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Song of
Solomon Chapter Seven
Song of Solomon 7
Chapter Contents
The graces of the church. (1-9) The delight of the church
in Christ. (10-13)
Commentary on Song of Solomon 7:1-9
(Read Song of Solomon 7:1-9)
The similitudes here are different from what they were
before
and in the original refer to glorious and splendid clothing. Such
honour have all his saints; and having put on Christ
they are distinguished by
their beautiful and glorious apparel. They adorn the doctrine of God their
Saviour in all things. Consistent believers honour Christ
recommend the
gospel
and convince and awaken sinners. The church resembles the stately and
spreading palm; while her love for Christ
and the obedience resulting
therefrom
are precious fruit of the true Vine. The King is held in the
galleries. Christ takes delight in the assemblies and ordinances of his people;
and admires the fruit of his grace in them. When applied to the church and to
each faithful Christian
all this denotes that beauty of holiness
in which
they shall be presented to their heavenly Bridegroom.
Commentary on Song of Solomon 7:10-13
(Read Song of Solomon 7:10-13)
The church
the believing soul
triumphs in its relation
to Christ
and interest in him. She humbly desires communion with him. Let us
walk together
that I may receive counsel
instruction
and comfort from thee;
and may make known my wants and my grievances to thee
with freedom
and
without interruption. Communion with Christ is what all that are made holy
earnestly breathe after. And those who would converse with Christ
must go
forth from the world. Wherever we are
we may keep up communion with God. Nor
should we go where we cannot in faith ask him to go with us. Those who would go
abroad with Christ
must begin early in the morning of their days; must begin
every day with him
seek him early
seek him diligently. A gracious soul can
reconcile itself to the poorest places
if it may have communion with God in
them; but the most delightful fields will not satisfy
unless the Beloved is
there. Let us not think to be satisfied with any earthly object. Our own souls
are our vineyards; they should be planted with useful trees. We should often
search whether we are fruitful in righteousness. Christ's presence will make
the vine flourish
and the tender grapes appear
as the returning sun revives
the gardens. If we can appeal to him
Thou knowest all things
thou knowest
that I love thee; if his Spirit witness with our spirit
that our souls
prosper
it is enough. And we must beg of him to search and try us
to discover
us to ourselves. The fruits and exercises of graces are pleasant to the Lord
Jesus. These must be laid up
and always ready; that by our bringing forth much
fruit
he may be glorified. It is all from him
therefore it is fit it should
be all for him.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Song of Solomon》
Song of Solomon 7
Verse 1
[1] How
beautiful are thy feet with shoes
O prince's daughter! the joints of thy
thighs are like jewels
the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
Shoes —
Were anciently evidences of a free and comfortable state
whereas slaves and
mourners used to go bare-foot.
Verse 4
[4] Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh
toward Damascus.
Like fishpools —
Full
and clear
and quiet
and pleasant.
Heshbon — A
pleasant and well watered city
beyond Jordan.
The tower —
Which was in all probability built by Solomon in the mountain of Lebanon
the
northern border of the land of Israel towards Damascus; and therefore a very
fit place for a watch-tower.
Which looketh —
There was another tower or building in or near Jerusalem
which was called the
house of the forest of Lebanon
1 Kings 7:2.
Verse 5
[5]
Thine head upon thee is like Carmel
and the hair of thine head like purple;
the king is held in the galleries.
Carmel —
Eminent and pleasant to the eye
and fruitful as mount Carmel was. Which may
denote that her mind was replenished with knowledge
and other excellent gifts
of the Holy Ghost.
Purple —
Which colour was anciently much esteemed.
Is held — In
which he walks
and having once espied thee
is unable to take off his eyes
from thee.
Verse 6
[6] How
fair and how pleasant art thou
O love
for delights!
Delights —
For those various lovely features which
are in thee.
Verse 7
[7] This thy stature is like to a palm tree
and thy breasts to clusters of
grapes.
