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Psalm 45

Psalm 45:1 (ESV)

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

The context of this Psalm was that it was written for a king on his wedding day, but it may also be interpreted as a messianic psalm as well. That means, it can be interpreted as a veiled reference to Jesus. Either way you take it, I love the imagery and poetry that the psalmist is implementing here. So, I want to draw your attention to that.

Verse 1, my heart overflows - He cannot keep it in. It is a fountain springing up from within him. The Hebrew word there for overflow is this idea of stirring or moving. It is not stagnant. It is stirring up and overflowing from his heart to his lips.

Many of you know I have three little girls and a baby on the way. One of the great joys of my day is when I come home from work and walk through the door and am bombarded with three girls who are, quite literally, overflowing with happiness to see me. Lucy wants a hug, Alice wants me to hold her, and Penny just straps herself to my leg. It is crazy, but I love it. I think it’s a great picture of what an overflowing heart looks like.

And what overflows from the Psalmist’s heart? A pleasing theme. The theme in this Psalm is this joyous wedding between the king and a princess. This occasion has so stirred the psalmist that he is inspired to write a song and address it to the king.

And so, he says, I address my verses to the king.

And then he goes on to say my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

I. Love. This.

He is saying that he is not lackadaisical in his offering of affection toward the king. But he is ready! Ready to tell him, and everyone for that matter, just how much the king means to him.

He’s ready to tell of the king’s beauty, the king’s grace, of his majesty, of his power, his honor, and he’s ready to proclaim of the joyous union between the king and his bride.

So much beauty in one verse.

The questions I asked myself after reading this was, “Are you ready, Matt? …Is your tongue like the pen of a ready scribe? Not lackadaisical in your offering of affection toward your king? But ready, to tell him, and everyone for that matter, just how much your king means to you?”

I certainly want to be.

The fact is, we all use our lips as pens. Every day. But perhaps even more openly when we sing our songs to God on Sundays.

My encouragement to you this week is this:

May our hearts be stirred with a most pleasing theme
And our songs be addressed to a most faithful king
May our tongues, like pens, be ready to write
Of the glorious riches abounding in Christ

Looking forward to worshipping with you Sunday. - Matt Bowen, Minister of Music & Worship