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Thou art fairer than the children of men Psa 45:2
Psalm 45 is a wedding hymn, composed for
the marriage of a king to a king’s daughter. Some see it referring
only to Solomon and Pharaoh's daughter, but more focussed spiritual
eyes see here a reference to the Lord Jesus. That the Psalm is
Messianic is confirmed in Heb 1:8-9 with reference to verses 6 & 7
of the Psalm.
If, as the hymn writer suggests (Believers
342, v.1), it was possible for all the virtues of the most
excellent people to be bound together into one person, that person
could not rival our Lord. The language means that among all who
dwell upon the earth there is none to be found that can be compared
with Him. The Hebrew word rendered “Thou
art fairer” means to be very beautiful. It could be expressed
by the phrase “Beautiful - beautiful - art thou above the children
of men.” This “beauty” should not be understood of His divine
beauty or His glory, as the only begotten of the Father, but of the
beauty of His human nature, which being without sin, and full of
wisdom, grace, and holiness, exceeds that of all the sons of Adam.
He cannot be compared with other men - He must be contrasted. He is
perfection personified! He has been anointed with the oil of myrrh
and aloes, and cassia (v.8). His love is better than wine, His Name
is as ointment poured forth (Song 1:2-3).
Among the children of men, many have
through grace been lovely in character, yet they have each had a
flaw, but in the Lord Jesus we behold every feature of a perfect
character. As another exclaims of Him, "He
is altogether lovely",
Son_5:16.
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