Palm-tree —
Tall and strait
or upright. And he seems to mention the palm-tree
rather than
any other
because it is constantly green and flourishing
and grows upward in
spite of all pressures.
Verse 8
[8] I
said
I will go up to the palm tree
I will take hold of the boughs thereof:
now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine
and the smell of thy
nose like apples;
I said —
Within myself
I resolved.
I will —
Climb up
that so I may take hold of the boughs
which do not grow out of the
sides
as in other trees
but only at the top of it.
Take hold —
Partly to prune and dress them
and partly to gather the fruit.
The smell — Of
thy breath; which is often called the breath of a man's nostrils.
Verse 9
[9] And
the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved
that goeth down
sweetly
causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
Thy mouth —
Thy speech
the palate being one of the principal instruments of speech.
Wine —
Grateful and refreshing for thee my beloved
who reapest the comfort and
benefit of that pleasure which I take in thee.
Causing —
The most dull
and stupid
and sleepy persons to speak.
Verse 10
[10] I am
my beloved's
and his desire is toward me.
I am —
This and the following verses contain the words of the bride
in answer to the
bridegroom's endearing expressions delivered in the foregoing verses.
Verse 11
[11]
Come
my beloved
let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
Go forth —
That being retired from the crowd
we may more freely and sweetly converse
together.
Verse 12
[12] Let
us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish
whether the
tender grape appear
and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my
loves.
Early —
The church having lost her beloved by her former laziness
now doubles her
diligence.
Vineyards — To
particular congregations.
Let us see —
Let us inquire into the success of our labours
what souls are brought in and
built up
and how they prosper and grow in grace.
There —
There I will discover the fervency of my affections to thee
and maintain
communion with thee in thy holy ordinances.
Verse 13
[13] The
mandrakes give a smell
and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits
new
and old
which I have laid up for thee
O my beloved.
Mandrakes —
This Hebrew word is used Genesis 30:14; 15
and the signification of it is very much
doubted and disputed by interpreters. The word here signifies sweet and
pleasant flowers
and therefore if it be understood of mandrakes
they were of
another sort than ours
as flowers of the same kind in several climates have
very different natures and qualities.
At our gates —
Brought thither by divers persons to congratulate our nuptials.
All fruits —
Fruits of this year and of the former. Which seems to be meant of the various
fruits and operations of the Spirit
and degrees of grace in several believers.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Song of Solomon》
07 Chapter 7
Verses 1-13
Verse 1
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes
O Prince’s daughter!
Beautiful with sandals
The Great Redeemer
the Heavenly Bridegroom
is now represented
under the leading emblem of the Book
as surveying the beauties and excellences
of His betrothed bride.
The whole chapter is an apostrophe to her. She is in herself full of conscious
unworthiness. But He sees her clothed in the bridal attire of His own
righteousness
and instead of upbraiding her for avowed imperfections
He
begins with the words
“How beautiful are thy sandalled feet
O Prince’s daughter!”
I. The Church’s or
the Believer’s name--“Daughter” and “Prince’s daughter.”
1. She is called “daughter.” This points to the tender relation
subsisting between Christ and His people. When Jehovah in the Old Testament
speaks most endearingly of His ancient Church
He calls it “The Daughter of
Zion.” He employs
indeed
manifold figures
all indicative of strong and
ardent attachment. “As one whom his mother comforteth.” “Can a woman forget her
sucking child?” “Like as a father pitieth his children.” “I will be a Father
unto you.”
2. But again
she is a “Prince’s daughter.” He reminds her of her
pedigree. It is no ordinary birth. She is one of the adopted children of the
“King of kings.” Their glory is His glory.
II. The subject of
commendation: “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes.
1. The shoe
or sandal
in ancient times
and in Oriental countries
was the badge of freedom and honour. The crouching slave never wore a sandal.
The unsandalled feet was the badge and mark of subjection
if not of
degradation. When the Lord
therefore
in the text speaks of His betrothed
bride’s feet being “beautiful with shoes
” what is this but to proclaim that
she--type of every believer--is translated from the bondage of corruption into
“the glorious liberty of the children of God”?
