Worship service 11/16/25.
Greetings and call to worship.
Greetings and good morning, Christians and fellow soldiers of the cross. Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied unto you with love from the Father and from His Son Jesus Christ. We come before Him once more on the Christian Sabbath to bow down and worship in all humility and dependence on His grace, for we know we are destitute of goodness apart from His own righteousness bestowed so freely upon us.
2 Cor. 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Inasmuch as Christ has become our righteousness, let us rejoice in Him knowing that we are forgiven and justified freely by the blood of His cross. He is our King and Redeemer and in His name we trust. A Puritan minister writes, “If you hear the word, and are not bettered by it, your hearing will increase your condemnation. ‘That servant which knew his lord’s will, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.’ Luke 12: 47. We pity such as know not where to hear; it will be worse with such as care not how they hear. To graceless disobedient hearers, every sermon will be a faggot to heat hell. It is sad to go loaded to hell with ordinances. Oh, beg the Spirit to make the word preached effectual! Ministers can but speak to the ear, the Spirit speaks to the heart. ‘While Peter spake, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.’ Acts 10: 44.
Prayer unto the public reading of the Holy Scripture:
Our holy and righteous Father,
Eternal, immutable, and full of all glory, justice, and righteousness,
Merciful, compassionate, and faithful—The God who will by no means clear the guilty, yet showing mercy to thousands that love thee with the whole heart and keep thy commandments:
We come before thee solemnly and sincerely, as those whom thou hast redeemed and purchased by the precious blood of thy Son, called out of darkness and into the marvellous light of the gospel and the kingdom of Jesus Christ. According to thy word, we are bid and commanded to draw near to thee humbly, with a single heart and upright affections; and therefore we ask thee to grant it unto us, that it may be even so—Acknowledging that thou art incomprehensibly great, holy, and excellent, Glorious in power, fearful in praises, doing wonders. We are therefore careful to approach thy altar, knowing the severity of thy law, the holy requirements of the gospel, as well as our own vileness and unworthiness to draw so near unto thee.
We freely confess, O Lord, that apart from the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are justly denied entrance into thy glory, and must be cast from thy presence as an abominable thing. For we are guilty and polluted, unable of ourselves to repent or return, and altogether unfit to render thee any service that is not defiled by sin. Yet we believe that thou art our God, and the rewarder of them that diligently seek thy face. Therefore, we boldly cry unto thee for the free gift of thy grace: For pardoning mercy to cover our iniquities, And sanctifying mercy to make us meet for thy presence. Hear our prayers, deliver us from all trouble, cleanse us, we pray, by the blood of Christ. Assist us by the power of thy Spirit. Defend us from all evil, Strengthen our faith, subdue the lusts of the flesh that swell within us, And enable us to perform this holy service, Not in our own strength, But in the virtue which thou dost supply of thine own free goodness. And now, O Lord, as we come to the reading of thy holy word, we pray for a special blessing upon this portion of Scripture, that it may be effectual to build up thy holy church, which thou hast called thy special possession, and thy little flock. Open our hearts to receive it with meekness; Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and cause us by thy grace to worship thee by it; And may the same Spirit who spake unto the fathers, apostles and prophets, the reformers and Puritans, so guide our whole lives, That we may grow up in Him in all things, even He who is the Bridegroom and Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, our Prophet, Priest and King. All this we ask in his most worthy name,
Amen.
Devotional and doctrinal exposition on the Psalms:
Psalm 27 [6] (Verse 2): 1 David maketh this Psalm being delivered from great perils, as appeareth by the praises and thanksgiving annexed: 6 Wherein we may see the constant faith of David against the assaults of all his enemies. 7 And also the end wherefore he desireth to live and to be delivered, only to worship God in his Congregation.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I request; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from me; nor cast thy servant away in displeasure: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 Though my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as speak cruelly.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Exposition:
As we before noted the Christian’s enemies in this present life—that they are not our enemies by our own choosing, for we have begun no quarrel with their persons, but only with their sins—and that they seek our destruction even as we seek their life, we must now consider more particularly the manner of their false accusations.
