Singing for a King: The Message of Psalm 45

Abstract

This article deals with some of the core issues in the study of Psalm 45. It describes the current state of research and critically reviews two relatively recent interpretations, those by Simon Chi-Chung Cheung and James Trotter. Both interpretations have methodological problems. The article concludes that the aim of Ps 45 was to praise a historical near-divine king on the occasion of an addition to his harem. Any "deeper" theological meanings and messianic readings stem from a later age.