2. Shoes or sandals were emblems of joy: while the want of these was
equally recognized and regarded as a symbol of grief and sorrow. And is not the
Christian called to be joyful? Yes
God’s children are indeed
really
and in
truth
alone of all
in this sin-stricken world
entitled to the epithet of
“happy.”
3. The sandals on the feet speak of activity and duty
and
preparedness for Christ’s service. They point to the nature of the journey the
believer is pursuing. Though a pleasant road
and a safe road
and a road with
a glorious termination
it is at times rough; a path of temptation and trial.
Unshod feet would be cut and lacerated
with the stones and thorns and briars which beset it. The figure
moreover
suggests
that there can be no loitering or lingering on the way. (J. R.
Macduff
D. D.)
Verse 5
The King is held in the galleries.
The King is held in the galleries
Christ
the blessed King of Zion
condescends sometimes to be held
and detained by His people in the galleries of Gospel-ordinances.
I. I will give
some account of this royal King.
1. That he is a King appears from these particulars.
2. As He is a King
so He is the King by way of eminency and
excellency.
II. The galleries
wherein this royal King trysts and keeps company with His people.
1. I will only mention these few galleries.
2. Why are these ordinances compared to galleries?
III. The holding of
the King in the galleries.
1. What does it suppose and imply on the believer’s part?
(i.) By the lively exercise of faith. Hence faith is called an
apprehending of Christ
and a cleaving to Him.
(ii.) The soul binds or holds Christ in the galleries by sincere
and ardent love.
(iii.) The soul cleaves to Christ by fervent and ardent prayer.
2. What does it imply on Christ’s part?
(i.) He is bound by the cord of His own faithfulness
which He has
laid in pawn in the promise.
(ii.) He is bound in the galleries by the cord of His own love.
(iii.) He is bound to them by the bond of marriage.
IV. The application
of the doctrine.
1. The first use is of information. Is it so that Zion’s King is
sometimes held in the galleries of Gospel-ordinances? Then
2. By way of trial and examination. You have been in the galleries of
the King of Zion; but that is not enough: and therefore let me ask
Have you
been in the galleries with the King? and have you been holding the King in the
galleries?
3. Use third may be in a short word directed to two or three sorts of
persons.
Verses 11-13
Come
my Beloved
let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in
the villages.
Good works is good company
The daughters of Jerusalem had been praising the Church as the
fairest among women. They spoke of her with admiring appreciation
extolling
her from head to foot. She wisely perceived that it was not easy to bear praise;
and therefore she turned aside from the virgins to her Lord
making her boast
not of her own comeliness
but of her being affianced to her Beloved: “I am my
Beloved’s
and His desire is towards me.” The spouse seems abruptly to break
off from listening to the song of the virgins
and turns to her own
husband-Lord
communion with whom is ever blessed and ever profitable
and she
says to him
“Come
my Beloved
let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in
the villages. Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it
be the bitterness of woe
or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight
close
fellowship with the Lord
Jesus will take the gall from the one and the satiety from the other.
I. First
then
in
the matter of self-examination. This is a most desirable and important
business
but every believer should desire to have communion with Christ while
he is attending to it. Self-examination is of the utmost importance. Well does
the spouse suggest that she should see whether the vine flourished
whether the
tender grape appeared and the pomegranates budded forth; for our spiritual
vineyard needs perpetual watchfulness. While you are attending to this
important business
see to it at the same time that you keep up your communion
with Christ
for you will never know so well the importance of self-examination
as when you see Him. Know His love for you
and all His griefs on your behalf
and you will charge your own heart after this fashion--“See to it
that thou
make sure work as to thine interest in Jesus
that thou be really one with Him
that thy faith in Him be genuine
and that thou shalt be found in Him in peace
at the day of His appearing.” Self-examination
however
is very laborious
work: the text hints at it. It does not say
“Let us go
” but “Let us get up.”
