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Thou art fairer than the children of men
Psalm 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 others have seen here a reference to the Lord Jesus. That the Psalm is
Messianic is confirmed in Heb 1:8-9 with reference to verses 6
and 7
of the Psalm.
In this lovely psalm, the Psalmist is occupied with Christ. He
outlines the indescribable excellencies of His person and the
sweetness of His words. Even the officers could say, " No
man ever spoke like this Man!" (John
7:46).
As Jesus closed the book of Isaiah and took His seat in the
synagogue, "They
marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth"
(Luke
4:22).
Yet the sweetest words, that He ever spoke, were heard at Calvary, "Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do"
(Luke
23:34).
If, as the hymn writer suggests (Believers
Hymn Book, No.
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” is not referring here to 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.
His sinlessness, His holiness, His impeccability, the perfections of
His words and His ways, make Him uniquely beautiful, more than the
sons of men.
The entire person of Jesus is as a gem. He is altogether complete;
not only in His several parts, but as a gracious all-glorious whole.
Not one feature in His glorious person attracts attention at the
expense of others, but He is perfect and altogether lovely. He
towers above all others.
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",
Song 5:16.
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