The Papists charge us with schism, saying that we have departed from the one true Church. But we answer: Hath not the Church her distinguishing marks? And are these not set forth plainly and conspicuously in the Holy Scriptures, that the true Church might be known by them? For it is written, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:16) By this rule the Roman Church is not the true Church, nor any Church at all, but a synagogue of raging idolaters and sycophantic beasts. Her priests are without understanding, strangers to the doctrine of Christ; and her people, given over to ignorance and carnal zeal, are, as our Lord said to the Pharisees, “of their father the devil.” (John 8:44)
If the true Church be known by marks of holiness, then the devil’s Church is likewise known by marks—lust, debauchery, ignorance, vanity, pride, and foolishness. These are the badges of the Romish synagogue. And shall we join ourselves to that corpulent beast, whose garments reek of fornication and blood? God forbid. For it is written, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)
The Arminians and other legalists accuse us also of making God the author of sin, and of turning grace into idleness. They say, If God decrees all things, then sin is decreed and proceedeth from Him. But this is a rash and blasphemous objection. God may permit sin with a higher end—to glorify His justice in the punishment thereof, and His mercy in delivering His elect from its power—yet without approving of it, and without the stain of it. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” (Hab. 1:13)
They say further that the doctrine of free grace makes men slothful. But I answer: Are there any more zealous for holiness and good works than those who know themselves to be saved by grace alone? Have they never read of Paul, Luther, Calvin, and the godly Puritans—men whose faith wrought with their works, and whose works by faith were made perfect? True, there are many who speak of grace but live as strangers to its power. Yet those who are indeed convinced of the sovereign grace of God are the most diligent in godliness, most devout in prayer, most mortified in the flesh, and most fervent in spirit—unlike the world, and contrary to the false righteousness of the modern evangelical synagogue.
Thus we have seen that the Christian Church hath many and malicious enemies—lying bastards who assault us with vain words. Yet the enemies of the Christian are not only flesh and blood, but spiritual also, even the devil and his infernal horde. For it is written, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)
Therefore we must be ever upon our guard, walking circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, for the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15–16) Let us walk in meekness and poverty of spirit, in zeal, devotion, and the continual seeking of God’s face in His Word and in prayer. Are we a people in covenant with God? Then let us be a laboring people, a studious people, a knowledgeable people, a holy and a praying people. “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2)
Christ taught His disciples to pray and not to faint. If we would be counted among His disciples, let us pray and cease not, that we enter not into temptation. For a chief cause why the work of mortification proceeds so slowly among us is because, as our Lord said, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17:21)
Let us therefore be drained of this world and its vanities, setting our affections on things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. For many devils and spiritual enemies prowl about, seeking our life. Yet we fear them not; for the text saith, “Whom shall I fear?” We fear not the devil, but wage holy war against him with courage and constancy. We fear God, and trust in His arm to save us from our enemies, which are stronger than we.
The conclusion is this: As the Church hath enemies both spiritual and domestic, so let us be on our guard against them, maintaining a constant and spiritual frame of heart and mind, and being diligent in our duty. For the devil delights to sport in an idle soul, and it is our shame if we give him place. Rather, as the Scripture saith, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
And how shall we resist him? By constancy in duty, diligence in study, the practice of spiritual virtue, humility, the fear of God, and fervent prayer. Thus putting on the whole armour of God—the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit—we may be delivered from our enemies and, having overcome all, stand. Then shall we give glory to God who causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Calvin,
David had no reason henceforth to doubt of God’s assistance when he considered his former experience; for nothing is of greater use to confirm our faith, than the remembrance of those instances in which God has clearly given us a proof not only of his grace, but of his truth and power.
Trapp,
Irritis conatibus corruerunt, they utterly lost their design, as did those Amalekites who had sacked Ziklag, 1 Samuel 30:16-19 , and Saul often. If a man stumble and fall not, he gets ground; but if after much blundering he kiss the ground, he falleth with a force. David’s enemies did so, corruerunt et conciderunt; they were irreparably ruined.
Dickson,
God can easily make the wicked in their hottest pursuit of the godly, to come short of their purpose, as here, to stumble and fall. Also, note. Experience of God’s power is very forcible to confirm our faith, and to encourage our hope, as it did David’s.
Opening Prayer.
Our gracious and merciful Father in heaven,
loving, compassionate, and full of tender mercies,
we come before thee humbly and reverently,
knowing that by our sins we have forfeited everlasting life
and all thy favor and grace.
Yet thy love toward us is everlasting,
and thy mercy endureth forever.
Therefore may thy people rejoice in thee;
for though we are weak
and unable to perform thy commandments with a perfect heart,
yet thy heart is perfect toward us,
and thou dost graciously accept us with favor
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Inasmuch as thou art pleased to hear us
through our Lord and Mediator,
continue thy love and watchful care over us.
Strengthen our faith;
increase grace within us;
and let the work of mortification be quickened in us,
that we may behold thee in the kingdom of light
and not be ashamed before thee at thy coming.
Be pleased, O Lord, to lift us out of our troubles,
for many enemies compass us round about,
and the trials of the righteous are multiplied.
