1184. The Renown of the Redeemed
The Renown of the Redeemed
"And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God" (Eze_16:14).
1. "Thou wast exceeding beautiful."
(1) We are beautiful to Him. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings." God delights in His saints. They are very beautiful to Him.
The Song of Solomon reveals much of this love and admiration which Christ has for His Church. Let us note a few of the passages which, to us, express Christ's love and admiration for His own.
"Behold, thou art fair, My love; thou art fair" (Son_1:15).
"As a lily among thorns, so is My love among the daughters" (Son_2:2).
"Thou hast ravished My heart, My sister, My spouse" (Son_4:9).
"How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse" (Son_4:10).
(2) We are beautiful to Him, that we may be beautiful to others. How cautiously should saints keep their garments white, unspotted and unsmirched by the filth of the world.
No wonder the Spirit through the Prophet Isaiah called to Israel to shake herself from the dust and to loose the bands of her neck; for He desired her beautiful garments to be the joy of the whole earth.
No wonder that the Holy Spirit cries to the Church to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to themselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts unto the Lord.
2. "Thou didst prosper into a kingdom." God found Israel in a waste and howling wilderness, He led her about, He blessed her, until she was a nation in the land. What nation was there on the earth like unto this nation of Israel? She was prospered with unheard-of blessings. In the days of David and Solomon she was a peer among the peoples of the earth.
The Church too has prospered. The Church began at Pentecost. A little group baptized into one body, and then multiplied by the Spirit until she has become great on the earth. From the insignificant few of the upper room, the Church has become a multitude of souls, composing many of the great ones of the earth.
3. "Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty." Israel and her glory was once upon every tongue. Even nations afar off heard of her greatness. The Queen of Sheba came to see Solomon in his kingdom, and in wonderment she said: "The half hath not been told."
The renown of the Church has gone forth. Her fame has compassed the globe. She has become rich and increased with goods; her missionary enterprises girdle the whole earth.
Oh, that Israel had never wandered away from her Lord! So wonderful and gracious are the words of this lesson, that we almost dread to remind the reader that the balance of the chapter tells how Israel played the harlot and departed from God, dragging her beautiful robes in the mire.
Oh, that the Church would profit by Israel's sin, and keep her garments white. Already she too is being beguiled of the wicked one. She is turning from her high calling; she is scattering her ways under every green hill. She has grown rich, and as worldly as rich; she has left her first love, and gone after the teaching of Balaam.
May the Church hold sacred her pristine beauty; may she set herself to show forth the glories of Him Who hath called her out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR