You start in on the song and it’s not long before you sense that these verses addressed “to the king” transcend any known king at that time and are intended to point to “the King.” Any doubt of that is obliterated when you get to verses six and seven and recognize them from the New Testament where they are quoted and explicitly assigned to identifying “the Son” (Heb. 1:8-9). Psalm 45 is a Messianic psalm. And we know from it’s introduction, it is a love song.

The King is presented as the “most handsome of the sons of men.” He is said to exude grace and, as such, He is blessed of God forever.

He is a mighty warrior. Arrayed in splendor and majesty, He is the victorious champion of “truth and meekness and righteousness.” His nail scarred right hand, the hand of awesome deeds and deliverance.

He is identified by God as God. He is Elohim, Ruler over all. His throne is an eternal throne; His rule, one of righteousness. All nations one day bowing before Him and declaring His praise forever and ever.

And, He has a bride preparing herself in her chamber, ready to be led into the King’s place with “joy and gladness”.

It is a wonderful song. A song where we are given divine permission to read beyond the words and see the pictures. Our meditation giving way to imagination as we envision Jesus in the majesty of His second coming rather than the meekness of His first.

But here’s the thing that grabbed me this morning, it is a heart song.

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
   I address my verses to the King;
   my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

(Psalm 45:1 ESV)

There is no wont for inspiration for those who long to sing of the King. Not only does the well not run dry, but the multi-faceted nature of the person and work of the King is the source for unending verses of praise.

Whether He is remembered as the Lion or the Lamb, the Sheep Gate or the Shepherd, the Bread of Life or the Giver of Living Water, the Son of Man or the Son of God, our tongue is loosed like “the pen of ready scribe” finding little restraint in filling up page after page with our own lyrics of adoration.

Beyond who He is, we then can consider all that He has done. We can look around and marvel at the finished work of creation, after which Father, Son, and Spirit rested. Or, we can sit at the table, with the bread and the cup, and remember the finished work of the cross enabling all who come to Him to rest. Both evoke free-flowing stanzas in the song.

We can recall how the grace poured upon His lips has touched myriads through the ages: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”; “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease”; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”; “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

There is more than enough to prime the pump and move the heart to overflowing “with a pleasing theme.”

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. ~ Frederick M. Lehman

Might every child of the King long to be such a scribe. Might we seek to drain the ocean dry. Might we overflow with our own heart song.

Because of grace. For His glory.