Self-examination is ever up-hill work. We need to school ourselves to perform a
duty so irksome. But
beloved
if we attempt to examine this
feeling that
Christ is with us
and that we are having communion with Him
we shall forget
all the labour of the deed. Keep close to the Saviour and the difficulties of
self-examination will vanish
and the labour will become light.
Self-examination should always be very earnest work. The text says
“Let us get
up early.” It has been well observed that all men in Scripture who have done
earnest work rose up early to do it. The dew of the morning
before the smoke
and dust of the world’s business have tainted the atmosphere
is a choice and
special season for all holy work. And yet again
self-examination
it seems to
me
is not the simple work that some people think
but is beset with
difficulties. I do believe that the most of self-examinations go on a wrong
principle. You take Moses with you when you examine yourself
and consequently
you fall into despair. I do not want you to look at Christ so as to think less
of your sin
but to think more of it; for you can never see sin to be so black
as when you see the suffering which Christ endured on its behalf: but I do
desire you
dear friends
never to look at sin apart from the Saviour. Examine
yourselves
but let it be in the light of Calvary; not by the blazing fires of
Sinai’s lightnings
but by the milder radiance of the Saviour’s griefs. It
appears
from the words of the spouse
that the work of self-examination should
be carried on in detail
if it is to be of real service. It is written
“Let us
see if the vine flourish
the tender grape appear
and the pomegranates bud
forth.” We must not take a general view of the garden
but particularize
and
give special attention to each point. Oh! to have our great pattern ever before
our eye! Jesus should not be a friend who calls upon us now and then
but one
with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road to travel; see
O
traveller to heaven
that thou go not without thy Guide. In every case
in
every condition
thou needest Jesus; but most of all
when thou comest to deal
with thine own heart’s eternal interests. O
keep thou close to Him
lean thy
head upon His bosom
ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine of His
pomegranate
and then there shall be no fear but that thou shalt be found of
Him at the last
without spot
wrinkle
or any such thing.
II. The Church was
about to engage in earnest labour
and desires her Lord’s company. It is the
business of God’s people to be trimmers of God’s vines. Like our first parents
we are put into the garden of the Lord for usefulness. Observe that the Church
when she is in her right mind
in all her many labours desires to retain and
cheerfully to enjoy communion with Christ. Taking a survey of Christ’s Church
you will find that those who have most fellowship with Christ are not the
persons who are recluses or hermits
who have much time to spend with
themselves
but they are the useful indefatigable labourers who are toiling for
Jesus
and who in their toil have Him side by side with them
so that they are
workers together with God. Let me
then
try and press this lesson upon you
that when we as a Church
and each of us as individuals
have anything to do
for Christ
we must do it in communion with Him. Let me hold up for your
imitation some in modern times who by works of faith and labours of love have
made us feel that the old spirit of Christianity is not dead. Our beloved
friend Mr. George Muller
of Bristol
for instance. There burns a holy
devotedness
an intensity of faith
a fervour of perseverance which I would to
God we all possessed. May we have more of this
aunt so by keeping close to
Jesus
we shall produce better fruits
richer clusters and more luscious grapes
than are commonly produced upon those vines which are in a less happy part of
the vineyard.
III. The Church
desires to give to Christ all that She produces. She has “all manner of
pleasant fruits
” both “new and old
” and they are laid up for her Beloved. We
have some new fruits. I hope we feel new life
new joy
new gratitude: we wish
to make new resolves and carry them out by new labours. Our heart goes up in
new prayers
and our soul is pledging herself to new efforts. But we have some
old things too. There is our first love: a choice fruit that! and Christ
delights in it. There is our flint faith: that simple faith by Which
having
nothing
we become possessors of all things. There is our joy when first we
knew the Lord; let us revive it. Old things! why we have the old remembrance of
the promises. How faithful has God been! Old sins we must regret
but then we
have had repentances which He has given us
by which we have wept our way to
the Cross
and learned the merit of His blood. We have fruits
both new and
old; but here is the point--they are all to be for Christ. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
A call for revival
I. The fact which
is implied in the text
that love is the great motive for action in the cause
of Christ. This love has about it certain marked peculiarities.
