My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45 is a song concerning the King, and the New Testament identifies this King as the Son of God, whose throne is for ever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv. 6-7). Therefore, the words of this psalm are not about an earthly ruler, but about Jesus Christ and His kingdom. The psalmist begins by declaring the stirring of his own heart as he prepares to speak of this King (v.1), and then proceeds to describe His glory, righteousness, and reign (vv. 2-7).
“My heart is inditing a good matter.” The word “inditing” speaks of something boiling up, as from a fountain within, ready to overflow with inspired speech. The psalmist’s heart was full, stirred by the excellence of the King before him. This is not forced speech, but the natural outflow of a heart taken up with Christ. The matter is called “good” because it concerns Him who is altogether excellent: “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips” (v.2). All fullness is found in Him, for “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). When the heart is thus filled, the tongue cannot remain silent, for “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
“I speak of the things which I have made touching the king.” The psalmist declared that his subject is the King. The things he had “made” are not inventions of his own wisdom, but ordered words prepared concerning Christ. The prophets spoke in this way, being moved by God: “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The King here is the one whom God has set upon His holy hill (Psalm 2:6), who rules in righteousness and judgment. The psalm will show His majesty in battle (vv. 3-5), His divine throne (v.6), and His anointing above all others (v.7), all of which agree with the Lord Jesus Christ. We would be hard-pressed to assign these to David, Solomon, or any other earthly king. Let us savor the inspired depiction of our King, Jesus.
“My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” The psalmist’s tongue was prepared and skillful, like a scribe writing swiftly and accurately. This readiness flows from the fullness of the heart, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). When the heart is filled with the truth of Christ, the tongue becomes an instrument to declare Him. This also points to the work of God in giving Scripture, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and again, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The psalmist speaks with clarity and readiness because he is carried along by the Spirit to set forth the glory of the King.
This verse depicts the glory of Christ as a King worthy of full-hearted praise and faithful declaration. Therefore the heart should be stirred with delight in Him, the tongue ready to speak of His excellence, and the ear prepared to receive His word. As the Psalmist elsewhere declared, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak” (Psalm 85:8), and again, “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Psalm 145:5).
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45 is a song concerning the King, and the New Testament identifies this King as the Son of God, whose throne is for ever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv. 6-7). Therefore, the words of this psalm are not about an earthly ruler, but about Jesus Christ and His kingdom. The psalmist begins by declaring the stirring of his own heart as he prepares to speak of this King (v.1), and then proceeds to describe His glory, righteousness, and reign (vv. 2-7).
“My heart is inditing a good matter.” The word “inditing” speaks of something boiling up, as from a fountain within, ready to overflow with inspired speech. The psalmist’s heart was full, stirred by the excellence of the King before him. This is not forced speech, but the natural outflow of a heart taken up with Christ. The matter is called “good” because it concerns Him who is altogether excellent: “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips” (v.2). All fullness is found in Him, for “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). When the heart is thus filled, the tongue cannot remain silent, for “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
“I speak of the things which I have made touching the king.” The psalmist declared that his subject is the King. The things he had “made” are not inventions of his own wisdom, but ordered words prepared concerning Christ. The prophets spoke in this way, being moved by God: “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The King here is the one whom God has set upon His holy hill (Psalm 2:6), who rules in righteousness and judgment. The psalm will show His majesty in battle (vv. 3-5), His divine throne (v.6), and His anointing above all others (v.7), all of which agree with the Lord Jesus Christ. We would be hard-pressed to assign these to David, Solomon, or any other earthly king. Let us savor the inspired depiction of our King, Jesus.
“My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” The psalmist’s tongue was prepared and skillful, like a scribe writing swiftly and accurately. This readiness flows from the fullness of the heart, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). When the heart is filled with the truth of Christ, the tongue becomes an instrument to declare Him. This also points to the work of God in giving Scripture, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and again, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The psalmist speaks with clarity and readiness because he is carried along by the Spirit to set forth the glory of the King.
This verse depicts the glory of Christ as a King worthy of full-hearted praise and faithful declaration. Therefore the heart should be stirred with delight in Him, the tongue ready to speak of His excellence, and the ear prepared to receive His word. As the Psalmist elsewhere declared, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak” (Psalm 85:8), and again, “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Psalm 145:5).