The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 76

lifted up the heel against him." If the king invites us to a banquet, it means that he finds II pleasure in our society; he wishes to draw closer the ties of sacred intimacy. Thus Jesus acts. He wants to come into closer fellowship with us, He calls us, not servants but friends. He undertakes to be our Surety, our Advocate with the Father. He wili keep nothing from us, not even his throne. Other friendships may languish; the friend- ship_ of Jesus shall eter!1ally abide. From his love nothing shall separate us. 3. Here is the idea ~f exuberant Joy . . A banquet is not spread, and lavishly embellished with beauty, s1~ply to allay bodily hun~er. It. is a _royal device for promoting joy. And he, who has given to us a g_reat capacity for Joy, mtends to fill that capacity to the very brim. If there ~re occas10ns on ear~h when joy flows in upon us like a rising tide, these are only prophetic moments of the rnetfable and eternal joy of heaven. Dosire gratified -this is joy; effort successful-this is joy; hope realized-this is joy; development complete-this is joy. To be with God, to be like God,-this is noontide gladness; this is the "fulness of joy." 11. THE ROYAL GRACE OF CHRIST USES GENTLE CONSTRAINTS. "He broucrht me into h!s banquet-house." A man's worst enemy is usually himself. He can~ot persuade himself that 1rnch generous love is intended for him. Others may perhaps be invited, but not he. Nor does he see that this unbelief is a fresh act of sin. If I discredit a person's word, I may do him a. great injustice. If I doubt the promise of a friend, it is an insult. And if I question the faithfulness of my King, I give him pain. 1. He sometimes uses the rough messenger of ajfiiction to bring us to his banquet-hall. Many a pardoned man will say with David, "Before I was afflicted I went a.stray." Saul's blindness made him sensible of Christ's nearness. The peril of Jonah taught him to say, "Salva.Lion is of the Lord." When Manasseh was in affliction be sought unto Jehovah. In times of earthly prosperity men are often self-sufficient; they have all that heart can wish; they have no sense of soul-hunger. But when argosies are wrecked, or harvests fail, or death sweeps, with black pinions, through the house, then they discover their -impotence, and long for the heavenly supply. Often has a pitiless storm driven despairing men to the Refuge on Calvary ; often has affliction, in some form, been the messenger employed to bring men to the gospel-feast. 2. Sometimes Christ uses liis gospil-heral,ds to bring men in. Our heavenly Friend ho.s seen fit to employ renewed men, though imperfect, to persnade the prodigals to return. He does not so employ the angel-bands. Pardoned men knO\v what are the burdens of sin, and what are the seductions of the tempter. Pardoned men have tender sympathies for their fa.lien fellows . .And pardoned men know by experience the joy of acceptance; the blessedness of God's friendship contrasted with his frown. Cleansed and consecrated men are specially fitted to bring sinners to Christ's banquet. Thus Jesus has brought many. 3. His own Spirit, the Comjorter, is tlie great .Agent in filling the banquet-hall. Said Jesus, prior to his crucifixion, " Ilc shall testify of me;" "He shall take of mine, and show it unto you." To him belongs the prerogative of enlightening the mind, arousing the torpid conscience, convicting of sin. and quickening into life dead souls. He "strives n with the opposi- tion of a rebellious will. By his Divine anointing, men are empowered to use the arts of heavenJy persuasivenes~. Jesus, the soul's Bridegroom, has furnished the sumptuous ba.nq uet; now it is the mission of the Holy Spirit to persuade the perishing to come. Have we not heard his " still small voice n within us, imploring us to accept the generous offers of a Saviour's grace? Have we not put off his pleadings again and again with the promise that we would before long come? And has not our promise been as often violated? Thrice happy is the man who can say, "He has conquered." "He brought me into his banquet-house," IIL THE ROYAL GRACE OF CHRIST VOUCIIBAFEB NJ!;W TOKENS OF AFFECTION. "The device on his banner is Jove." The beginning and middle and end of the banquet is Jove. This is the solution of every problem. Whence originated the feast? In love. Why are the guests rebellious and fallen men? Love I What methods are employed to induce them to come? Love! What end is contemplated in the feast? Love I On every banneret the symbol is love. 1. This banner implies triwmph. It was the banner which our great Champion carried in the war. If we are at. the banquet-table, we have: been captivated by Immanuel's Jove. This love pursued u.s in our wanderings, convinced us of our folly, bore with us patiently, sweetly induced us to lay down our arms 11-Ild to submit. W~ were softeµed e,Ild Sl),bdued by lo-v11, J;v9w "wo love hiP,l, Oil, II, 1-17,] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 65