Yet the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Let us not seek the end of our troubles,
for such things must be until we pass from this life;
but let us seek deliverance and protection in them,
that we may ever maintain a heart of devotion and love toward thee—
in the midst of affliction and in spite of all adversity.
So may we lift our hearts unfeigned before thee
and call upon thy name in truth.
We pray in the name of the only begotten Son of God,
Jesus Christ—our glorious Governor, Captain, and Mediator—
He who leadeth us, fighteth our battles for us,
and delivereth us from all evil,
even the evil of sin, death, and the devil.
In His glorious and blessed name we pray,
Amen.
Lesson 58. [1.2.33.] The Contents of Holy Scripture: The Books of Wisdom: Song of Songs. Part 1.
Westminster Confession of Faith 1.2.
Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments,
Genesis-Ecclesiastes. Song of Songs.
All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
Intro.
The Theology of the Psalms and the imagery of the Song.
Psalm 72. Psalm 45. (2, 8:4-6, 16:10-11, 22, 23:1-3, 110, 24, 118:22-23)
I. The World of the Song.
Among all the sacred writings, none unveils the inner world of grace so intimately as the Song of Solomon. It may be called the worldbuilding of true religion—the architecture of the redeemed soul, the garden of divine communion hidden from the eyes of the world. What doctrine the other books of Holy writ declare openly, the Song conceals under words of love and poetic imagery. It is not the outward splendour of ceremony and structure, but the inward splendour of fellowship with Christ.
The world beholds the Church and sees nothing glorious. Her members are not rich, mighty, or influential, as the apostle says, “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Cor. 1:26). She possesses neither the cathedrals of Rome nor the thrones of princes. The false church builds her empire in marble and incense, her religion in sight and ceremony. But sight is vanity; “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation… for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20–21).
Here in the Song we see the invisible world of the Christian soul—its peace, its love, its secret fellowship with God. To the eyes of flesh she is but “black,” scorched by affliction and despised by men, yet to her Beloved she is “comely” (Song 1:5). The world sees the cross on our backs; faith beholds the crown upon His head. The world looks upon a suffering people and concludes that we are a people of no hope. But they look on the outward condition and make bold assumptions. We are not blessed because we are prosperous, but because we are pure. Our happiness comes from our holiness; our joy from our justification. We gladly receive the cross laid upon our backs because the life of the cross is already laid upon our hearts. We do not shrink from suffering, for suffering is the bloody path to glory. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:12). Christ Himself went before us and showed the way. “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). “Searching when, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1 Pet. 1:11) Thus the Song, portraying the true devotion of the saint, paints the whole pilgrimage of grace: conversion to the truth—“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” (1:2); the Church’s running after holiness—“Draw me, we will run after thee” (1:4); the confidence and assurance of faith—“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (6:3);
The spiritual nature of faith, “thou whom my soul loveth” (1:7)
and the seasons of backsliding and recovery—“I sought him, but I found him not” (3:1). These spiritual monuments embody the Christian’s confession, his heart, his life, and the true condition of his soul—despite what the world sees.
This is the language of the redeemed heart. The geography of this Song is affection, its light is faith, its music the dialogue between Christ and His redeemed. Every hill and valley of this Song corresponds to the soul’s pilgrimage—from the first awakening of desire, “Draw me, we will run after thee” (1:4), to the final assurance, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me” (7:10).
Its cities are virtues, its gardens are works of righteousness, its rivers are tears of repentance, and its fragrance is covenant obedience springing from love. The walls of this world are salvation, its foundations election, its gates praise (Isa. 60:18). The Bridegroom walks amidst this holy landscape, saying, “Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth” (2:11–12)—a vision of spiritual renewal, the springtime of grace within the soul.
The false world glories in the outward: in wealth, dominion, and the vain applause of the multitude. But the true Church is inwardly glorious, adorned not with gold but with grace. For Christ “shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11). The Song of Solomon unveils that satisfaction—the eternal love between the Redeemer and the redeemed.
Thus, this is not a mere poem of earthly affection, but a divine revelation of spiritual communion. It is the world within the world—the hidden garden where Christ meets His own, the sanctum where faith becomes sight, and love knows no end.
II. Psalm 45: The Interpretive Key to the Song of Songs.
As a final note, if one would rightly understand this most sacred Song, the key to its interpretation is not far off. For in the wisdom of God, the Scriptures are not scattered fragments, but a body—joined in truth, nourished by the same Spirit, and interpreted one by another. “For the entrance of thy words giveth light” (Ps. 119:130), and “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), we grow in knowledge.
