Psalm 45:3

3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Mighty One, in thy comeliness, and in thy beauty;

Psalm 45:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 45:3

Gird thy sword upon [thy] thigh, O [most] mighty
As Christ is, the mighty God, even the Almighty, and which appears by his works of creation and providence; by the redemption of his people; by his care and government of them; by succouring them under all their temptations and afflictions; by strengthening them for every service, duty, and suffering; by pleading their cause, and supplying their wants; by preserving them to his kingdom and glory; by raising them from the dead at the last day, and by introducing them into the possession of the heavenly inheritance. This mighty One is called upon to "gird [on his] sword": by which is meant either the sword of the Spirit, the word of God; which is sharp in convincing of sin, reproving for it, and threatening on account of it, as well as in refuting error and heresy; and a twoedged one, consisting of law and Gospel, and which Christ made use of to great purpose, against Satan in the wilderness, and against the Scribes and Pharisees; and which he will make further use of in the latter day, against the man of sin, and his followers: or else the power of Christ, which, as the Leader and Commander of his people, and the Captain of their salvation, is called upon to exert, by preparing to engage with, and by destroying his and their enemies; and which he did put forth when the year of the redeemed was come, which was the day of vengeance in his heart; when he combated with and destroyed Satan, and spoiled his principalities and powers; when he abolished death itself, and took away sin the sting of it, and the law, the strength of sin; overcame the world, and delivered his people from it, and out of the hand of every enemy. It is added,

with thy glory and thy majesty;
which may be connected either with the phrase "and most mighty", and so be expressive of the glory and majesty of Christ, as the mighty God; or with his sword, as an emblem of his authority and majesty as a King, and may denote the glory of his Gospel and of his power; or may point at the end of his girding his sword upon his thigh, which was to show forth the glory of his majesty, or to obtain honour and glory: though the word "gird" may be supplied and repeated, and so make a distinct proposition, "gird with thy glory and thy majesty"; which was done when he was raised from the dead, and had glory given him; was crowned with it, and had the glory put upon him he had with his Father before the world was.

Psalm 45:3 In-Context

1 My heart has uttered a good matter: I declare my works to the king: my tongue is the pen of a quick writer.

2 Thou art more beautiful than the sons of men: grace has been shed forth on thy lips: therefore God has blessed thee for ever.

3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Mighty One, in thy comeliness, and in thy beauty;

4 and bend thy bow, and prosper, and reign, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall guide thee wonderfully.

5 Thy weapons are sharpened, Mighty One, (the nations shall fall under thee) they are in the heart of the king’s enemies.

6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness.

7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy fellows.

8 Myrrh, and stacte, and cassia are exhaled from thy garments, and out of the ivory palaces,

9 with which kings’ daughters have gladdened thee for thine honour: the queen stood by on thy right hand, clothed in vesture wrought with gold, and arrayed in divers colours.

10 Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; forget also thy people, and thy father’s house.

11 Because the king has desired thy beauty; for he is thy Lord.

12 And the daughter of Tyre shall adore him with gifts; the rich of the people of the land shall supplicate thy favour.

13 All her glory is that of the daughter of the king of Esebon, robed as she is in golden fringed garments,

14 in embroidered clothing: virgins shall be brought to the king after her: her fellows shall be brought to thee.

15 They shall be brought with gladness and exultation: they shall be led into the king’s temple.

16 Instead of thy fathers children are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

17 They shall make mention of thy name from generation to generation: therefore shall the nations give thanks to thee for ever, even for ever and ever.