1. It is first a love which realizes the person of the Beloved. Jesus
must be to us no historical personage who was once on earth
but is now dead
and powerless; he must be an actual person living still in our midst.
2. The love here spoken of was well assured of the affection of its
Beloved. Note the verse which precedes our text
“I am my Beloved’s
and His
desire is towards me.” A Christian is never strong for service when he does not
know whether Christ loves him
or not. Strive then for a well-assured sense of the Saviour’s love. Be not content
till you possess it
for it will be health to your spirit and marrow to your
bones: it will be a girdle of strength to your loins and a chain of honour
about your neck.
3. The love of the spouse lived in fellowship with the Well-beloved.
“Come
my Beloved
let us go
let us lodge
let us get up
let us see. There
will I give Thee my loves.” True love to Jesus grows stronger and stronger in
proportion as it abides in Him. If we have abounding love to Jesus we can
prosper under disadvantages
but if we have it not we have lost the great
secret of success. It yokes us with the strong Son of God
and so makes our
infirmities to be but opportunities for the display of His power.
4. This love leads the Church to hold all things in joint possession
with Christ. Observe that word
“at our gates are all manner of pleasant
fruits.” Love to Jesus constrains us to make over all that we hold to Him
while faith appropriates all that Jesus has to itself.
5. The love which is the great motive to Christian action is a love
which looks to Jesus for united operation. It is
“Come
my Beloved
let us go
forth into the field
let us get up early to the vineyard.” All is well when
the Redeemer leads the way. Be not afraid
for you go in good company. Who
among us will be afraid to do anything or go anywhere if Jesus saith
“I will
go with you?”
II. Love leads us
to go afield in the service of Jesus. “Come
my Beloved
let us go forth into
the field.”
1. A loving Church spontaneously puts herself upon widened service.
She has a large heart towards her Lord
and longs to see Him reign over all
mankind. She does not wait to hear again and again the Macedonian’s cry
“Come
over and help us
” but she is prompt in mission enterprise.
2. The spouse
when she said
“Let us go forth into the field
” knew
that the proposal would please her Lord; for the nature of Christ is a large
and loving one
and
therefore
He would bless the far-off ones. His is no
narrow heart; His thoughts of love are far-reaching
and when the Church says
“Let us go forth into the field
” truly her Lord is not backward to accept the
invitation.
3. The spouse is evidently prepared for any discomfort that may come
as the result of
her labour. She must needs leave the fair palaces of her royal husband and
lodge in rustic cottages. Poor lodgings there for Solomon’s fair spouse; but
what cares she?
4. The spouse is quite ready
to continue in this uncomfortable
service. She says
“I will lodge in the villages
” there will she abide a
while
not paying a flying visit
but stopping until the good work is done
for
which her Lord and she went forth. Oh
get ye out
ye Christians
into the
distant fields of labour. For our Master s sake
and in His strength and
company
we must compass sea and land for His redeemed ones. Only
if any of
you go
do not try to go alone. Stop until you breathe the prayer
“My Beloved
let us go. You go in vain when you go not with the Master
but when you have
secured His company
then go and welcome
for you shall doubtless come again
rejoicing
bringing your sheaves with you.”
III. Love labours
also at home. Nearer the palace there were vineyards
and the spouse said
“Let
us get up early to the vineyards.”
1. Note
then
that the Church does her work at home as well as
abroad. When she loves her Lord she works with zeal
she gets up early. All men
in Holy Scripture who loved God much rose early to worship Him. We never read
of one saint engaged upon sacred service who rose late. Abraham rose early
David rose early
Job rose early
and so did they all. It is put here as the
very type and symbol of an earnest
vigorous service of Christ.