Thus, what may seem enigmatic in one place is clarified in another. When we read, “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16), we must not imagine the whole world without exception, for God destroyed many nations without remedy. But John 13 gives us the key: “Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” And again, “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). The prophet Joel likewise saith, “Among the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Therefore, the “world” in John 3 is to be read in light of the rest of Scripture—as the elect called from all nations.
The same principle applies to all Scripture. Proverbs speaks of a “city rejoicing” when the wicked are cast down. But what city is this? Elsewhere, a man without rule over his spirit is likened to a city without walls. Thus, the city may represent the soul, and the “wicked” therein the old man crucified. When sin is mortified, the soul rejoices in the Lord, and the righteousness of Christ is made sweeter within. As John says, “He that hath this hope purifieth himself,” and again, “That we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
In this way, Psalm 45 becomes the interpretive key to the Song of Songs—as many of the Reformers have rightly affirmed. Though it would be superfluous to provide a full commentary upon that Psalm here, we must not let it pass untouched, for it shares the same spiritual language, the same exalted subject, and the same end: the glory of Christ and His love for His Church.
- “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
—The Psalmist declares his heart moved with holy matter, and his speech is centered on the King—Christ Himself. The Song begins likewise: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” It is the language of love directed toward the divine King. The enlightened soul yearning for the grace of the gospel. - “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips.”
—So too in the Song: “Thy mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely.” The purpose in both is to elevate Christ above all loves, all beauty, all earthly comparisons. “The Spirit is not given by measure to Him.” The grace of the word is that which delighteth the true believer. - “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”
—This shows forth the eternal reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Song is no vain or amorous tale of courtship but the everlasting union of the King of kings and His chosen love. - “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies.”
—In the Song, the bride confesses: “I am sick of love.” We are pierced with holy desire, wounded as it were by His grace, brought low by the law that we might rise again with Him through the gospel. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Thomas Watson: He that is poor in spirit is a Christ-admirer. He has high thoughts of Christ. He sees himself naked and flies to Christ that in his garments he may obtain the blessing. He sees himself wounded, and as the wounded deer runs to the water, so he thirsts for Christ’s blood, the water of life. Lord, says he, give me Christ or I die. Conscience is turned into a fiery serpent and has stung him; now all the world for a brazen serpent! He sees himself in a state of death; and how precious is one leaf of the tree of life, which is both for food and medicine! The poor in spirit sees all his riches lie in Christ. - “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.”
—A prelude to the imagery of the Song: “A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me.” These are not idle scents, but figures of His burial, His priesthood, and His sweetness to the soul. - “Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women.”
—As in the Song: “The virgins love thee… the daughters of Jerusalem.” These represent the visible Church, and the companions of the bride. - “Forget also thine own people and thy father’s house; so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty.”
—Likewise, the bride is called to leave all for Him: “Draw me, we will run after thee.” It is the call to forsake the world, the flesh, and every former love. - “The king’s daughter is all glorious within.”
—This mirrors the inward purity so often praised in the Song: “My sister, my spouse… a garden enclosed.” The Lord delights not in outward beauty, but in that which He Himself has wrought within. Sanctified and separate from the world. - “She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework.”
—As in the Song: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” The Church is brought into communion by grace and adorned by His own righteousness. - “I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations.”
—And so the Song ends: “Make haste, my beloved.” The Church remembers Him, praises Him, and longs for His return.
In all these things, we are taught that this Song is not fleshly but spiritual. Not temporary, but eternal. Not written for amusement, but for adoration. Let the carnal man be silenced. Let the scoffer be ashamed. For the Scriptures testify plainly: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” And if any man would turn this Song of glory into a song of lust, let him hear the Word of the Lord: “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy” (1 Cor. 3:17).
This is the Song of the King. This is the love of Christ. And this, by God’s grace, shall be the theme of our eternal praise.
III. Doctrinal Themes in the Song.
i. Christ’s Love for His Church — Electing, Redeeming, Sanctifying, and Persevering Love.
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (2:4) — Christ’s electing love gathers His chosen under His banner. The banqueting house signifies joyful communion—the banner signifies the main theme of our life. “All things work together for good.” And how? His banner over His church is love. Psalm 103:17 — “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him.” Proverbs 8:17 — “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Deuteronomy 7:7–8 — “The LORD did not set his love upon you… because ye were more in number… but because the LORD loved you.”
Isaiah 43:1–4 — “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine… since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee.”
Ephesians 5:25–27 — “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… that he might sanctify and cleanse it.” Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
ii. The Believer’s Communion with Christ — Faith, Repentance, Sincerity, and Obedience
“Draw me, we will run after thee.” (1:4) — Faith’s pursuit of Christ.
