ezekiel 47:1-12 tells us…
“water flows out to the eastern region and goes down to the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water, the water of the sea becomes fresh. That there were a very large number of trees along both sides of the riverbank providing all kinds of food. The leaves on these trees will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.”
All of this sounds as if it is actually referring to the children of God as the New Jerusalem and the water flowing from the throne of God, with the trees of life on either side producing 12 kinds of fruit and whose leaves are for the HEALING OF THE NATIONS?????
Revelation 22:1-2,
“(1) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, (2) flowing down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations.”
Also Revelation 4:6 – describes God’s throne in heaven.
“Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back.”
Of course at the beginning of the establishment of Jesus’ earthly kingdom a devastating war will ensue where the beast and the false prophet will be be defeated and satan will be cast into the abyss for 1,000 years. After which wars will be abolished until the very end when satan moves on those of the far north to make war against Jesus which will end before it really gets started. All of which nicely fits the direction of this psalm.
Psalm 47:1-9,
In similar fashion but a different approach and focus, Psalms 47 and 48 address God’s national promise to Israel through Abraham to rule over the earth. At just about the middle of Psalm 47 in verse 5 is a type of procession for God to ascend the throne amidst the shouts of His people and the sound of the trumpets.
“(1) For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry.
(2) For the LORD Most High is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth.
(3) He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
(4) He chooses for us our inheritance–the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah
(5) God ascends amid shouts of joy, the LORD, amid the sound of trumpets.
(6) Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! (7) Sing a song of instruction, for God is King of all the earth.
(8) God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
(9) The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.”
Psalm 48:1-14,
“(1) A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
The LORD is great and is highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, (2) rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion on the slopes of the north is the city of the great King. (3) God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.
(4) Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together. (5) They looked, and froze with fear; they fled in terror. (6) Trembling seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor, (7) as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.
(8) Just as we heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. Selah
(9) God, within Your temple, we contemplate Your faithful love. (10) Your name, God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with justice.
(11) Mount Zion is glad. The towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments. (12) Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers, (13) note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
(14) “This God, our God forever and ever–He will lead us eternally.”
Psalm 49:1-20,
This last Psalm we are covering tonight is a very practical psalm which instructs God’s people to not follow the wicked in their temporal pursuits.
We see words in this Psalm which offer a strikingly clear window into the teachings and promises of the New Covenant. See if you can identify them.
“(1) For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world, (2) both low and high, rich and poor together.
(3) My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding. (4) I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
(5) Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me. (6) They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches. (7) Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God– (8) since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying– (9) so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
(10) For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others. (11) Their graves are their eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves. (12) But despite his assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
(13) This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah
(14) Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (15) But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah
(16) Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases. (17) For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
(18) Though he praises himself during his lifetime–and people praise you when you do well for yourself– (19) he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
(20) A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.”
Here we see a future promise that the pangs of death hold no power over the elect. God’s people have been delivered from the power of death and the grave. Regardless of the wealth they possessed in this life, in the end the righteous will rule over the unrighteous.
Blessings!
Tri
