it to be Christ''. By " kissing" him, we are to under- stand,
1. Submission to his authority —
[Samuel, having anointed Saul to be king of Israel, kissed him, in token of his submission to the power that was now vested in him^'. Now Jesus is " seated as King upon God's holy hill inZion*^:" and he demands that all should acknowledge him as their supreme Lord and only Saviour **. His yoke in every view is hateful to us by nature ; but most of all are we averse to " submit to his righteousness *." But this we must do, renouncing every other ground of dependence *, and trusting in him as ''The Lord our Righteousness ^ "] %
2. Love to his person —
[When Mary desired to express her love to Jesus, she " kissed his feet''." And we also must feel in our hearts, and express in every possible way, a fervent attachment to him : the characteristic mark of his disciples is, to " love him in since- rity'." Destitute of this mark, we have nothing to expect but speedy and everlasting destruction ''. We must therefore account him precious to our souls ^, yea, " fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely." We must delight ourselves in contemplating his beauty, and maintaining fellowship with him ".]
3. Devotion to his service —
[Idolaters used, in worshipping their gods, to kiss their images ", or to kiss their hands in token of their devout regard to them". In this sense also are we to "kiss the Son," exer- cising the same faith in him that we do in the Most High God P, and honouring him in every respect as we honour the
Father .1 To kiss him, like Judas, and betray him, will
fearfully aggravate our condemnation.]
The vast importance of this injunction will appear, if we consider,
II. The arguments with which it is enforced — And here we notice, 1 . The danger of disobeying it — [Gracious and loving as the Saviour is, he is susceptible of anger on just occasions, and feels a holy indignation against
those
* Compare ver. 7. with Heb. i. 5. *" 1 Sam. x. 1. •= ver. 6.
^ Compare Isai. xlv. 23, 24. with Rom. xiv, 1 1.
*Rom. x.3. M^hil. iii. 9. ^ Jer. xxiii. 6.
•" Luke vii'. 38. ' Eph. vi. 24. '' 1 Cor. xvi. 22.
' 1 Pet. ii. 7. "1 John i. 3.
" Hos. xiii. 2. 1 Kin. xix. 18. " Job xxxi. 26, 27.
P Acts ix. 6. John xiv. 1. ^ John v. 23.
12 PSALMS, n. 12. [333.
those who slight his love. And, " if once his wrath be kindled, yea but a little," it will utterly destroy us\ It will be but little consolation to us to see others suffering under his heavier dis- pleasure : the person who feels the smallest portion of his wrath in hell, will be inexpressibly and eternally miserable : and there- fore it becomes us to offer him the sincerest tribute of our affec- tion without delay. Nothing but this can prevent our ruin. In whatever "way" we are walking, we shall " perish from it," if we do not embrace him with the arms of faith, and " cleave to him with full purpose of heart ^."J
2. The benefit arising from obedience to it —
, [What was before metaphorically represented by " kissing of the Son," is here more simply expressed by " trusting in him." In fact, a cordial and entire confidence in him, as " our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," comprehends all the duties which we are capable of performing towards him in this world.
Now such a trust in him renders a man inconceivably blessed. It brings peace into his soul : it obtains for him the forgiveness of all his sins : it secures *' grace sufficient for him," and " strength according to his day." It makes him " blessed" in every state ; tn health or sickness, in wealth or poverty, in life or death. It entitles him to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance in hea- ven. No creature that possessed it, ever perished. Glory and honour and immortality are the portion of " all that trust in Christ." Whatever may have been their past conduct, or however they may doubt their own acceptance with God, they " are '* blessed, and shall he blessed for evermore.]