2. Notice that God’s people
when they are awake
first look well to
the Church. “Let us see if the vine flourish.” The Church is Christ’s vine. Let
us take stock of it.
3. Then the Church looks after the little ones. “Let us see if the
vine flourish
whether the tender grape appear.” No earnest Church forgets the
children of her Sabbath school
and every other agency for the young will be
sure to be well minded.
4. Then the Church also takes notice of all inquiries. “Let us see
whether the pomegranates bud forth.” If a Church be alive
there will be always
many to observe where the first tear of repentance is glistening.
IV. Love in a
Church brings forth all its stores for the beloved. The Church of God has in
herself
through the rich love of her Husband
all manner of pleasant fruits.
Some of these fruits are new
and oh
how full of savour they are. Our new
converts
thank God for them
what a freshness and power there is about their
love! Then there are old fruits
the experience of believers who are ripening
for heaven
the well-developed confidence which has been tried in a thousand
battles
and the faith which has braved a lifetime of difficulties. These old
fruits--the deep love of the matron to Christ
the firm assurance of the
veteran believer--there is a mellowness about them which the Lord delights in.
All these choice things ought to be laid up. Every good thing in a Church is
meant to be stored up
not to be despised and forgotten; and the point of all
is that all in the Church ought to be laid up for our Beloved. (C. H.
Spurgeon.)
Standing corn
I want you to go with me in thought and spirit while I try
to reproduce the lessons taught me in the rustling language of the standing
corn. “Let us go forth into the field.”
I. Here are
revelations from God. I feel myself to be in the presence of my Creator; and
all the questionings of doubt
and all the vain philosophies of the sceptic
vanish like the morning mist. My intellect
my conscience
my heart
my
instinct if you will
prompts with remembrance of a present God. In this bright
field of waving corn I see His power. What mighty forces are here at work! I
see His wisdom. What harmony in the whole operations
with never a collision
accident
or blunder! What exact adaptation of means to an end! I am led to say
with Cowper
“There lives and works a soul in all things
and that soul is
God.” I see His goodness. Not only has its wise Contriver had in view its
useful service
but He has clothed it with rare
refreshing beauty. I see His
faithfulness. After the desolating flood
God declared that hence on for ever
“summer and seedtime
autumn and harvest should not cease.” Since then
thousands of years have passed
stars have fallen
mountains have been
engulfed
nations have perished
mighty changes have been wrought
but this
rich
ripe field of standing corn in every waving stem declares the steadfast
faithfulness of God.
II. Life comes out
of death. Out of death and decay come life and beauty! Behold
I show you a
mystery! A few months ago this bright field of teeming life was a graveyard
and every individual grain died
and was buried here
in sure and certain hope
of a glorious resurrection. In due time the trumpet of the spring winds
announced the grand arising day
and here the dead-alive are standing arrayed
in bright raiment and clad in a glory that excelleth. Standing here
the
mystery of the resurrection
it is true
remains
but the impossibility dies
out for ever! The cemetery is the field of God. I hear the winds of heaven
making music through the standing corn; and this is the burden of their song
“Sown in dishonour and raised in glory!”
III. Like comes
forth from like. This heavy crop of wheat is all the outcome of scattered
wheat
and no other kind of plant could possibly arise. As the tall corn
rustles beneath the light autumnal wind I hear it say
“What a man soweth
that
shall he also reap.”
IV. Much comes from
little. In a small compass of bag and basket was the seed-corn contained! What
spacious yard
capacious barn
and extensive granary will be required to hold
the vast result! Mark you
it would have been much the same had cockle
tares
or darnel been scattered on the soil. Little seeds bring great harvests
in
some thirty--
in some sixty--
and in some a hundred-fold. “Despise not the
day of small things.”
V. Fruit comes
from labour. This field of waving wheat is the farmer’s fee for hard and
willing work. You will find the truth hold good in your own daily labour
your
handicraft
your profession
or your trade. You will find
too
that diligent
effort will bring into your bosom rich sheaves of saving grace; that hard
labour in the Church or the school
Christ’s great field of toil
will bring
harvests of spiritual success.
