“You are more magnificent than the Sons of Adam; grace pours from your lips. Therefore, God has blessed you forever.”

(Psalm 45:3 {verse 2 in English})

Many English Bibles translate the first Hebrew word in this verse as “beautiful” or “fair,” though it should be noted that the NIV chooses the better term, “excellent,” here. In Hebrew, the word in question is hApÎy (yaphah), and literally means, “to adorn, to decorate, or to beautify.” Yet, we ought to pose the question as to what engenders a sense of beauty within us. Sadly, for many in our culture today, beauty is only measured by the lusts and is considered as fickle as the eye of the beholder.

But what really is at the heart of beauty? Is it truly in the eye of the beholder or is there something that transcends the surface and appearance? Is not the beauty of a person something that resides in the character of the individual? And is not the beauty of a sunset found in the magnificence of the event — something that moves and inspires us. And here, as we sing a song of praise to our Messiah — one whom men did not esteem (Isaiah 53:3) — he is one whose magnificence we sing.

And what of grace? It comes from His lips. It comes from His word. It comes from His work. It comes from His sacrifice. Therefore grace, true grace, comes from Christ Jesus alone and he speaks of it in his Word (by which we may know Him), thus, it pours like water from his lips. And as the royal Messiah — the speaker of grace and truth — God has blessed him forever. And if God has blessed him, ought we not also bless our mighty and magnificent redeemer? How sad it is that all too often we do not, taking for granted that which he has offered to us in grace. Let us repent of our carelessness and flee to Christ our Lord for refuge.