The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 149

explanation of his ceaseless henevolence was this: "I do always the things that please him." As he entered the black cloud of the final tragedy, he intrrro~ntes himself thus: " Wh11t shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?" Dnt mstantly he adds "Father, glorify thy Name." Filial reverence, filial trust, filial love and submission i~ him were complete--things till then unknown on earth. "Though he were a Sou yet l0arned he obedience by the things which he suffered." Upon such sacred Sonship the Father exprt'ssed audible and public approbation-expressed it aanin and again: •· This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "My Belo;ed is white and rudd_. "-the quality of perfect health. 3. His personal qualities transcend all com- pari~~on. Every virtue, human and Divine, blossom in his soul. There's not an excellence ever seen in men or in angels that is not found, the perfect type, in Jesus Chri~t. For nearly nineteen centuries shrewd men have turned their microscopes on the Person of Jesus, if haply they could find the shadow of a spot. The acutest eye has failed, and Jesus stands before the world to-day a paragon of moral perfection. His character is better known and better appreciated to-day than in any previous age. Modern criticism confesses at the bar of the universe, "I find no fault in him." As nil the colours of the prism meet and blend in the pure rays of light, so all noble qualities blend in our beloved Friend. As in a royal garden or in the fields of nature there is unspeakable wealth of flowery bloom, all forms and colours composing a very paradise of beauty, so is it in the character of Jesus. Other men were noted for some special excellence--Moses for meekness, Job for patience, Daniel for constancy; but Jesus bas every quality of goodness, and has each quality full-orbed and resplendent. " Whatever things are true, pure, just, lovely, honourable, of good report," they all unite in Jesus. Ransack all the homes of humanity if you will, cull out all the excellences that embellish the seraphim, and you shall not find a single grace that does not adorn our Immanuel. Yea, his soul ie the seed-bed of all the goodness that flourishes in heaven or on earth. "He is the Firstborn of every creature." The unfallen, no less than the fallen, adore him as worthy to be worshipped. "He bas by inheritance a more excellent name than they." As the stars of heaven pale their ineffectual :fires when the sun rises, so in the presence of Jesus Christ even Gabriel veils his face and bends his knee. Human thought fails to reach the height of this great theme, and we can simply repeat the ancient words, "Altogether lovely." 4. He is incomparable in all the offices he fills. A splendid theme for contemplation is Jesus in his manifold offices. As a Teacher he has no rival, for he still speaks" as one having authority." "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;" and, with infinite patience, he unfolds these treasures t.o us in picture and parable, as we "are able to bear them." Who is so competent to teach us heavenly things as the living Truth? "The words he speaks are spirit and life." "His lips are as lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh." AB a Priest, does he not excel all who went before him? Other priests had to offer oblation first for their own sin. J esUB had no personal sin. Other priests "could not continue by reason of death." Jesus has no successor; his priesthood is perpetual. The best of earthly priests could only appear in material temples, gorge·ous in marble and in gold though some of them were. Our great High Priest has gone on our behalf into the very presence of God. Our Advocate with the Father cannot fail, because he is" Christ the Righteous." And, as a King, Jesus has no compeer. 'fhe sceptre belongs to him by etemal right. He is a King by birth. He is a King by reason of inherent fitness. Every fibre of bis nature is kingly. He is a King through conquest. Every foe is, or shall be, vanquisLed. He is a King by universal acclamation. Angels and men combine to accord to him the highest place--" King of kings, and Lord of lords." As the good Shepherd, he has given his very "life for the sheep." Ali the_ Husband of his Church, he is perfect in :fidelity; for" having loved tihe Church, he gave himself for her, and has cleansed her for himself a glorious Church, not having spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing." View our Master in any aspect or in any office, and 'he is full of inexpressible charm. "He is altogether lovely." III. WE HA.VE BEBE THE IDEA OF INTIMATE X:ELATIONBBIP. "This ie my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem." 1. This means high appre~iation. 'fhe believer in this pas8age means to say, "I have endeavoured to describe my heavenly Friend, but I have failed. I have mentioned some of the features of his character, yet I scarce think that these are the most precious, The theme is above me. on. v. 1-10.J THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 11!)