VI. With progress
comes maturity. As you look at this field now
remember what it was. From the
day the life-germs broke through their decaying shells
advancement has been
the order of the day
flint the blade
then the ear
then the full corn in the
ear
then the ripe and mellow grain ready for the garner. Little by little
higher and greener
stronger and riper
ever maturing
ever progressing
until
the stage of perfection is reached at last. It is so in the moral world.
Constant progression in evil fits the sinner at last for the hopeless destiny
of the oven and the fire. Growth in grace brings maturity of Christian
character. Faith and hope and love grow stronger
brighter as the years go by.
The life grows purer and more like the great Exemplar as the harvest-time draws
near
until the shock of corn is garnered
being made meet for the paradise of
God.
VII. Advantage comes
from trial. As you look upon this sea of waving glory you remember that once it
was as naked as the highway. Think of the bitter winds that swept it
the
biting frosts
the drenching rains
the cutting ploughshare
the tearing
harrow
the crushing roller
and all the severity of discipline required. Then
came the hard fortunes of the tender plant
scorched and tossed
and battered
by wind and sun
until it lay limp
flaccid
and yellow on the ungenial ground;
and yet all these adverse seemings had a part in producing the golden glory
that waves in triumph now. It is just so in the Lord’s spiritual and human
field; crosses
trials
reverses
and disappointments are all necessary
preliminaries and preparatories to the joy of harvest.
VIII. Destiny comes
from character. By and by the reapers will put in the sickle. What for? In
order that the prostrate crop may be trodden under foot or bundled for the
fire? No
no. It is wheat
precious and good
therefore its destiny is the
barn
and even the gleanings shall be gathered and housed with care. The weeds
the thistles
these are noxious and must feel the fire. Their character is bad
and that decides their destiny. O men and women! your character shall decide
yours.
IX. Fruition comes
from faith. Many months ago
the farmer set to work here
but he could exercise
but small control; for aught he knew the land might have lost its fertility
or
the seed might have lost its germinating power. Perhaps the sun might forbear
to shine
or the rain to fall. There might be no return for all his anxious
care. But he had faith: faith in the soil
faith in the seed
faith in the sun
faith in the sure processes that he could neither control nor understand. He
had faith and patience
too
and all this sterling gold is his reward
Learn
the lesson: God’s promise cannot fail. No good deed is lost. Incorruptible seed
cannot die.
X. The seen comes
from the unseen. The buried corn was hidden. What was going on beneath the
surface was hidden from human ear and eye. What is going on? You do not know.
What kind of seed is it? You cannot tell. How much will there be from it? You cannot
possibly predict. It is all secret
hidden--as secret
my friend
as the
thoughts of your heart
as the secret sins of your life
as the germ or bias of
evil in your nature. It is as secret
Christian
as the depth of your loyalty
and love
the private deeds of godly sacrifice
brave endurance
pious
beneficence
closet prayers. But wait a while; the secret of the soil is
revealed; the day hath declared it: and this fair field is the answer for all
the world to read. “There is nothing hidden that shall not be known.”
XI. Gain comes from
opportunity. If the farmer had let the ploughing season pass
if he had
permitted the sowing season to slip by
no such glorious sight as this golden
treasure would have gladdened his eye. No; he caught the season while it
lasted
he seized the opportunity while he had it. Last winter was the parent
of this success; last spring was the foster-mother of this field of corn. He
turned to use the precious present; he put out to usury the golden now; and
this is the usury that has come of it
this golden guerdon
this wealth of
grain. Don’t you hear every bended head
as the bright field shimmers in the
wind
saying “What thine hand findeth to do
do it with thy might
etc.”?
XII. All comes from
God. That’s the crowning lesson. His the soil
the seed
the sower
the sun
the success. All are the absolute gift of His gracious providence and tender
love. (J. J. Wray.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》