In Psalms, chapter forty-five, verses six through seven, these two verses find the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus Christ. The verses are about Christ’s exaltation, prominence, authority, and character, as in Hebrews one, verse eight. Christ’s dominion will be “forever and ever,” as in Revelation one, verse six. The Messianic King is called “God” in verse six and distinguished from “thy God” (the father) in verse seven. This distinction is consistent with the New Testament teaching that Christ and the Father are God.
In this psalm, the most significant characteristic of Christ’s description of loving and hating is He loves righteousness because it characterizes His nature and kingdom. Since His joy is in doing His Father’s will, as in Hebrews ten, verse seven, He intensely loves righteousness in all its manifestations, as in Ephesians five, verse twenty-six, and Hebrews thirteen, verse twelve. As much as the Son of God loves righteousness, He hates wickedness. He came to destroy the works of the devil, as in First John one, verse eight, supremely demonstrating this by dying on the cross to crush evil and to save His people from their sins, as in Matthew one, verse twenty-one. While on earth, Jesus confronted sin and religious hypocrisy in Matthew twenty-three and all forms of demonic oppression, as in Matthew twelve, verses twenty-eight to twenty-nine, Mark one, verses thirty-four through thirty-nine, and Acts ten, verse thirty-eight. At the end of the age, Jesus Christ will return and abolish evil and establish righteousness upon the earth, as in Revelation nineteen through twenty-two.
Because Jesus Christ loved righteousness and hated wickedness, God appointed Him above all others. This anointing refers to the glory, blessedness, and authority God gave Him. The “oil of gladness” is directly related to His anointing with the Holy Spirit, as in Matthew three, verses sixteen through seventeen, Galatians five, verses twenty-two to twenty-three, and Hebrews one, verse nine.
Likewise, the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon God’s people will come as they share Christ’s heartfelt love for righteousness. Furthermore, the right to serve as spiritual leaders of God’s people will be based on a Christ-like love for righteousness and a persistent resistance to evil, as in First Timothy three, verses one to seven.