“I sought him whom my soul loveth.” (3:1) — The seeking soul’s perseverance in love.
Jeremiah 29:13 — “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Luke 13:24—“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
iii. The Sanctity of Marriage — A Reflection of Divine Covenant and Purity.
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm.” (8:6) — The covenantal bond of love, permanent and exclusive. Inner sanctification, outward works of love. (mutual)
“My beloved is mine, and I am his.” (2:16) — The covenantal obligations. Husbands, love. Wives, submit. Christ loves and sanctifies. We, as His church, keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
Hosea 2:19–20 — “I will betroth thee unto me for ever… in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”
Ephesians 5:20–33 — “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Trapp—“To wit, this mystical marriage with Christ. It passeth the capacity of man to understand it in the perfection of it. Preachers can make it known but in part, and hearers can but in part conceive it. Let us therefore wait for perfect understanding of it, till all things be perfected in Christ.”
iv. The Sweetness of Holiness — True Joy and Rest Found Only in Divine Favor.
The Name of God:
“Thy name is as ointment poured forth.” (1:3) — The fragrance of holiness proceeding from Christ.
| Name | Meaning / Attribute | Reference | Spiritual Emphasis |
| Jehovah-Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) | “The LORD will provide.” | Genesis 22:14 | God’s providence; fulfilled in the Lamb provided for sinners — Christ (John 1:29). |
| Jehovah-Ropheka / Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ) | “The LORD that healeth thee.” | Exodus 15:26 | Physical and spiritual healing; the Lord restores health to body and soul. |
| Jehovah-Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) | “The LORD my banner.” | Exodus 17:15 | Victory in battle; the Lord is the standard under which His people conquer. |
| Jehovah-M’Kaddesh (or Mekaddishkem) (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) | “The LORD who sanctifies you.” | Leviticus 20:8; Exodus 31:13 | God sets His people apart for holiness; sanctification by His Spirit. |
| Jehovah-Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) | “The LORD is peace.” | Judges 6:24 | The Lord gives perfect peace through reconciliation (cf. Isa. 26:3; Eph. 2:14). |
| Jehovah-Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) | “The LORD of hosts.” | 1 Samuel 1:3; Isaiah 6:3 | Sovereign commander of heavenly armies; His power over all creation. |
| Jehovah-Ra’ah (Rohi) (יְהוָה רֹעִי) | “The LORD my shepherd.” | Psalm 23:1 | Personal care, guidance, and provision of the Good Shepherd. |
| Jehovah-Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) | “The LORD our righteousness.” | Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16 | Christ our righteousness—justification by grace through faith. |
| Jehovah-Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) | “The LORD is there.” | Ezekiel 48:35 | God’s abiding presence in the New Jerusalem; Emmanuel—“God with us.” |
Fruits of holiness:
“I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” (2:3)
2 Pet. 1:3-11—“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Therefore give even all diligence thereunto: and join moreover virtue with your faith: and with virtue, knowledge; And with knowledge, temperance; and with temperance, patience; and with patience, godliness; And with godliness, brotherly kindness; and with brotherly kindness, love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that hath not these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 16:11 — “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Proverbs 3:17 — “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Isaiah 26:3 — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.”
v. The Perseverance of Love — Stronger Than Death, Quenched by No Trial, Eternal in Its End.
Song of Solomon 8:6–7—
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”
“The flame of the LORD”
Matt. 16:26—“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Psalm 73:26—
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Proverbs 24:16— “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
Isaiah 49:15–16
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18—
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Romans 8:35–39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 13:8
“Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away…”
Revelation 21:3–4—
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Conclusion.
Closing Prayer.
O Lord, our mighty and faithful God,
thou who hast delivered us, dost deliver us,
and evermore wilt deliver us—
we rely wholly upon thee,
resting in thy free and precious mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Without Him we are undone—
left in misery and under the curse;
but in Him we are righteous, happy, and blessed.
Blessed is that people whose God is the LORD;
blessed are they whom thou hast called out of darkness
into the marvellous light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ;
blessed are the undefiled in the way,
the meek and the merciful,
and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Inasmuch as thou hast blessed us,
cause us to be blessed yet more,
and bless us further still,
that thy glorious name may be exalted forever and ever.
O Lord, we have many troubles,
but we commit them into thy loving hands.
Take care of us and sanctify us;
prepare us for that great and glorious day
when thou shalt be admired in all them that believe.
So may we ever praise the name of the Lord Jesus,
through whom we bless thee and give thee thanks—
our Redeemer, our Hope, our everlasting Joy.
Amen.
Fearless Puritan: 