PSALM 45 (FROM CAC'S NOTES)
PSALM 45 (FROM CAC’S NOTES)
The exercises of the previous Maschil Psalms having been gone through, a peculiar and blessed knowledge of Christ becomes the portion of the heart. It is “good matter” composed in the heart before it is manifested in glory. That is, the heart is engaged with Christ as He will be publicly known in the world to come. The epistle to the Hebrews gives the corresponding knowledge of Him. God has brought in an all-surpassing excellence — One without peer or rival — and He has presented His own grace through the lips of that glorious One. It is in this way that all is set aside in our hearts that is not marked by truth and meekness and righteousness. All goes out by the expulsive power of the knowledge of Christ. Everything must give way to Christ. So we get the sword and the arrows and the right hand of victorious power: the enemies are all to be the footstool of His feet.
Then we get the throne, the sceptre and the anointing. The kingdom of God is set up in a Man where moral qualities are suitable to God. He rules by bringing His people to love what He loves and to hate what He hates. So that He gets not only subjects but companions — Christ’s assembly all of one with Himself. Then we begin to appreciate the fragrance that lies in the anointing. Myrrh — His suffering love — but aloes go along with it in the burial of the Lord. They seem to be connected with the Lord as having been in death. The rare fragrance of that death is connected with such a Person going into death.
There are no spices in Matthew, Mark or Luke: a clean linen cloth in Matthew, fine linen in Mark and Luke. But in John the spices are prominent: it is simply “linen with the spices”, the fragrance connected with His being in death. He brought fragrance there for God and man. Cassia, I would suggest, may refer to all the fragrance of His life here which [p. 319] could be carried through into resurrection. His soul could not be left to Sheol, nor the Holy One see corruption. It is a great thing to go on with what will abide in resurrection. Natural relationships will go, and responsibilities of human life, but there is something else that goes through: “It is I myself”, the same Person in a new condition. All that was in the power of the anointing was just the same in resurrection as in the days of his flesh.
I suppose that naturally no one ever heard of such a thing as an “ivory palace”. It would be too costly for even a Solomon to build: we do read of houses of ivory (Amos 3: 15, 1 Kings 22: 39). Every bit of material for such palaces had been secured at the cost of death. If there is a palace for Christ it is of such material it is constructed. It has meant death to that life which I should naturally have led. My bent would be to gratify myself, my pride, vanity, selfishness or some other natural desire. But Christ has come in and the test of a disciple is in Luke 14: 26.
“Stringed instruments” soon get out of tune: this is one of the psalms “To the chief Musician”.
Then we get the queen: the relationship is a settled one. There is no “queen” in the Song of Songs as applied to the bride: no settled condition. But here she stands in divine suitability “in gold of Ophir”. Nothing that is of you comes in: you get a new investiture altogether from God as illustrated in the prodigal. What is given is the greatest of all. We think of things getting developed in our souls, but the greatest of all is given and is wholly of God.
Now these things are to be hearkened to; so that there is no holding, even in thought, to what we were naturally. Thus we become attractive to Christ: He is thy Lord, He has become supreme. It is not His authority here, He is supreme. The thought of the Gentiles recognising the place that Jerusalem has is brought in here, a hint of gentile appreciation. How wonderful that the Gentile should now be the queen! The King’s daughter glorious within: John 13 - John 17 is within. Learn what the thoughts of Christ are about you: you will [p. 320] be overwhelmed with the profound blessedness of these. “Wrought gold” would be what is divinely wrought in the soul, “He that has wrought us for this very thing is God” (2 Corinthians 5: 5). Then the raiment of embroidery is the working out of things through exercise: see Revelation 19. Then we have the thought of others “behind her”: I think it has reference to those who come in after Jerusalem — the cities of Judah. We can apply it to the companions who come in after the assembly with virgin character and washed robes.
Then we lose sight of the fathers and think of sons made princes. How the fathers disappear when Christ comes into view! The great thing then is to bring forth a seed for him of princely character.