“Ivory Palaces”

1. Read: Psalm 45:6-9

2. About the Text:

1) This is a messianic Psalm.

2) The Holy Spirit quotes verses 6-7 in Hebrews 1:8-9 to apply to Jesus.

3) “All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad” (v.8).

4) The implication is that since the garments are being worn by the Messiah, He also came from the ivory palaces.

5) It is from this Psalm that Henry Barraclough wrote the hymn “Ivory Palaces” in 1915.

6) This hymn is sung from the perspective of the bride in Psalm 45.

7) This hymn requires some thought to sing; let’s look at it.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The first stanza says: “My Lord has garments so wondrous fine, And myrrh their texture fills; Its fragrance reached to the heart of mine with joy my being fills.”

1) The garments of a king are splendorous to behold.

2) They are also scented with sweet-smelling spices. Myrrh is an aromatic resin.

3) The fragrance of such good smelling things brings us joy.

4) For those who believe the gospel, Christ is “the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:16).

2. The clothing and spices are designed to emphasize the one wearing them.

1) These garments are attractive and designed to invite attention.

2) It’s not the garments that are important, but the one wearing them.

3) It’s the presence of the king that brings joy.

4) “Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you” (Song of Solomon 1:3).

3. Do we have joy in the presence of Jesus, our King?

1) “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

2) “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:11).

1. The second stanza says, “His life had also its sorrows sore, For aloes had a part; And when I think of the cross He bore, My eyes with tear-drops start.”

1) Aloes are another one of the spices mentioned in Psalm 45.

2) This doesn’t have reference to Aloe Vera, but to lignum aloe, a tree that grows in India.

3) This tree was used as a source of incense the smoke of which has calming effects.

4) The songwriter, however, uses the word “aloes” here to allude to the bitterness of the cross.

2. Christ came from the ivory palaces to give Himself to us.

1) He did this through His sacrificial death on the cross.

2) Consider Philippians 2:5ff.

3) “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

3. Do we understand the sacrifice that Christ made for us?

1) Paul wrote that Jesus “gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4) and that He “gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6).

2) “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

1. The last stanza says, “In garments glorious, He will come, To open wide the door; And I shall enter my heavenly home To dwell forevermore.”

1) This stanza seems to have reference to the second coming of Christ.

2) However, in Psalm 45, the coming of the king is to be presented to His bride.

3) We could construe this stanza in that way.

4) Regardless, the stanza is speaking of the eternal relationship Christ has with His church.

2. Christ promised to build the church so we could be part of His body.

1) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

2) “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

3) “so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5).

3. It is also true that Christ will receive His church to Himself.

1) “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

2) “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

3) “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

1. The Chorus states: “Out of the ivory palaces, Into a world of woe, Only His great eternal love Made my Savior go.”

1) Christ’s love moved Him to come to earth and give Himself for us.

2) What will Christ’s love move you to do?

2. Invitation