Here the long awaited Messiah, Jesus, is introduced.
Psalm Titles
The title of the psalm "To the chief musician. Upon Shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. An instruction; a song of loves (or rather of the Beloved)" attracts our first attention.
"To the chief musician" is part of the title of 19 of the 41 psalms of the First Book; 25 of the 31 Composing the Second Book; 8 of the 17 composing the Third Book, and 3 of the 44 included in the Fifth Book—altogether 55 psalms; these psalms are varied in character, and it is not clear that there is a special significance in this title:
"Shoshannim" means "the lilies;" it is part of the title of three psalms, numbers 45, 60 and 80, and also (Shushan—"lily") psalm 60.
In Psalm 80 it is "Shoshannim—Eduth"—the lilies of testimony. Considering that the lilies are used in the Song of Solomon to describe the Israelite bride of Christ, and the expression in Hosea 14:5 regarding redeemed Israel—"He shall blossom as the lily," it would seem that there may be spiritual significance in this psalm title.
"The Sons of Korah" is part of the title of 11 psalms, Nos. 42, 44 to 49, 84, 85, 87, and 88. Korah died under the judgment of God ({vi 4500-4501}Numbers 26:10, 11), but his children were objects of mercy.
"A song of the Beloved" is about Christ, and so the psalm proves to be.
In verse 1, the marginal reading "bubbleth up" or "welling forth" is preferred to "inditing."
Verse 6 shows the Messiah acknowledged to be God (see {vi 29972-29973}Hebrews 1:8-9). "Thy fellow's" (or companions) are His disciples through grace.
"The queen" (verse 9) is believed to be Jerusalem.
"Within" in verse 13 refers to the royal dwelling, shows the close relationship of the remnant with the Lord as king.
In verse 16 it is the greater glory in the sons' day that is compared or contrasted with the early days of Israel's long history.
The psalm is all about the Messiah; He is spoken of as man, and God is His God, yet, as we have observed, He is owned as God Himself in verse 6. We know that today Satan is leading many, blinded by unbelief, to deny the eternal Sonship of the Saviour—to claim that He was a created being; or if they perchance do not deny His divinity, they deny that God in the person of the Son became flesh, took up manhood and suffered the agonies of the cross of Calvary for guilty sinners, He is now their only hope and salvation.
Let us hold fast to the faithful word, believing, whether we understand or not.