_My heart is inditing a good matter; I speak of the things which I have made touching the king._ THE SONG OF THE HEAVENLY NUPTIALS In accordance with unbroken tradition of the Church from the beginning, we interpret this as a spiritual epithalamium or nuptial-song, in honour of the wondrous espous... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips; therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever._ THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY I. The person of the king. The old world valued in a king, personal beauty, and graciousness of speech. Both are ascribed here to the King spoken of. We have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty._ CHRIST A MIGHTY CONQUEROR I. The warrior. The fact that He is no less than a Divine being, although for a specific purpose He assumed our nature, distinctly intimates that He should be known as the mighty God; while the power that has been given to Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And in Thy majesty ride prosperously._ THE CAPTAIN OF SALVATION RIDING PROSPEROUSLY IN THE GOSPEL-CHARIOT AND BRINGING TERRIBLE THINGS TO PASS I. Open and explain the various designations given to the gospel in the text. 1. It is called “the word of truth.” (1) As opposed to error and false doc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thine arms are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies: whereby the people fall under Thee._ ENEMIES TURNED INTO FRIENDS I. The arrow of conviction. It is “sharp in the heart,” and is sure to kill the man. Where there is real conviction of sin the man is sure to become dead to what he was. If he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever._ THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST, AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND RULED WITH PERFECT JUSTICE AND EQUITY I. Show that Zion’s king is God. 1. He is expressly called God in Scripture (Isaiah 9:6; Romans 9:5). 2. Such attributes are ascribed to Him in Scripture as are com... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows._ THE GLADNESS OF JESUS This is our exceeding joy--the gladness of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Yet it is not a matter of which we often think. The Man of Sorrows is much more familiar to us than the Saviour anoint... [ Continue Reading ]
_All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces._ OUT OF THE IVORY PALACES I look upon the kingly robes of Christ; and as I lift them, flashing with eternal jewels, the whole house is filled with the aroma of these garments, which “smell of myrrh, and aloes, and c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings’ daughters were among Thy honourable women._ Upon Thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. THE CONSUMMATION OF MESSIAH’S GLORY AND THE CHURCH’S HAPPINESS I. The general propriety and significance of the image of a marriage as it is here employed. Familiar emblems are needful fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear._ ; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house. THE BRIDEGROOM’S CALL TO THE BRIDE Christ and His Church are the subject of this noble psalm. I. The call to higher holiness, to higher attainments in faith, love and purity. And t... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty._ THE BEAUTY OF THE CHURCH DESIRED BY CHRIST I. The believer’s beauty. 1. It is all derived, and not natural. Our Lord Jesus first makes men beautiful through His comeliness put upon them, and then He commends and takes pleasure in the works of His own... [ Continue Reading ]
_The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, _ GENTILE SINNERS COMING INTO THE CHURCH AND PRESENTING THEMSELVES A FREE-WILL OFFERING TO THE LORD UPON THE GOSPEL ALTAR I. Some things implied in the words. 1. That whatever be the outward lot and condition of a person or people, before the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
_The King’s daughter is all glorious within._ THE KING’S DAUGHTER GLORIOUS WITHIN AND CLOTHED WITH A GARMENT OF WROUGHT GOLD I. The believer’s inward glory. 1. All true believers have a glorious life. They live a life of justification, a life of holiness, and of sweet fellowship with God. 2. Bel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children._ CHRISTIAN SUCCESSION An intelligent grasp of this truth is fatal to pessimists, who go about the country crying failure in the Church and the final defeat of Israel. King Jesus and His bride are the objects of the prophecy. Unto them were born apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the people praise Thee._ CHRIST’S UNENDING PRAISE Man knows himself to be a flower, which cometh forth and is cut down; yet he wishes the fragrance of his memory, like a costly perfume, to be perpetuated when he himself shal... [ Continue Reading ]