I should not have paused over this word, had I not recollected in the moment of reading it, that the Holy Ghost is graciously pleased to make use of it as a figure to represent the Lord Jesus by, in several parts of the divine word; and also the church is spoken of, from her union with her Lord, by the same similitude. "His head (said the church, when commending the beauties of her Lord,) is as the most fine gold." (Song of Solomon 5:11) "His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl." (Song of Solomon 5:14) And the Lord Jesus, speaking of his church, made comely in his comeliness, saith, "Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels; thy neck with Chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver." (Song of Solomon 1:10-11) As gold is the richest and most valued of all metals, so by this figure is meant to say, that the Headship of Christ is every thing that is rich, valuable and glorious to his body the church. Yea, as the Scripture saith, when referring to the Lord Jesus as God-man Mediator, "the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) It is probable, that an eye to God the Father, under this similitude, might also be meant. For though in respect to the divine nature, Christ is "one with the Father, over all, God blessed for ever." (Romans 9:5) Yet in respect to his human nature, the Father may truly be said to be the head of Christ; for he saith himself, "A body hast thou given me, or prepared me." (Psalms 40:6 with Hebrews 10:5)
But it is very blessed to eye the Lord Jesus under this figure. As the Head of his body the well be compared to the most fine gold; for the Psalmist saith, in allusion to his royal dignity and power, JEHOVAH put "a crown of pure gold upon his head, When he made him most blessed for ever." (Psalms 21:1-7) And as all this, and infinitely more to the same effect, is spoken of Christ in allusion to his mediatorial character, the Head of his church and people, so this endears Jesus the more, inasmuch as all his people are so highly interested in all that belongs to him. Gold is a proper figure to represent the glories of his person, the excellency of his kingdom, the purity and spiritual nature of it, the durableness of it and the splendour and everlasting glory of it; for all his people are made kings and priests, by virtue of his riches and glory to God and the Father. (Revelation 1:6) And as Christ's head is compared on all these, and the like accounts to gold: so his hands to rings of gold set with beryl, from the liberal manner in which he bestows gifts and graces to his redeemed. "In his right hand, saith Solomon, is length of days, and in his left hand riches and honour." (Proverbs 3:16) The beryl was one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the High Priest. (Exodus 28:20) And John tells the church, that the beryl was among the foundation-stones of the new Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:20) What those precious stones implied cannot need inquiry, since elsewhere we are told, that Christ is the foundation-stone JEHOVAH hath laid in Zion; and the church, both in heaven and earth, rests wholly upon him, the chief corner stone, "in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." (Ephesians 2:20-21)
It is blessed to behold also the church spoken of under the same similitude, from her union and oneness with her Lord. The neck and cheeks of the church, the parts connected with the head, made comely with jewels and chains of gold, may be supposed to mean those graces, with which her Lord hath adorned her, "more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold." And when a soul is blessed in the everlasting covenant with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, there is a loveliness indeed, which is as an "ornament of grace unto the head, and as chains about the neck." (Proverbs 1:9) And what tends to endear the whole is, that all the persons of the GODHEAD concur in this vast work of adorning the church with blessings, more valuable than the "golden wedge of Ophir." It is said, "We will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver;" meaning, surely, the joint work and grace of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in whose joint names all true believers in Christ are baptized, and blessed upon earth, and everlastingly made happy and glorious in heaven. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 7:9-12)