# 170 A journey through the Psalms. Psalm 45. The supremacy of Christ.

⁶ Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
⁷ You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.

As mentioned in my last post, the issue of the ultimate identity of who the psalmist is talking about in verses 6-7 is resolved in Christ. It is, as Kidner puts it, “an example of Old Testament language bursting its banks, to demand a more than human fulfilment” (# 29)

So, we now need to turn to the New Testament, to the letter to the Hebrews, for the explanation.

This is a remarkable letter, described by the author (who is unknown) as “only a short letter” (13:22), despite being 13 chapters long!  Although unknown, the NIV introduction says, he was obviously one who had “authority in the apostolic church and was an intellectual Hebrew Christian well versed in the OT.” This letter “was addressed primarily to Jewish converts who were familiar with the OT and who were being tempted to revert to Judaism…”

The letter quotes extensively from the OT, and amongst them numerous psalms. Again, the NIV introduction explains, “The theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as mediator of God’s grace.”

Verses 6-7 from Psalm 45 appear very early in chapter 1, in fact, in verse 8-9 and are an exact quote. The writer introduces them by writing:

“But, about the Son [Jesus] he [God, the Father] says…”  (verse 8)

No ambiguity here!

The author gets straight into his theme, and here in chapter 1, the psalmist’s words are quoted to reveal that Christ is “as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” (verse 4)

The author’s argument is that “in the past God spoke through the prophets…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” He then goes on to explain just who this divine Son is. He is the One “whom [God] appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. Sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (1:1-3)

The author of this letter has no doubt as to the identity of the person referred to in Psalm 45. It refers to Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who is “the radiance of God’s being”.

Paul, in Colossians, affirms the truth of Hebrews when he writes:

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.     (1:15-20)

Do you know Him? I thought I did. In my mind I knew these truths, but in my heart, it had not yet become a reality, until one day on the beach. I had recently heard the story of Sally, a missionary, who was sitting on a bus. She started talking to her fellow passenger and began to share the good news with her. That person asked the question, “So who is your God?” and Sally answered, “Jesus is my God!”

It occurred to me that I would not have answered in the same way. Sure, I believed Him to be the Son of God, but somehow I struggled with the concept of Jesus as God the Son. As I walked along the beach and prayed, I was reminded of the words in Colossians 1 (quoted above) and the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of these words to me. I now know who Jesus is and what a privilege it is to be reconciled to God “through his [Jesus’] blood, shed on the cross.”

Thank you, Jesus, that “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”   Amen